
Research Scientist (Pyspark/Databricks)
Chicago, ILJobSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today
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Job overview
The Research Scientist will enhance Python and PySpark data-processing solutions, prepare large datasets for machine learning and analytics, and design pipelines for research and experimentation. The role works with structured and unstructured data, including NLP use cases, and collaborates with data scientists, researchers, and engineers. It also supports exploratory analysis, model development, troubleshooting, and technical mentorship.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Full job description
Job Description
Responsibilities Enhance and maintain existing Python and PySpark-based data processing solutions Extract, transform, and prepare large datasets for machine learning and analytics initiatives Design and optimize data pipelines supporting research and experimentation efforts Work with structured and unstructured data, including text-heavy datasets and NLP use cases Collaborate with data scientists, researchers, and engineering teams to develop scalable solutions Troubleshoot data quality, pipeline, and performance issues across large-scale environments Conduct exploratory analysis and support model development activities Evaluate new approaches, tools, and technologies that improve research outcomes Provide technical mentorship, code reviews, and guidance to junior team members Translate business and research requirements into practical data solutions
Skills and Requirements
Required Qualifications Experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, Applied AI, or a related field Strong Python programming experience Hands-on experience with PySpark and distributed data processing Experience working within Databricks environments Advanced SQL skills Experience building, maintaining, or optimizing large-scale data pipelines Understanding of machine learning concepts, model development, and experimentation workflows Experience working with datasets ranging from millions of records Ability to navigate and enhance existing codebases Strong communication and mentoring abilities Natural Language Processing (NLP) experience Experience working with text analytics, document processing, language models, or related NLP applications Exposure to computer vision projects Spark performance tuning and optimization experience Experience supporting migrations between data platforms Experience partnering with research, analytics, and engineering teams in enterprise environments
We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request to [email protected].
How this job compares
Set against the 2,171 open Research Scientist jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 6, 2026.
- Pay
- This postingNot listed
- Illinois median$125–142K/yr31 salary ranges
- US median$35–48/hr45 hourly ranges
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 36 open Research Scientist jobs in Illinois and 2,171 across the US. 3% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Illinois
- AbbVie13 open
- Argonne National Laboratory9 open
- Rush University Medical Center3 open
- Experience
- Research Scientist postings that state a minimum ask for 3 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 2 to 6 years (1,119 postings).
- Education
- 1,089 of the 2,171 open Research Scientist jobs (50%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 6, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.
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