Lead, Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

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Overview

The Yale Center for Geospatial Solutions (YCGS) is seeking an experienced AI/ML professional to lead a new support function at the Center aimed at ensuring that Yale faculty, students, and staff can advance their geospatial work with these cutting-edge tools. As part of a new initiative at Yale, the Lead Geospatial Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (GAI Lead) role will strive to improve access to, and results of, AI research and applications across the social, environmental, and data sciences at Yale. To carry out this work, GAI Lead will forge connections with experts at other AI-focused units, such as the Yale Institute for Foundations and the Data Intensive Social Science Center (DISSC), to help the Yale community develop, use, and evaluate AI and apply it to deliver breakthrough research and applications at an unprecedented speed and scale.

YCGS’s mission is to provide the broad Yale community with a world class, user centered, support organization to harness emerging geospatial technologies that advance sustainability and planetary solutions. The center engages researchers and practitioners, across all disciplines to turn complex spatial data and tools into actionable insights that address pressing challenges at local to global scales. YCGS, working closely with its academic, industry, and government partners, supports the entire research lifecycle including the acquisition, secure storage and management, analysis, and dissemination of existing and novel spatial data resources transforming research from the physical and social sciences to engineering, medicine, and the humanities. YCGS also supports Yale operations and institutional decision-making, and functions as a resource and source of expertise for the greater Yale community (including the city of New Haven and the state of Connecticut).

As a key member of the YCGS team and of the Yale community carrying out this mission, the GAI Lead will be a knowledgeable AI enthusiast capable of building out a support program and of consulting with, and training faculty and staff to use emerging AI and ML tools as inputs into their work. This work will span applied GeoAI and machine learning for spatial research and applications, including remote sensing and computer vision, geospatial foundation models, LLM-enabled research workflows, API-based data and model integration, model selection, tuning, evaluation, and deployment, as well as other algorithmic methods needed to support rigorous, secure, and reproducible geospatial analysis. The AI lead must also be able to advise on public vs private models and how to work in secure environments.

The ideal candidate has experience developing or delivering research services, has a deep understanding of interdisciplinary research processes, and has skills and experience in the use of various AI and ML tools for data analysis, coding, writing and other tasks. The successful candidate will be an individual who enjoys working both independently and cooperatively with others, from a broad set of disciplinary backgrounds, on multiple projects involving a wide variety of topics and analytical tools. In this role, the GAI Lead will have principal responsibilities focused on GeoAI, generative AI, LLMs and machine learning.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated experience applying AI and machine learning methods to research problems, including GeoAI, generative AI, LLM-enabled workflows, computer vision, and model selection, tuning, and evaluation in interdisciplinary research settings.

2. Fluency with modern computational environments, including Python and/or R, command-line workflows, APIs, cloud or secure computing environments, and AI/ML tools, with the ability to learn and evaluate emerging methods as the field evolves.  

3. Demonstrated understanding of research methods across the social, environmental, and data sciences, with the ability to translate faculty research questions into appropriate data, modeling, evaluation, and reproducible analytical workflows.

4. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.

5. Strong interpersonal skills, communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, and research partners internally and externally.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1.Demonstrated experience applying, adapting, evaluating, and tuning GeoAI, machine learning, and Earth-observation foundation models, such as Prithvi, AlphaEarth, TerraMind, or comparable models.

2.Experience with LLM-enabled research workflows, including AI agent frameworks, and API-based model integration.

3.Understanding and appreciation of the secure use of public and private models is essential.

4.Experience teaching courses or workshops, developing technical training materials, or providing research consulting in an academic or interdisciplinary setting is a plus.

Principal Responsibilities

1. User Training: Refine training methodologies and train and mentor users of the research core, providing guidance and expertise. 2. Experiment Support: Collaborate closely with researchers and lead complex projects requiring customized solutions within the research core. 3. Facility/Instrument Support: Lead and manage research projects within the research core. 4. Technique Development: Contribute to the development of research strategies within the research core and evaluate and implement cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. 5. Data Analysis/Interpretation: Analyze and interpret complex scientific data, providing critical insights and recommendations. 6. Equipment Procurement: Assist in the evaluation, acquisition, and maintenance of research core equipment. 7. Professional Development: Stay updated with emerging research trends and technologies. Participate and present in professional development activities and scientific conferences, representing the research core at conferences and events. 8. Scientific Participation: Collaborate with users on manuscript preparation and grant proposals, as applicable. 9, Staff Training and Mentoring: Mentor and support junior staff members in their professional growth. 10. Leadership: Collaborate with senior core leadership on research core-related initiatives. 11. Finance and Admin: Support the Core Director with development and implementation of strategic plans and budgets for the research core. 12. Vendor Relations: Oversees strategic vendor partnerships, manages negotiations, and evaluates vendor performance for the research core. 13. Education and Outreach: Develop education and outreach activities within the core, including tours, events, etc.. Required Education and Experience Master's Degree in a related discipline and five years of related experience or an equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience.

Job Posting Date

09/10/2026

Job Category

Professional

Bargaining Unit

NON

Compensation Grade

Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile

Manager; Program Leader (26)

Salary Range

$92,000.00 - $146,750.00

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff

Work Model

Hybrid

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through  their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

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