Director of Applied Research, Technology, AI

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at

Work location:

• This position requires on-site presence in Boulder, CO, following a hybrid work model.

We are seeking a well rounded Director of Applied AI research to lead our burgeoning product focused research teams. Focusing on the locus of human experiences, artificial intelligence, and the built space. The Director of Applied Research, Technology, and AI will lead the team to investigate novel and progressive artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data driven solutions that will change the course of the audio-visual and smart building industry.

Will work closely with product management, executive leadership, and industry leads across the various product categories, domains, and technologies to uncover, investigate, and create compelling solutions to our industries unsolved ‘grand challenges’.

Management and Leadership:

• Manages a staff of associates with hire/fire, compensation and performance management decision making. Responsible for career development, mentoring and training of staff members.
• Proactive, positive, dynamic, and empowering leadership style
• Collaborate with executive leadership to shape and cast broader AI vision across our brands.
• Collaborate with human resources to develop AI talent recruiting and development pipeline.

Research Strategy:

• Co-Develop, maintain, and evangelize research themes and projects for the various AI and Data Science teams.
• Collaborate with product management, industry experts, and domain specialists to uncover new solution spaces.

Budget:

• Create and maintain departmental budgets inclusive of staff, consultants, project expenses, infrastructure, T&E, laboratory costs.
• Ensure that fiscal resources are well managed, balancing innovation with fiscal responsibility.

Research Evangelist:

• AI Adoption Evangelist within AIS:
  Work with internal developers and key leaders to continue the application of AI solutions inside and outside of AIS
• Customer feedback and ideation:
  Develop and lead compelling technology demonstrations for various trade shows and customer counsel events. Solicit end customer reactions and feedback.

Business Impact:

• Research themes and projects with viable outcomes matriculate regularly into product roadmap, and ultimately products and features. Core contributor to IP review and creation (patents, trade secrets).

Policy and Ethics:

• Ensure all AI research and deployment adheres to the highest standards of ethical conduct, transparency, and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Establish and maintain responsible AI practices, including fairness, accountability, and privacy, and serve as a thought leader on ethical innovation within the company and industry.
• Collaborate with senior leadership across the organization to create policy where needed.

• Master’s Degree or equivalent (required), PhD or Post Doc (preferred)
• Proven track record in leading, growing, and contributing to applied research and applied AI teams and projects.
• Proven experience with multi-modal AI (audio, video, industrial sensing) and sensor fusion.
• Proven experience with generative AI – from foundational models to SLM, to small…