AI Research & Data Analytics Associate

Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)•Austin, TX

1d•$89,286 - $111,608•Onsite

About The Position

The AI Research & Data Analytics Associate Fellow supports the Enterprise AI & Data Management team by researching, prototyping, and evaluating emerging AI technologies, advanced analytics capabilities, and data-driven solutions. The role contributes to applied research, proof-of-concept development, technology assessments, and responsible AI practices to advance enterprise AI engineering, AI-enabled applications, and modern data platform capabilities. The associate works with the Enterprise AI & Data Management team, IT staff, and agency employees to explore and validate AI and data platform capabilities and support their adoption. This is a full-time, temporary Fellowship Program assignment limited to no more than three years from the date of hire. It is intended for applicants who graduated from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's or master's degree within the last 12 months. The fellow also participates in the TRS Fellowship Program curriculum, including training, projects, webinars, quarterly check-ins, classes or other learning activities, a book group, and mentoring.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university in computer science, data science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computer engineering, information technology, or a closely related field, awarded within the last 12 months.
No prior experience required.
No registration, certification, or licensure required.

Nice To Haves

Experience through coursework, internships, research projects, or personal projects developing prototypes or proof-of-concept solutions.
Exposure to AI and machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
Exposure to Microsoft Azure services, including Azure AI Services, Microsoft Fabric, and Azure Databricks.
Basic understanding of Azure-based data and analytics architectures.
Basic understanding of APIs, integrations, and software development concepts.
Familiarity with cloud computing platforms and modern data environments.
Knowledge of generative AI and agentic AI concepts, including RAG, AI agents, context engineering, prompt engineering, and harness engineering.
Knowledge of application development with Python.
Skills in Python, LangChain/Microsoft Agentic Framework, Azure AI Services, Databricks, Fabric, and Snowflake.
Ability to communicate basic technical information to people with varying levels of technical knowledge.
Ability to manage conflicting priorities and demands.
Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate work to meet frequent or multiple deadlines and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with co-workers, agency staff, and external contacts.
Ability to work effectively in a professional, matrix team environment.
Ability to create technical documentation and present findings to the broader team.
Ability to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, continuous learning, and self-directed research.

Responsibilities

Research emerging AI technologies, trends, tools, and industry practices.
Evaluate potential applications of generative AI, agentic AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics solutions.
Summarize findings and recommendations to support AI initiatives.
Develop proofs of concept, prototypes, and technical demonstrations to evaluate AI technologies and solutions.
Support testing and validation of AI tools, models, and technologies.
Document results, lessons learned, and recommendations for future implementation.
Stay current on responsible AI, governance, and industry standards.
Support development and enhancement of AI data pipelines, AI-enabled applications, and related solutions.
Assist with Enterprise AI and Data Platform initiatives, including Databricks, Fabric, and Azure AI Services.
Create and maintain technical documentation, research summaries, and reusable assets.
Support responsible AI practices by considering privacy, security, bias, and governance requirements.
Collaborate with architects, engineers, analysts, and business teams on AI-related initiatives.
Assist with special projects and perform other work as assigned.
May research, compile, and analyze data and prepare simple queries and reports.
May review forms, correspondence, reports, and other documents for completeness and acceptability.
May review and analyze agency policies, procedures, and forms and recommend changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Participate in TRS Fellowship Program trainings and projects, including webinars, quarterly check-ins, classes or other learning activities, a book group, projects, and mentoring.
Meet TRS Fellowship Program deadlines and goals for completing trainings and deliverables in a timely manner.
Perform related work as assigned.