[Remote] Lead Data Scientist - Autonomous Goal Management

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Humana is a leading U.S. healthcare company focused on delivering AI innovation across its business segments. The role involves designing and developing advanced AI agents that autonomously manage complex goals, ensuring they operate effectively in dynamic environments.

Responsibilities

• Architect goal setting and goal decomposition mechanisms for autonomous agents operating in uncertain or open-ended environments
• Design and implement dynamic planning systems (e.g., hierarchical planning, curriculum learning, scratchpad/self-refinement loops)
• Collaborate on memory, tool-use, and feedback-loop designs enabling multi-step, self-directed agent behavior
• Develop evaluation frameworks for alignment with human intent, consistency, progress against long-horizon objectives
• Prototype agents that interface with APIs, MCP servers, search engines, databases, or real-world actuators to pursue goals safely and efficiency
• Explore mechanisms to detect and mitigate goal misalignment, looping behavior, or undesirable emergent strategies
• Work across teams to integrate goal alignment with safety, alignment, and operational reliability mechanisms

Skills

• Master's Degree and 4+ years of experience in research/ML engineering or an applied research scientist position preferably with a focus on developing production-ready AI solutions
• 2+ years of experience leading development of AI/ML systems
• Proficiency in SQL, Python, and data analysis/data mining tools
• Experience with machine learning frameworks like Pytorch, Jax, LangChain, LangGraph or AutoGen
• Experience with high performance, large-scale ML systems
• Experience with language modeling with transformers
• Experience with symbolic planning, causal reasoning, and model-based RL
• Experience with large-scale ETL
• Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience shipping autonomous, or semi-autonomous agents in production or simulation
• Experience with LLM-based agents with scratchpad/self-reflection or hierarchical task decomposition
• Understanding of autonomy risk mitigation strategies, including off-switch protocols, or bounded rationality

Benefits

• Work-Life Balance
• Generous PTO package
• Health benefits effective day 1
• Annual Incentive Plan
• 401K - Excellent company match
• Well-being program
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Associates who live and work from Home in the state of California, Illinois, Montana, or South Dakota will be provided a bi-weekly payment for their internet expense.
• Humana will provide Home or Hybrid Home/Office associates with telephone equipment appropriate to meet the business requirements for their position/job.
• Medical, dental and vision benefits
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Time off (including paid time off, company and personal holidays, volunteer time off, paid parental and caregiver leave)
• Short-term and long-term disability
• Life insurance

Company Overview

Company H1B Sponsorship