Lead Scientist

Lead Scientist - Houston, TX (Hybrid/On-site) role only

Reporting to the Senior Manager of AI Research, the Lead Scientist drives innovation and advances the development of statistical and machine learning models for PROS’ SaaS solutions. This role is pivotal in the discovery, experimentation, application, and enhancement of cutting-edge AI models. The Lead Scientist will collaborate closely with high-performing, cross-functional teams in AI Research, Engineering, and Product Management.

The Company - PROS:

PROS Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PRO) provides AI-powered solutions that optimize selling in the digital economy. PROS solutions make it possible for companies to price, configure and sell their products and services in an omnichannel environment with speed, precision and consistency. Our customers, who are leaders in their markets, benefit from decades of data science expertise infused into our industry solutions.

A Day in the Life of the Lead Scientist - About the role:

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled lead Scientist to join our Research Science team in Houston, TX. This role is ideal for a candidate with a strong foundation in Statistics and hands-on experience in pricing, revenue management, or time series forecasting. Expertise in areas such as causal inference, dynamic modeling, or statistical deep learning is highly valued. You will contribute to the development of predictive models and analytical tools that drive strategic decision-making for our clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct rigorous research, testing and data analysis for creation and enhancement of statistical and machine learning models for pricing, forecasting, and revenue optimization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business challenges into scalable data science solutions.
• Investigate and implement methods to improve model accuracy and interpretability.
• Communicate findings and recommendations to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Stay current with academic and industry research; present and preferably publish research findings in reputable conference and journals in relevant fields.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 6 years of experience in pricing, revenue management, or time series forecasting.
• Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals and conferences, preferably in pricing, revenue management, or related fields.
• Strong programming skills in Python, with experience using TensorFlow and Databricks.
• Proficiency with optimization solvers (e.g., CPLEX, Gurobi) and machine learning frameworks.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.

Highly Preferred:

• AI Literacy: Demonstrates a solid understanding of core AI concepts, terminology, and practical applications. Effectively leverages AI tools to enhance productivity, insights, and decision-making, while adhering to ethical standards and best practices.
• Prompt Engineering: Skilled at crafting clear, structured, and effective prompts to optimize the quality, relevance, and utility of AI-generated outputs.
• Agentic AI: Understands the role of autonomous agents in streamlining workflows and automating end-to-end tasks. Able to build, utilize, or manage agentic AI systems and integrate them into business processes.
• PhD in Operations Research or related field
• Experience in B2B or enterprise software environments.
• Expertise in reinforcement learning or dynamic pricing algorithms.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) and big data technologies.
• Proven success leading cross-functional data science or R&D initiatives.

Skills & Competencies- We value candidates who:

• Use AI tools to enhance efficiency and creativity, applying them to automate tasks, generate insights, or improve day-to-day decision-making.
• Stay curious and open to new technologies, regularly exploring AI-driven solutions to elevate team performance and customer impact.
• Demonstrate a growth mindset, experimenting with AI capabilities—from content generation to predictive analytics—to fuel continuous innovation in their role.

PROS Core Values

• Ownership
• Innovation
• Care

PROS culture and the truly extraordinary people who work here are at the very core of our success. We have a passion for what we do, and we won’t stop until we’ve delivered on our promises. We’re committed to the success of our customers. That’s why we think harder and dream bigger – so our customers can go even further than they ever imagined possible.

This is a unique opportunity to join a company that has 30+ years of proven success with a long runway of more success.

Our people make PROS stand out from the rest. If you want to be a part of something truly extraordinary, come help us shape the future of how companies compete and win in their markets.

Most work activities are performed in an office or home-office environment and require little to moderate physical exertion. Work activities may require periods of extended hours, critical deadlines and stressful situations. To successfully complete the tasks of this position, individuals must be able to communicate clearly (in writing and orally), comprehend business terminology, interpret numerical data.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position.