Senior AI Researcher ML Engineer Cognitive Computing

📋 Job Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Data Scientist and AI Researcher to lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced autonomous AI models. You will bridge the gap between cutting-edge theoretical research and scalable, real-world solutions within our sovereign AI infrastructure. Join us in Athens, Greece, where we offer full relocation and EU Blue Card sponsorship for US talent seeking a focused, research-driven environment away from domestic politics.

🏢 About Athena Group

Athena Group Limited (Athena Group) is a global pioneer in Sovereign Cloud, Cybersecurity, and Sovereign AI. Operating through our leading brands of Cloud Carib Limited (serving the Caribbean, Central, and South America) and Athena Cloud Limited (focusing on EMEA and global markets). We are building the secure, sovereign digital infrastructure of the future.

🎯 The Role

You will be part of an elite strike team in Athens building out a Cognitive Computing framework. Your research and engineering will directly solve the challenge of Agentic AI and serve as the backbone for the next generation of the internet.

✅ Key Responsibilities

• Spearhead the research and development of Cognitive Computing systems, advancing the historic goals of Autonomic Computing through modern Agentic AI and harness development.
• Design, build, and deploy production-grade autonomous machine learning models and end-to-end AI pipelines for sovereign environments.
• Architect advanced NLP solutions, including complex Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) architectures, document ingestion, and conversational AI orchestration.
• Perform complex data clustering, anomaly detection, and predictive modelling using both tabular and time-series data to enable self-healing and self-optimizing cloud infrastructure.
• Architect and maintain scalable MLOps workflows leveraging cloud environments within legally Sovereign Stacks and Sovereign Cloud infrastructure.
• Collaborate with cross-functional global teams to integrate AI capabilities into back-end systems.
• Lead research into new deep learning algorithms to improve training, interpretation, and optimisation of neural networks for secure, isolated environments.

📌 Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Machine Learning, or a closely related field.
• Proven track record as a Senior Data Scientist, Machine Learning Engineer, or AI Researcher with a strong publication or production-deployment history.
• Deep passion for solving complex, fundamental computer science problems, specifically related to autonomous systems and Agentic AI.
• Extensive programming expertise in Python, SQL, and familiarity with C++, JavaScript, or Bash.
• Deep technical knowledge of ML/DL frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, scikit-learn, XGBoost, and Hugging Face.
• Hands-on experience with modern MLOps practices (Git, Docker, Jenkins, Grafana) and API integrations.
• A strong desire to relocate to Europe, seeking a healthier work-life balance and a focused, research-driven professional environment away from US domestic politics.

🎁 Benefits

Full Relocation & Visa Sponsorship: Comprehensive support for your transition from the US to Athens, Greece, including complete processing of your EU Blue Card via our Law89 entity.

Pre-IPO Trajectory: Unparalleled career growth and equity potential as you join a scaling global entity tracking toward a Euronext listing.

Impactful Work: The chance to definitively solve the Autonomic Computing challenge and shape the Agentic AI-based internet.

Unmatched Lifestyle: Enjoy the climate, culture, cuisine, and history of Greece, backed by comprehensive health insurance and wellness benefits.

Resources: Access to state-of-the-art computational resources (including high-end local AI inference hardware) and a highly collaborative, research-driven environment.

🛂 Visa & Eligibility

We offer full relocation and EU Blue Card sponsorship for US talent. The role requires a strong desire to relocate to Europe and a focus on research-driven work away from US domestic politics.