Principal Data Scientist- Eng

UKG, the Workforce Operating Platform, seeks a Principal Data Scientist in Engineering to shape the organization-wide data science vision and strategy. Based in Atlanta with a hybrid schedule, this role influences executive decisions and scales AI and ML capabilities to deliver durable business outcomes across the company.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the company-wide data science technical strategy, ensuring alignment across product areas and use cases.
• Architect scalable data science systems and infrastructure patterns that support long-term evolution; evaluate major platform investments and influence critical design decisions.
• Own initiatives with broad business impact and build organizational capabilities, including frameworks, platforms, and standards that outlast individual projects.
• Shape strategic decision making and influence executives by providing analysis and decision frameworks used across the DS organization.
• Lead enterprise-wide agent development strategy, evaluate AI/ML frameworks and vendor relationships, and ensure governance, safety, reliability, and responsible AI.
• Define the DS innovation agenda, enable breakthroughs across teams, guide major transitions, and model resilience at senior levels.
• Nurture talent by mentoring senior ICs and managers, shape the DS career framework, and drive learning and hiring programs across the org.
• Translate business strategy into DS strategy and ensure enterprise-scale governance and data needs are met.

Requirements

• PhD in a quantitative field with 8+ years of industry experience, or Master’s with 12+ years in data science, machine learning, or related disciplines, with a track record of expanding organizational scope and impact.
• Recognized technical authority in the data science community with expertise across multiple AI/ML domains and a history of evaluating emerging techniques for strategic fit and organizational adoption.
• Proven ability to set and execute company-wide DS technical strategy with outcomes spanning multiple product areas and delivering business-critical results.
• Experience influencing executive decisions on products, technology investments, and business strategy, and representing data science as a strategic function in senior planning forums.
• Experience designing and governing DS systems at enterprise scale, including MLOps, model governance, data quality, responsible AI, and compliance.
• Strong command of ML frameworks, cloud platforms (GCP / BigQuery / Agent Platform, or equivalents), and the full AI/ML toolchain; ability to set enterprise-wide standards for code quality and automation.
• Hands-on history of building and delivering production ML/AI models across the full lifecycle: problem framing, feature engineering, modeling, evaluation, and post-deployment monitoring.
• Experience mentoring senior technical talent including staff-level ICs and engineering managers; influence on career frameworks and company-wide learning programs.
• Exceptional executive communication skills, able to translate complex technical strategy into business-aligned narratives that drive decision-making.

Technologies

• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• BigQuery
• Agent Platform
• MLOps

Benefits

• Performance-based bonus plan
• Restricted stock unit awards

Compensation

The pay range for this position is $163,900 to $235,550 per year. The actual base pay offered will reflect skills, experience, and location, and may be complemented by a performance-based bonus and RSU awards as part of total compensation.

Company overview

UKG is the Workforce Operating Platform that puts workforce understanding to work. With the world’s largest collection of workforce insights and people-first AI, UKG helps customers reveal unseen opportunities to build trust, amplify productivity, and empower talent. The Data Science team sits at the intersection of cutting-edge research and real-world impact, building scalable models and intelligent systems that serve millions of employees. This role defines the org-wide data science vision and strategy and acts as the authoritative technical voice for data science at UKG, shaping how the company invests in AI and ML capabilities to create competitive advantage.

Disability accommodation in the application and interview process

If you need additional assistance at any point in the application or interview process, please email [email protected].