Hayley Killengrey

Chief Research Scientist - Industrial AIEast Bay, California | Hybrid We’re partnering with a major global technology organisation to appoint a Chief Research Scientist, focused on identifying what’s next in AI and translating frontier research into technologies with significant real-world impact. This is a rare opportunity to explore frontier AI research with the resources and scale to turn emerging ideas into technology used across some of the world's most complex environments. This is not a traditional AI delivery or engineering leadership role. We’re looking for a recognised AI research leader who operates ahead of the curve — someone who can anticipate where the field is heading over the next 6–12 months, investigate emerging research directions, rapidly test new ideas, and determine which technologies are worth pursuing before they become mainstream. The opportunity You’ll operate at the intersection of frontier AI research, experimentation and technology strategy, with the scope to explore emerging capabilities and influence where a global organisation invests next. You will:Identify emerging AI research, models and architectures with significant future potential.Rapidly prototype and experiment with new approaches to understand what works beyond the research paper.Determine which emerging technologies warrant deeper investment and development.Take promising research concepts from early exploration towards real-world application.Influence long-term AI strategy alongside senior technical and business leadership.Build and mentor a team of exceptional AI researchers and technologists.Develop an external presence within the AI research community through conferences, publications and thought leadership.Who we're looking for This role requires a frontier AI research profile rather than a standard applied AI delivery background. You may currently be working within a leading research lab, frontier AI company, advanced R&D organisation or highly research-driven technology environment. We’re particularly interested in:10+ years across AI/ML research, advanced R&D or emerging technology.PhD-level research depth or equivalent industry experience.A strong record of publications, patents, conference contributions or recognised technical thought leadership.Deep expertise across foundation models, LLMs and emerging AI architectures.The ability to spot important research trends early and translate them into experiments and prototypes.Experience taking advanced AI beyond theory and into complex, real-world environments.The technical credibility to engage with leading researchers alongside the communication skills to influence executive leadership.Experience building, mentoring or leading high-calibre research teams.This is for someone who doesn't just want to work with today's AI capabilities, but wants to help determine what comes next.Get in touch for a confidential conversation.