Principal Applied Scientist Jobs
Principal Applied Scientist jobs are open across technology, healthcare, financial services, and defense, from senior to distinguished-level, with specializations in machine learning, natural language processing, and computer vision. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
Find JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 56+ Principal Applied Scientist jobs
FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading global analytics software company, helping businesses in 100+ countries make better decisions. Join our world-class team today and fulfill your career potential!
The Opportunity
As a Principal Applied AI Engineer on FICO’s Generative AI team, you will work at the frontier of language model applications, designing novel solutions that reach across the FICO platform, from fraud investigation and decision automation to process flow automation and optimization. You will be the architect of robust, scalable, and well-governed AI systems, ensuring they perform reliably at enterprise scale. Working alongside a dedicated team, you will apply your expertise in AI and machine learning to infuse the platform with next-generation capabilities and drive innovation that makes a meaningful, lasting impact.
What You’ll Contribute
- Design and implement cutting-edge LLM-powered solutions for decision automation, fraud investigation, and process automation within FICO’s platform.
- Develop sophisticated prompting strategies and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures tailored to high-stakes applications.
- Apply advanced fine-tuning, in-context learning techniques, and custom evaluation frameworks to optimize AI model performance.
- Build robust model evaluation and governance systems, ensuring compliance and reliability across applications.
- Design and execute comprehensive backtesting methodologies to validate model predictions and performance.
- Implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate the impact of various AI interventions on system performance.
- Monitor model performance and detect drift to maintain high accuracy and relevance over time.
- Research and integrate the latest AI techniques to keep FICO’s platform at the forefront of innovation.
- Evaluate new models, architectures, and training approaches, experimenting with emerging technologies to enhance platform capabilities.
- Develop custom RAG implementations to enhance information retrieval within decision processes.
- Write production-quality code, implementing machine learning systems with attention to scalability, reliability, and security.
- Design scalable architectures that support FICO’s analytics and decisioning solutions.
- Implement advanced monitoring techniques and system reliability checks to maintain operational excellence.
What We’re Seeking
- Extensive industry experience in software, ML or data engineering, with a history of managing complex, large-scale projects and driving strategic technical decisions.
- In-depth knowledge and experience in fine-tuning, model adaptation, and customization.
- Solid foundation in machine learning evaluation and testing methodologies, including the development of custom evaluation frameworks.
- Extensive experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures and familiarity with vector databases
- Strong hands-on coding in Python, Go, Java, or similar languages.
- Experience with PyTorch, JAX or similar deep learning frameworks.
- Knowledge of backtesting methodologies to ensure reliability and robustness of model predictions.
- Experience with A/B testing frameworks.
- Expertise in model monitoring, drift detection, and governance to maintain compliance and operational integrity.
- Proven expertise in modern Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications preferred.
- Strong skills in prompt engineering and chain-of-thought prompting techniques.
- Familiarity with compliance and regulatory technology, particularly in AI-driven decisioning environments.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals, with experience in writing production-quality code and designing scalable architectures.
- Proven ability to mentor teams and collaborate across departments to deliver high-impact solutions.
- Experience in fast-paced environments, with an ability to adapt and drive impact in high-growth, high-stakes settings.
- Publications, patents, or open-source contributions that showcase thought leadership and technical expertise in AI and machine learning.
- Bachelor's/Master's/PhD degree in computer science, or a related field with focus in Machine Learning.
Our Offer to You
- An inclusive culture strongly reflecting our core values: Act Like an Owner, Delight Our Customers and Earn the Respect of Others.
- The opportunity to make an impact and develop professionally by leveraging your unique strengths and participating in valuable learning experiences.
- Highly competitive compensation, benefits and rewards programs that encourage you to bring your best every day and be recognized for doing so.
- An engaging, people-first work environment offering work/life balance, employee resource groups, and social events to promote interaction and camaraderie.
- The targeted base pay range for this role is: $171,500 to $269,500 with this range reflecting differences in candidate knowledge, skills and experience.
#LI-RR1
#LI-remote
Why Make a Move to FICO?
At FICO, you can develop your career with a leading organization in one of the fastest-growing fields in technology today – Big Data analytics. You’ll play a part in our commitment to help businesses use data to improve every choice they make, using advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, and much more.
FICO makes a real difference in the way businesses operate worldwide:
- Credit Scoring — FICO® Scores are used by 90 of the top 100 US lenders.
- Fraud Detection and Security — 4 billion payment cards globally are protected by FICO fraud systems.
- Lending — 3/4 of US mortgages are approved using the FICO Score.
Global trends toward digital transformation have created tremendous demand for FICO’s solutions, placing us among the world’s top 100 software companies by revenue. We help many of the world’s largest banks, insurers, retailers, telecommunications providers and other firms reach a new level of success. Our success is dependent on really talented people – just like you – who thrive on the collaboration and innovation that’s nurtured by a diverse and inclusive environment. We’ll provide the support you need, while ensuring you have the freedom to develop your skills and grow your career. Join FICO and help change the way business thinks!
