Senior Research Scientist, AI & Workforce Intelligence

About Us

Work a four-day week from anywhere for a company where people genuinely believe in what they do. Wonderlic leads the way in fair, predictive science to create a world where everyone finds and thrives in their best job—and that starts with you. We expertly combine our science-based assessment expertise with I-O psychology, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to deliver evidence-based insights that empower smarter employment decisions. Our simple, intuitive assessment tools help sophisticated HR teams identify top applicants, predict on-the-job performance, and ensure our own team is engaged and equipped to do their best work. Wonderlic has always championed progressive, sustainable approaches that allow people to excel professionally while living balanced, fulfilling lives.

What Sets Us Apart

• Scientific Precision: We apply rigorous scientific methodologies to develop assessments that accurately gauge individuals' potential and fit within various organizational contexts.
• Innovation: Our dedication to continuous improvement drives us to explore cutting-edge techniques and technologies, ensuring our assessments remain at the forefront of talent assessment.
• Impactful Solutions: By integrating I-O Psychology principles into our processes, we deliver solutions that not only meet the immediate hiring needs of organizations but also contribute to long-term success and retention.

Overview

Wonderlic is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to sit at the precise intersection of I-O psychology and machine learning - someone who has spent time building real systems with real data who cares deeply about what those systems are predicting. This is not a role for an ML engineer who finds people data interesting as a side project, or for an I-O psychologist who has learned to code. We're looking for someone who has genuinely lived in both worlds and is ready to own the problems that live between them.

Senior Research Scientist

• Lead the Continued Development of the Jobs Engine: Own the architecture, integrity, and continuous expansion of Wonderlic's AI job analysis system, which ingests labor market data from O*NET, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other sources to extrapolate cognitive complexity ratings, norm groups, and occupational interest profiles for thousands of jobs.
• Build and refine the models that make inferences about work content from unstructured text. Leverage existing occupational taxonomies (e.g., O*NET, ESCO) where appropriate but also expand beyond them.
• Ensure all outputs are scientifically defensible and scalable as the nature of work evolves.
• Act as an Expert on AI Implementation Across the Organization: Partner with product managers, engineers, and I-O psychologists to translate scientific requirements into AI-powered systems and ensure those systems meet the standards the work demands. Advise on which approaches are best suited to specific implementation challenges - assessment interpretation, manager and teams reporting, coaching content - and help teams understand what good looks like before they build and after they ship.
• Serve as an internal resource on what ML and AI can and cannot do in assessment and organizational contexts, and contribute to Wonderlic's external scientific credibility.
• Drive Scientific Rigor: Apply I-O psychology principles - adverse impact consideration, norm group construction, and evidence-based evaluation standards - to every system you build. Ensure that Wonderlic's AI products meet professional and legal standards for selection and development tools. Push back when speed is being prioritized at the expense of defensibility, and find pragmatic paths forward when theoretical purity would prevent shipping.

What You'll Do

• Lead the Continued Development of the Jobs Engine: Own the architecture, integrity, and continuous expansion of Wonderlic's AI job analysis system, which ingests labor market data from O*NET, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other sources to extrapolate cognitive complexity ratings, norm groups, and occupational interest profiles for thousands of jobs.
• Build and refine the models that make inferences about work content from unstructured text. Leverage existing occupational taxonomies (e.g., O*NET, ESCO) where appropriate but also expand beyond them.
• Ensure all outputs are scientifically defensible and scalable as the nature of work evolves.
• Act as an Expert on AI Implementation Across the Organization: Partner with product managers, engineers, and I-O psychologists to translate scientific requirements into AI-powered systems and ensure those systems meet the standards the work demands. Advise on which approaches are best suited to specific implementation challenges - assessment interpretation, manager and teams reporting, coaching content - and help teams understand what good looks like before they build and after they ship.
• Serve as an internal resource on what ML and AI can and cannot do in assessment and organizational contexts, and contribute to Wonderlic's external scientific credibility.
• Drive Scientific Rigor: Apply I-O psychology principles - adverse impact consideration, norm group construction, and evidence-based evaluation standards - to every system you build. Ensure that Wonderlic's AI products meet professional and legal standards for selection and development tools. Push back when speed is being prioritized at the expense of defensibility, and find pragmatic paths forward when theoretical purity would prevent shipping.

Qualifications

• Graduate degree in I-O Psychology, Organizational Psychology, Organizational Development, or closely related field (quantitative focus strongly preferred); doctoral degree a plus.
• Demonstrated ML engineering experience with shipped, production-grade systems - not just research or coursework.
• Experience applying modern NLP methods to behavioral, assessment-based, or labor market data.
• Track record of work that had to be both technically sound and legally/professionally defensible.
• Minimum 3 years of applied industry experience; 5+ years preferred.
• Experience at the intersection of I-O science and algorithmic fairness strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with occupational taxonomies, vocational interests, or cognitive ability frameworks a significant plus.

Compensation

$95,000 to $110,000 based on experience and expertise.

Policies

Our Policy Affirmative Action Plan/Equal Employer Opportunity (AAP/EEO) Statement: Research suggests that both the confidence gap and imposter syndrome can make members of some groups (including women, members of the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities, and candidates of less traditional age, education, or background) less likely to apply for jobs when they don't meet 100% of the qualifications. At Wonderlic, we are in the business of identifying potential, and we encourage all interested candidates to apply. Wonderlic is proud to be an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Here, diversity is valued and celebrated, and this is what makes us such a successful team. Wonderlic does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy status, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military/veteran status, or any other factor protected by law. In addition, we will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please get in touch with us at jobs@wonderlic.com to request an accommodation.

Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to include a comprehensive list of duties and responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties and responsibilities may change or be assigned at any time, with or without notice.