Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research & Development

TransUnion•Chicago, IL

13h•Hybrid

About The Position

TransUnion’s Artificial Intelligence Research & Development team advances next-generation AI capabilities by combining classical AI methods—including planning, reasoning, optimization, and knowledge representation—with generative AI architectures. The team translates emerging research into scalable platforms and differentiated products across TransUnion’s data, analytics, and customer solutions. The Vice President defines and executes enterprise AI R&D strategy and leads the development of production-grade agentic systems, cognitive architectures, and planning-based AI frameworks. The role builds and scales an organization of applied scientists, machine learning engineers, and research engineers; converts research into production-ready platforms and reusable components; and partners with Product, Engineering, Solutions, and business leaders to bring AI capabilities into customer-facing products. The role also establishes experimentation, evaluation, reproducibility, and benchmarking practices; maintains external research relationships; and embeds responsible AI principles, including transparency, explainability, fairness, governance, and risk management. This is a hybrid position, with regular work performed virtually and in person at an assigned TransUnion office at least two days per week. The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Artificial Intelligence Research & Development.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive experience in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or related technical fields.
Experience leading large-scale AI R&D organizations and delivering measurable business impact.
Demonstrated experience building and deploying production AI-powered products that combine generative AI and classical AI techniques.
Deep knowledge of hybrid AI system design and the trade-offs among symbolic, deterministic, probabilistic, and learning-based approaches.
Executive-level communication and cross-functional leadership experience, including influencing senior leaders and guiding complex AI systems from research through commercialization.
PhD in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, or a related discipline emphasizing classical AI (such as planning, search, logic, or knowledge representation), or equivalent advanced expertise gained through relevant research and industry experience.
Knowledge of generative AI and LLM architectures, including agent orchestration and production deployment patterns.
Knowledge of classical AI methods, including automated planning and scheduling, search, logic, constraint satisfaction, and knowledge representation.
Knowledge of knowledge graphs, symbolic reasoning, and cognitive or agentic system architectures.
Knowledge of reinforcement learning, mathematical optimization, statistical learning, and machine learning evaluation methods.
Knowledge of AI platform and engineering practices for scalable, reproducible, explainable, and governed production systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience creating reusable enterprise AI platforms, reasoning engines, orchestration layers, or agent frameworks.
Track record of converting advanced research into scalable, revenue-generating products or customer solutions.
Experience establishing external research partnerships with universities, laboratories, or industry consortia.
Familiarity with highly regulated data, analytics, financial services, credit, identity, fraud, or information-services environments.
Experience leading globally distributed technical teams and operating effectively at both strategic and hands-on levels.

Responsibilities

Define and execute enterprise AI R&D strategy, integrating classical and generative AI into architectures that support business and customer outcomes.
Lead the design and development of production-grade agentic systems, cognitive architectures, and planning-based AI frameworks for real-world decisioning.
Advance hybrid AI systems that combine symbolic reasoning, statistical learning, large language models, and deterministic methods such as constraint satisfaction.
Build, lead, and scale a high-performing organization of applied scientists, machine learning engineers, and research engineers.
Translate research in automated planning, knowledge graphs, reinforcement learning, optimization, and LLM orchestration into production-ready platforms and reusable components.
Partner with Product, Engineering, Solutions, and business leaders to identify high-value use cases and embed AI capabilities in customer-facing products.
Establish AI experimentation, evaluation, reproducibility, and benchmarking practices, including performance measures for hybrid AI systems.
Develop reusable AI capabilities, including reasoning engines, orchestration layers, agent frameworks, and shared platform components.
Build relationships with academia and industry to connect TransUnion with emerging AI research and talent.
Embed responsible AI principles—including transparency, explainability, fairness, governance, and risk management—into autonomous and AI-enabled systems.
Adhere to company policies; exercise sound judgment and trustworthiness; work safely and communicate respectfully; and safeguard business operations, confidential and proprietary information, and the company’s reputation.

Benefits

Day-one eligibility for medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus supplemental plan options.
Spousal, domestic partner, and other eligible dependent coverage on select plans.
Tax-advantaged HSA and FSA accounts.
Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance; optional voluntary life and AD&D coverage for employees and family.
Short- and long-term disability coverage.
Optional legal plan, pet insurance, and travel accident coverage.
Adoption assistance and fertility planning coverage.
Caregiver support and Dependent Care FSA, with the possibility of an employer match.
Complimentary Care@Work membership.
Up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible employees, with a gradual return.
401(k) with employer match.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP).
Financial wellness resources and career coaching.
Optional long-term care insurance.
Tuition reimbursement.
Flexible time off for exempt employees or paid time off for nonexempt employees.
Up to 12 paid holidays per year.
Commuter benefits and employee discounts.
Charitable gift matching and paid volunteer time off, plus corporate volunteer events.
24/7 professional therapy, coaching, and emotional well-being programs, guided meditation, and resources supporting physical, mental, social, and financial wellness.
Regular, full-time non-sales positions may be eligible for the annual bonus plan; certain positions may also be eligible for long-term incentives and other payments.