Learn more about how you can fulfil your potential at www.fico.com/Careers
FICO promotes a culture of inclusion and seeks to attract a diverse set of candidates for each job opportunity. We are an equal employment opportunity employer and we’re proud to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all candidates without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Research has shown that women and candidates from underrepresented communities may not apply for an opportunity if they don’t meet all stated qualifications. While our qualifications are clearly related to role success, each candidate’s profile is unique and strengths in certain skill and/or experience areas can be equally effective. If you believe you have many, but not necessarily all, of the stated qualifications we encourage you to apply.
Information submitted with your application is subject to the FICO Privacy policy at https://www.fico.com/en/privacy-policy
FICO (NYSE: FICO) is a leading global analytics software company, helping businesses in 100+ countries make better decisions. Join our world-class team today and fulfill your career potential!
The Opportunity
As a Principal Applied AI Engineer on FICO’s Generative AI team, you will work at the frontier of language model applications, designing novel solutions that reach across the FICO platform, from fraud investigation and decision automation to process flow automation and optimization. You will be the architect of robust, scalable, and well-governed AI systems, ensuring they perform reliably at enterprise scale. Working alongside a dedicated team, you will apply your expertise in AI and machine learning to infuse the platform with next-generation capabilities and drive innovation that makes a meaningful, lasting impact.
What You’ll Contribute
- Design and implement cutting-edge LLM-powered solutions for decision automation, fraud investigation, and process automation within FICO’s platform.
- Develop sophisticated prompting strategies and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures tailored to high-stakes applications.
- Apply advanced fine-tuning, in-context learning techniques, and custom evaluation frameworks to optimize AI model performance.
- Build robust model evaluation and governance systems, ensuring compliance and reliability across applications.
- Design and execute comprehensive backtesting methodologies to validate model predictions and performance.
- Implement A/B testing frameworks to evaluate the impact of various AI interventions on system performance.
- Monitor model performance and detect drift to maintain high accuracy and relevance over time.
- Research and integrate the latest AI techniques to keep FICO’s platform at the forefront of innovation.
- Evaluate new models, architectures, and training approaches, experimenting with emerging technologies to enhance platform capabilities.
- Develop custom RAG implementations to enhance information retrieval within decision processes.
- Write production-quality code, implementing machine learning systems with attention to scalability, reliability, and security.
- Design scalable architectures that support FICO’s analytics and decisioning solutions.
- Implement advanced monitoring techniques and system reliability checks to maintain operational excellence.
What We’re Seeking
- Extensive industry experience in software, ML or data engineering, with a history of managing complex, large-scale projects and driving strategic technical decisions.
- In-depth knowledge and experience in fine-tuning, model adaptation, and customization.
- Solid foundation in machine learning evaluation and testing methodologies, including the development of custom evaluation frameworks.
- Extensive experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures and familiarity with vector databases
- Strong hands-on coding in Python, Go, Java, or similar languages.
- Experience with PyTorch, JAX or similar deep learning frameworks.
- Knowledge of backtesting methodologies to ensure reliability and robustness of model predictions.
- Experience with A/B testing frameworks.
- Expertise in model monitoring, drift detection, and governance to maintain compliance and operational integrity.
- Proven expertise in modern Large Language Models (LLMs) and their applications preferred.
- Strong skills in prompt engineering and chain-of-thought prompting techniques.
- Familiarity with compliance and regulatory technology, particularly in AI-driven decisioning environments.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals, with experience in writing production-quality code and designing scalable architectures.
- Proven ability to mentor teams and collaborate across departments to deliver high-impact solutions.
- Experience in fast-paced environments, with an ability to adapt and drive impact in high-growth, high-stakes settings.
- Publications, patents, or open-source contributions that showcase thought leadership and technical expertise in AI and machine learning.
- Bachelor's/Master's/PhD degree in computer science, or a related field with focus in Machine Learning.
Our Offer to You
- An inclusive culture strongly reflecting our core values: Act Like an Owner, Delight Our Customers and Earn the Respect of Others.
- The opportunity to make an impact and develop professionally by leveraging your unique strengths and participating in valuable learning experiences.
- Highly competitive compensation, benefits and rewards programs that encourage you to bring your best every day and be recognized for doing so.
- An engaging, people-first work environment offering work/life balance, employee resource groups, and social events to promote interaction and camaraderie.
- The targeted base pay range for this role is: $171,500 to $269,500 with this range reflecting differences in candidate knowledge, skills and experience.
#LI-RR1
#LI-remote
Why Make a Move to FICO?
At FICO, you can develop your career with a leading organization in one of the fastest-growing fields in technology today – Big Data analytics. You’ll play a part in our commitment to help businesses use data to improve every choice they make, using advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, optimization, and much more.
