Junior Machine Learning Engineer

Result of ServiceThe objective of the Individual Contractor (IC) is to support the Arab Development Portal’s work by implementing state of the art ML models on key development trends in the Arab region, with a focus on data-driven insights related to social, economic, and technological transformations. For this reason, the IC will be responsible for developing data ingestion and data transformation pipelines, AI & ML models to support the technical decisions and data architecture implemented. On top of that, the IC will be responsible of implementing LLM based and agentic-driven solutions to support DSDSD mission of innovation in the AI domain. Work LocationUN-House ESCWA Expected duration6 months Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground: This position is located in the Decision-Support and Data Science Division (DSDSD). The Decision-Support and Data Science Division is part of ESCWA’s broader modernization and innovation efforts, providing advanced analytics and decision-support services within ESCWA, other UN entities, and Member States. Aligned with the UN 2.0 agenda and grounded in strategic foresight, DSDSD leverages data-driven insights, emerging technologies, and scenario-based planning to anticipate trends and proactively inform policymaking and operations. Its core functions include data integration and management; data quality assurance; advanced analytics and modeling; machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions; real-time dashboards and performance reporting; and data visualization and business intelligence and the design and development of specialized digital decision-support tools. Through these capabilities, DSDSD empowers evidence-based decision-making, fosters organizational efficiency, and catalyzes strategic innovation across the region, supporting sustainable development outcomes regionally and globally. Duties and responsibilities: The Junior Machine Learning Engineer will work on the following tasks: 1. AI Augmentation and Algorithm Development: - Implement ETL pipelines - Leverage the ADP’s infrastructure and network to develop and implement advanced AI models for data extraction, classification, and matching algorithms. This will ensure compatibility with established taxonomies and ontologies relevant to socioeconomic development in the Arab region and strengthen the portal’s role as a comprehensive data resource. - Explore alternative large language models (LLMs) within the ADP’s research environment to enhance data analysis and classification processes, particularly in areas such as economic growth, social development, and sustainability. - Implement APIs as needed to communicate with the different tools developed - Explore and implement solutions related to agentic development by leveraging the deep research architecture and adapting it to UNESCWA needs under the supervision of the senior ML engineer 2. Collaboration and Reporting: - Collaborate with various entities, especially the data scientists, for data sharing and analysis ensuring effective communication and alignment with project goals. - Prepare and contribute to reports, and presentations to explain the findings and methodologies developed. Qualifications/special skillsA Bachelor's degree in economics, computer science, data science, statistics or related area is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. No previous work experience is required. Knowledge in Python or R, is required. Knowledge of different machine learning models and techniques is required. Knowledge of different artificial intelligence concepts is desirable. Knowledge in LLMs is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in English is required and fluency in Arabic is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas. Additional InformationRecruitment for this position is on a local basis. The incumbent is required to have the legal right to live and work in the specified working location. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.