Principal Researcher, Es Research & Insights

Salesforce Salesforce · Enterprise · Indianapolis, IN +4

Salesforce is seeking a Principal Researcher with a specialized focus on Machine Learning to partner with executive leadership and C-suite stakeholders. The role involves setting strategic research priorities, building ML models for predictive and prescriptive workforce intelligence, and integrating advanced AI and LLMs into workforce strategy. Responsibilities include defining research questions, developing predictive and causal models, leading impact attribution studies, extracting insights from unstructured data, driving the evolution of research into scalable tools, identifying impacts on diverse employee segments, advising senior leadership, overseeing technical infrastructure and MLOps, and staying at the forefront of AI/LLM trends.

What you'd actually do

  1. Drive the long-term vision for predictive and prescriptive workforce intelligence by authoring new ML strategies that support Employee Success partners and enhance employee experience initiatives.
  2. Define complex business challenges as rigorous research questions and develop novel methodological approaches when standard techniques are insufficient.
  3. Lead the development of robust, well-calibrated machine learning models and causal identification strategies to generate forward-looking insights that help us understand the drivers of organizational success.
  4. Lead impact attribution studies for workforce programs, utilizing advanced statistical methods to determine the effectiveness of talent initiatives and guide future investments.
  5. Lead the extraction of insights from unstructured enterprise data to provide a holistic, 360-degree understanding of organizational sentiment and the employee experience.

Skills

Required

  • Python
  • R
  • SQL
  • ML frameworks (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow, Scikit-learn)
  • RAG-based solutions
  • LLMs
  • Architecting secure data enclaves
  • Implementing MLOps
  • Translating complex technical concepts for non-technical audiences
  • Influencing high-level workforce planning and organizational strategy using data-driven insights
  • Operating with a high degree of autonomy

Nice to have

  • Master’s or PhD in a highly quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics, I/O Psychology, Econometrics, or Statistics)
  • 10+ years in data science or applied research
  • Proven track record of leading large-scale AI/ML projects
  • Delivering scientific insights to executive-level leadership
  • History of peer-reviewed publications or high-impact technical briefings

What the JD emphasized

  • advanced AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
  • unstructured enterprise data
  • scalable, automated tools and workflows
  • senior leadership (SVP+ and C-suite)
  • MLOps

Other signals

  • Build ML models for predictive and prescriptive workforce intelligence
  • Integrate advanced AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) into workforce strategy
  • Extract insights from unstructured enterprise data
  • Develop scalable, automated tools and workflows for workforce planning
  • Partner with and advise senior leadership (SVP+ and C-suite)