Data Science Director Jobs in Illinois
Data Science Director jobs in Illinois are highly active, concentrated in financial services, healthcare, logistics, and technology, with demand at every level from newly promoted analytics managers through seasoned enterprise leaders. Chicago is the dominant hiring market, with Naperville and Peoria also generating steady openings, and established employers like Discover Financial Services, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and United Airlines routinely seek directors to lead applied analytics and machine learning strategy. The most in-demand specialties are predictive modeling, AI product development, and enterprise data governance. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Job Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Data Science (AI/ML) Specialist to drive cutting-edge analytics and artificial intelligence initiatives. In this role, you will harness the power of machine learning, statistical modeling, and big data systems to develop scalable AI solutions that solve complex business challenges. Your expertise will enable data-driven decision-making, enhance predictive capabilities, and foster the deployment of intelligent systems across various platforms. Join us to shape the future of data analytics and AI implementation within a fast-paced, collaborative environment committed to technological excellence.
Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and optimize machine learning models using frameworks such as TensorFlow and other AI/ML tools to deliver impactful insights and solutions.
- Implement scalable data pipelines utilizing ETL processes, Hadoop, Spark, Talend, and SQL databases to ensure efficient data flow and storage.
- Conduct statistical analysis for research purposes, applying statistical modeling techniques with R, SAS, or similar tools to support strategic initiatives.
- Develop natural language processing (NLP) applications and explore generative AI models to enhance language understanding capabilities.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deploy AI models into production environments using cloud services like AWS and machine learning cloud platforms.
- Perform model evaluation, tuning, and validation to ensure accuracy, robustness, and scalability of AI/ML solutions.
- Engage in data mining activities using big data systems such as Hadoop and Spark implementation for extracting actionable insights from large datasets.
- Contribute to database design efforts for optimized data storage and retrieval supporting advanced analytics projects.
- Utilize statistical analysis tools like R or SAS for rigorous research analysis, ensuring high-quality outputs aligned with business objectives.
- Support model deployment processes and monitor AI/ML system performance to maintain operational excellence across platforms.
Qualifications
- Proven experience with machine learning frameworks including TensorFlow, Spark MLlib, or similar tools.
- Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, C, VBA, Bash (Unix shell), with experience in SQL for database querying and management.
- Hands-on knowledge of big data technologies including Hadoop ecosystem components and Spark implementation for large-scale data processing.
- Familiarity with cloud-based machine learning services on AWS or other cloud platforms for scalable AI solutions.
- Expertise in statistical analysis tools like R or SAS for research-driven insights and model validation.
- Experience in natural language processing (NLP), predictive modeling analysis, and generative AI techniques.
- Ability to design efficient database schemas and perform data mining on large datasets using SQL databases and linked data concepts.
- Strong understanding of AI implementation strategies including model training, evaluation, deployment, and continuous monitoring for scalability.
- Knowledge of data analytics tools such as Looker or similar BI platforms is a plus.
- Excellent problem-solving skills combined with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly across teams.
Join us if you’re passionate about leveraging advanced analytics and AI/ML technologies to transform data into strategic assets!
Pay: $27.50 - $33.12 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
Work Location: In person
See All 25 Data Science Director Jobs in Illinois
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Find Data Science Director JobsData Science Director Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Data Science Director Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Media & Entertainment
- Banking & Financial Services
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data science director jobs across Illinois.
- Advanced degree in data science, statistics, computer science, or a closely related quantitative field
- Demonstrated leadership of cross-functional data science or machine learning teams at scale
- Proficiency in Python or R plus cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Experience translating data strategy into measurable business outcomes for senior stakeholders
- Strong background in machine learning lifecycle management, MLOps, and model governance
- Familiarity with Illinois-regulated industries including financial services or healthcare data compliance
Data Science Director Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a data science director in Illinois?
Becoming a data science director in Illinois typically requires a master's or doctoral degree in data science, statistics, computer science, or a related quantitative discipline, followed by progressive experience leading analytics teams. Illinois does not require a state-issued license for this role. Most Illinois hiring managers expect candidates to have moved through senior data scientist or analytics manager roles before reaching the director level, often within financial services, healthcare, or technology companies headquartered in the Chicago metro area.
How much do data science directors make in Illinois?
Data science directors in Illinois earn a median of about $106,560 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $68,810 for the lowest 10% to over $168,880 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire data science directors in Illinois?
Employers hiring data science directors in Illinois right now include University of Illinois, Chamberlain, and Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. Illinois's concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters and large healthcare systems means director-level openings are distributed across industries rather than clustering in a single sector.
Which Illinois cities have the most data science director jobs?
Chicago, Oak Brook, and Riverwoods account for the most data science director openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates because it hosts the largest concentration of corporate headquarters, financial institutions, and major health systems in the state, while suburban centers like Naperville and Deerfield generate additional openings from companies such as Discover Financial and Baxter International that maintain significant operations outside the city core.
Are there remote data science director jobs in Illinois?
Yes, and more than most fields, because data science director work is fundamentally desk-based and output-driven. About 80% of data science director openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting broad employer comfort with distributed analytics leadership. Strategic planning, stakeholder reporting, and model review are the functions most commonly performed fully remotely, while cross-functional alignment and team development sessions more often require periodic on-site presence.
How can I get hired as a data science director in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into a senior data scientist or analytics manager role first, then building toward the director level over time. Large Illinois employers including Allstate, Exelon, and Northwestern Medicine hire data scientists at the associate and senior levels and promote internally. Candidates who lack formal leadership experience can strengthen their profile by completing a portfolio of end-to-end machine learning projects, contributing to open-source tools, or pursuing a graduate certificate in applied data science from an Illinois university such as the University of Illinois or DePaul.
Where can I find and apply to data science director jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to data science director jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and location preferences, and apply directly to each employer through the listing.
See All 25 Data Science Director Jobs in Illinois
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