• A leading role working at the frontier of applied AI globally, within a growing enterprise AI Centre of Excellence
• Shape the architecture, the evaluation methodology, and the technical culture of NAB’s AI function
• Partner with talented AI engineers, product leaders and domain experts to solve problems across the AI portfolio

Our people are customer obsessed. They prioritise the needs and satisfaction of the customer above all else.  Our mindset fosters innovation and creates strong, lasting customer relationships as we strive to be the most customer centric company in Australia and New Zealand 

In the role of Head of Data Science, you will join the AI COE team that’s doubling down on customer obsession. 

In this Head of Data Science role, you will:    

• Architect the agent systems that power NAB’s foundational AI products: defining how agents plan, reason, select and use tools, manage memory, and handle uncertainty.
• Design the prompting strategies, orchestration patterns, and context management approaches that determine agent behaviour and quality.
• Make the technical design decisions that determine whether an agent is safe, accurate, and reliable enough to handle customers’ finances.
• Work across the boundary of AI and engineering: translating architectural intent into implemented systems in partnership with software engineers.

We’re looking for the best and brightest to deliver the best for our customers. You’ll need:    

• A bachelor’s or post graduate degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics or other analytical fields of study.
• Extensive hands-on experience in machine learning, with demonstrable depth in at least one of: agentic AI systems, LLM-based product development, optimisation, or reinforcement learning.
• Experience designing AI systems for production deployment, not only research or prototyping: you have built systems that serve real users and have dealt with the complexity that entails.
• Strong foundations in statistics, probability, and experimental design: the ability to reason rigorously about uncertainty, measurement, and evidence.
• In depth understanding of foundation models, prompt and context engineering, tool use patterns, retrieval-augmented generation, and agent orchestration frameworks. Direct experience preferred.

A diverse and inclusive workplace works better for everyone 

We know that our people make us who we are. That’s why we have built a culture of equity and respect - where everyone feels valued and appreciated for being their authentic selves. In partnership with our multiple Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), we continue to foster an inclusive environment, where all NAB colleagues’ unique backgrounds and identities are understood, respected and celebrated. We are committed to providing an environment where you can work your way. 

For details on the recruitment process, and accessibility, or alternate methods to apply for this role, please visit https://www.nab.com.au/about-us/careers/apply-for-job. To discuss adjustment requirements, please contact the NAB Careers team via nab.careers@nab.com.au (please reference job number) or visit our Careers page through the link above for other contact options. 

Join NAB 

If you think this role is the right fit for you, we would love to hear from you. Please note candidate screening and interviews may be conducted prior to the closing date of the job advert. Unsolicited CVs from agencies will not be accepted.