The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.

The Associated Press’ Metadata and Data Science Team seeks a Data Scientist based in New York, NY.

Why This Role Matters

The Data Scientist will design and implement data science and applied machine learning solutions supporting new product development, search and discovery on platform, content enrichment and metadata generation. As a member of cross-functional project teams, the Data Scientist will perform data analysis, evaluate commercial and open-source models, and deliver solutions with real-world impact.

The team works closely with various departments and functions across the organization to design, implement and manage end-to-end content metadata, to maintain the integrity of schema standards, and to build solutions with data, analytics and machine learning methods.

What You Will Do

Evaluate, fine-tune, and maintain statistical and machine learning models used in run-time production environments, measuring and communicating performance improvements to stakeholders
Partner with cross-functional teams to design and optimize AI/ML solutions that deliver new product capabilities and internal workflow improvements, using news articles, photos, videos, election results, and other news data
Research, evaluate, and recommend models and methodologies across the AI/ML landscape, presenting recommended solutions to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Identify and address gaps in model quality and performance metrics, synthesizing findings into clear, actionable recommendations
Contribute to the design and enhancement of data and ML pipelines, including multimodal embedding generation and knowledge extraction, with a focus on accuracy, efficiency, and scalability
Design user-centered solutions and search algorithms focused on quality and performance
Stay current with emerging technologies and advances in NLP, machine learning, and data science, proactively surfacing opportunities for improvement
Support the full model development lifecycle, from problem definition and prototyping through integration, deployment, monitoring, and iteration
Communicate analysis and present findings clearly, adapting to a range of technical and business audiences

Who You Are

3+ years of relevant data science experience, with strong proficiency in Python including NumPy, Pandas, and large-scale semi-structured JSON data
Bachelor's degree in Data Science or Computer Science
Experienced applying core machine learning methods including classification, clustering, regression, and ranking
Hands-on experience with NLP techniques such as entity recognition, disambiguation, semantic similarity, and embedding-based retrieval
Experience with transformer models for structured extraction, classification, summarization, and generation
Experience with hybrid search algorithms, retrieval pipelines, intent detection, query expansion, and relevance tuning in Elasticsearch or OpenSearch
Experience working with both language and multimodal models
Experience and comfort working with real-world data, including text and visuals, at scale
Familiar with ML engineering and ML Ops practices, with a track record of delivering runtime solutions
Familiarity with cohort analysis, session segmentation, A/B testing, and confidence calibration
Analytical and curious, with strong problem-solving skills and a practical focus on high-impact, cost-aware solutions
Able to effectively manage multiple project deliverables simultaneously
Comfortable being accountable for deliverables across the full product development lifecycle, from problem definition through launch and iteration
An effective communicator who can tailor analysis and presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences
Collaborative and empathetic, with a genuine focus on user impact and a desire to grow data literacy across the organization
Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English
Authorization to work in the United States for any employer

What Will Set You Apart

Experience in news media or working with news as data strongly preferred
Master's degree in Data Science or a related field
Familiarity with graph data models and designing entity-relationship schemas
Eagerness to learn the technical nuances of large-scale media operations and identify opportunities within evolving systems

Location:

This role is based in New York City with a hybrid work schedule. AP employees are onsite three days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Local candidates are preferred, but all qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Why Join Us

A mission-driven, inclusive environment focused on both individual and collective success. 
Opportunities for professional development to help you reach your career goals. 
Access to tools, mentorship, and resources tailored to elevate your proficiency and contributions.

Salary & Benefits

The anticipated salary range for this position is $116,000 – $160,000, based on a candidate’s skills, qualifications, and location. The Associated Press offers comprehensive benefits, which include:

Competitive medical, dental and vision coverage
Retirement benefits
Company paid life insurance
Paid vacation and sick days
Paid parental leave for any new parent
Mental well-being resources

Deadline for applications is 11:59pm ET on June 22, 2026.

AP seeks to build an inclusive organization grounded in respect for differences. We support all aspects of diversity and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a veteran, or other characteristic protected by law.

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