FICO makes a real difference in the way businesses operate worldwide:
- Credit Scoring — FICO® Scores are used by 90 of the top 100 US lenders.
- Fraud Detection and Security — 4 billion payment cards globally are protected by FICO fraud systems.
- Lending — 3/4 of US mortgages are approved using the FICO Score.
Global trends toward digital transformation have created tremendous demand for FICO’s solutions, placing us among the world’s top 100 software companies by revenue. We help many of the world’s largest banks, insurers, retailers, telecommunications providers and other firms reach a new level of success. Our success is dependent on really talented people – just like you – who thrive on the collaboration and innovation that’s nurtured by a diverse and inclusive environment. We’ll provide the support you need, while ensuring you have the freedom to develop your skills and grow your career. Join FICO and help change the way business thinks!
Learn more about how you can fulfil your potential at www.fico.com/Careers
FICO promotes a culture of inclusion and seeks to attract a diverse set of candidates for each job opportunity. We are an equal employment opportunity employer and we’re proud to offer employment and advancement opportunities to all candidates without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. Research has shown that women and candidates from underrepresented communities may not apply for an opportunity if they don’t meet all stated qualifications. While our qualifications are clearly related to role success, each candidate’s profile is unique and strengths in certain skill and/or experience areas can be equally effective. If you believe you have many, but not necessarily all, of the stated qualifications we encourage you to apply.
Information submitted with your application is subject to the FICO Privacy policy at https://www.fico.com/en/privacy-policy
Principal Applied Scientist Jobs by Experience Level
See All 56 Principal Applied Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsPrincipal Applied Scientist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Amazon23
- Microsoft11
- Amazon Web Services9
- FICO1
- NVIDIA1
Top Industries Hiring
- Retail
- Technology & Software
- E-Commerce & Online Marketplaces
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in principal applied scientist jobs.
- PhD in computer science, statistics, or a related quantitative field
- 7 or more years of applied machine learning or data science experience
- Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow
- Proven record of deploying large-scale ML models to production systems
- Experience mentoring senior scientists and leading multi-team research initiatives
- Strong publication history or equivalent applied research contributions
Tips for Your Principal Applied Scientist Job Search
Align your resume to research impact
Principal applied scientist roles expect evidence of research-to-production impact, not just publications. Quantify how your models improved a product metric, reduced latency, or scaled to production. Hiring managers at this level read for scope and ownership, not titles.
Target postings that name your research area
Filter openings by your core specialization, whether that's reinforcement learning, large language models, or causal inference. Applying to roles aligned with your published work gives your application immediate credibility and reduces the chance of a skills mismatch early in the process.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists principal applied scientist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Prepare a system design narrative
Many principal-level interviews include an ML system design round where you architect a production system end to end. Practice explaining tradeoffs in feature pipelines, model serving, and evaluation frameworks out loud, not just on paper, before your first screen.
Signal cross-functional leadership explicitly
At this level, teams expect you to influence product roadmaps and mentor staff scientists. Your resume and cover materials should name specific instances where you shaped a product decision or defined a modeling strategy, not just executed one handed to you.
Negotiate scope and research time, not only pay
When you receive an offer, ask directly about the ratio of applied research to engineering work and whether the team publishes externally. These shape your day-to-day far more than base compensation alone, and most hiring managers expect principal candidates to ask.
Principal Applied Scientist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most principal applied scientists?
Amazon, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services are hiring the most principal applied scientists right now, with openings concentrated in Washington, California, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is strongest at large technology companies and research-intensive enterprises building proprietary AI infrastructure.
How many principal applied scientist jobs are remote?
About 61% of principal applied scientist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting broad employer flexibility at the senior end of the applied science ladder. Roles focused on modeling research and algorithm development tend to be more remote-compatible than those requiring close collaboration with hardware or infrastructure teams.
How do you become a principal applied scientist?
Most principal applied scientists progress through a combination of doctoral-level training and years of hands-on modeling work in production environments. Building a portfolio of shipped ML systems, contributing to peer-reviewed research, and demonstrating cross-functional leadership within a data science organization are the steps that consistently move candidates from senior to principal level.
Can you get a principal applied scientist role without deep research experience?
It is uncommon but not impossible. Some organizations define the principal level around engineering scale and production impact rather than research output. Candidates without a traditional research background strengthen their case by leading the architecture of a major ML platform, publishing internal technical reports, and accumulating evidence of measurable business impact across multiple projects.
What does the principal applied scientist interview process look like?
The process typically runs four to six rounds and includes a recruiter screen, a coding or ML fundamentals assessment, an ML system design session, a research presentation of past work, and a behavioral round focused on leadership and cross-functional influence. Finalists often meet with a director or VP to discuss research vision and team fit before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to principal applied scientist jobs?
You can find and apply to principal applied scientist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search the available roles, find the ones that fit your background and research focus, and apply directly to each listing that matches what you are looking for.
See All 56 Principal Applied Scientist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Jobs