Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuityinc.com.

Work location:

This position requires on-site presence in Boulder, CO, following a hybrid work model.

Job Summary

We are seeking a well rounded Director of Applied AI research to lead our burgeoning product focused research teams. Focusing on the locus of human experiences, artificial intelligence, and the built space. The Director of Applied Research, Technology, and AI will lead the team to investigate novel and progressive artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data driven solutions that will change the course of the audio-visual and smart building industry. Will work closely with product management, executive leadership, and industry leads across the various product categories, domains, and technologies to uncover, investigate, and create compelling solutions to our industries unsolved ‘grand challenges’.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

Management and Leadership:

Manages a staff of associates with hire/fire, compensation and performance management decision making. Responsible for career development, mentoring and training of staff members.
Proactive, positive, dynamic, and empowering leadership style
Collaborate with executive leadership to shape and cast broader AI vision across our brands.
Collaborate with human resources to develop AI talent recruiting and development pipeline.

Research Strategy:

Co-Develop, maintain, and evangelize research themes and projects for the various AI and Data Science teams.
Collaborate with product management, industry experts, and domain specialists to uncover new solution spaces.

Budget:

Create and maintain departmental budgets inclusive of staff, consultants, project expenses, infrastructure, T&E, laboratory costs.
Ensure that fiscal resources are well managed, balancing innovation with fiscal responsibility.

Research Evangelist:

AI Adoption Evangelist within AIS: Work with internal developers and key leaders to continue the application of AI solutions inside and outside of AIS
Customer feedback and ideation: Develop and lead compelling technology demonstrations for various tradeshows and customer counsel events. Solicit end customer reactions and feedback.

Business Impact:

Research themes and projects with viable outcomes matriculate regularly into product roadmap, and ultimately products and features. Core contributor to IP review and creation (patents, trade secrets).

Policy and Ethics:

Ensure all AI research and deployment adheres to the highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency, and compliance with relevant regulations.
Establish and maintain responsible AI practices, including fairness, accountability, and privacy, and serve as a thought leader on ethical innovation within the company and industry.
Collaborate with senior leadership across the organization to create policy where needed.

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

Master’s Degree or equivalent (required), PhD or Post Doc (preferred)
Proven track record in leading, growing, and contributing to applied research and applied AI teams and projects.
Proven experience with multi-modal AI (audio, video, industrial sensing) and sensor fusion.
Proven experience with generative AI – from foundational models to SLM, to small generative networks.
Proven track record moving research to product.
In-depth knowledge of ML, and AI frameworks and tooling (pytorch, CUDA, OpenVino, etc.)
Familiarity with cloud architecture, and cloud based inference platforms

The range for this position is $173,600 to $312,500. Placement within this range may vary, depending on the applicant’s experience and geographic location. Acuity offers generous benefits including health care, dental coverage, vision plans, 401K benefits, and commissions/incentive compensation depending on the role. For a list of our benefits, click here.

We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Please click here and here for more information.  

Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities:  As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, you may contact us at (770) 922-9000, select option 4.  Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition. 

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Inc. from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Inc. employees, or to Acuity Inc. resume database will be considered Acuity Inc. property. Acuity Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.

Acuity Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor, but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.

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Director of Applied Research

Technology, AI

Acuity

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Job Summary

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