Associate Director-AI/ML

Applexus Technologies (P) Ltd; Chennai; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 5,000,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology solutions provider located in Chennai is seeking a seasoned technical leader for their AI Center of Excellence. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of hands-on experience in AI/ML, along with a comprehensive background in leading AI projects and engaging with customers at an executive level. Responsibilities include shaping the technical vision, implementing advanced AI solutions, and mentoring a skilled team in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on project experience in AI/ML.
• 15+ years of overall experience in technology leadership roles.
• Experience in Generative AI and Large Language Models.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical vision and roadmap for the AI CoE.
• Oversee implementation of complex AI/ML solutions.
• Drive innovation by evaluating emerging AI technologies.

Skills

Generative AI

AI project management

Computer Vision

NLP

Deep Learning

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Master's degree in AI/ML or related field

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

• Lead the technical vision and roadmap for the AI CoE, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and industry best practices
• Architect and oversee the implementation of complex AI/ML solutions including Generative AI, Agentic AI systems, Computer Vision, and NLP applications
• Drive innovation by identifying and evaluating emerging AI technologies and methodologies for potential adoption
• Establish technical standards, frameworks, and best practices for AI/ML development across the organization
• Maintain hands-on involvement in critical projects, including code reviews, architecture decisions, and proof-of-concept development

Project & Delivery Management

• Lead multiple concurrent AI/ML projects from conception through deployment, ensuring on-time delivery and quality standards
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including data scientists, engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders
• Define project scope, timelines, and resource requirements for AI initiatives
• Ensure successful integration of AI solutions with existing enterprise systems and platforms
• Oversee post-production support and continuous improvement of deployed AI systems

Customer Engagement & Business Development

• Serve as the primary technical liaison for key customer engagements and executive briefings
• Lead customer workshops and discovery sessions to identify AI/ML opportunities and define solution approaches
• Present technical proposals and demonstrations to C-level executives and decision-makers
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients, understanding their business challenges and translating them into AI-powered solutions
• Support business development efforts by contributing to RFP responses and technical proposals
• Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of AI/ML engineers and data scientists
• Provide technical guidance and career development support to team members
• Foster a culture of continuous learning and innovation within the AI CoE
• Conduct technical interviews and participate in talent acquisition for the AI CoE
• Develop training programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives to upskill teams across the organization

Technology & Innovation Management

• Stay current with the latest advancements in AI/ML, including research papers, industry trends, and emerging technologies
• Establish partnerships with technology vendors, research institutions, and industry consortiums
• Lead the evaluation and selection of AI/ML platforms, tools, and cloud services
• Drive the adoption of MLOps practices and automated ML pipelines
• Ensure compliance with AI ethics, governance, and regulatory requirements

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, or related field
• Master's degree in AI/ML, Data Science, or related field preferred

Experience

• Minimum 5+ years of hands-on project experience in AI/ML, with demonstrated expertise in:
  • Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs)
  • Agentic AI and autonomous systems
  • Computer Vision and image processing
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP) and text analytics
  • Deep Learning and neural network architectures
• 15+ years of overall experience in technology leadership roles
• Proven track record of delivering enterprise-scale AI solutions

Technical Skills

Core AI/ML Expertise

• Frameworks & Libraries: Advanced proficiency in TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, Hugging Face, LangChain, and other modern AI frameworks
• Generative AI: Hands-on experience with GPT models, LLaMA, Claude, Stable Diffusion, and other foundation models
• Agentic AI: Experience building autonomous agents, multi-agent systems, and orchestration frameworks
• Computer Vision: Expertise in CNNs, object detection (YOLO, R-CNN), image segmentation, and video analytics
• NLP: Advanced knowledge of transformers, BERT, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, and text generation

Programming & Development

• Expert-level programming skills in Python, with additional proficiency in Java, Scala, or R
• Familiarity with GPU programming and optimization (CUDA, TensorRT)
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML services on AWS, Azure, and GCP
• Knowledge of containerization (Docker, Kubernetes) and microservices architecture
• Experience with vector databases and embedding systems

Data & MLOps

• Strong understanding of data engineering, ETL pipelines, and big data technologies
• Experience with MLOps tools (MLflow, Kubeflow, Weights & Biases)
• Proficiency in CI/CD for ML models and A/B testing frameworks

Soft Skills

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Outstanding customer handling skills with experience in executive-level interactions
• Strong presentation and public speaking abilities
• Strategic thinking with the ability to balance technical excellence with business priorities
• Proven leadership and team management capabilities
• Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry certifications in AI/ML from major cloud providers (AWS ML Specialty, Azure AI Engineer, GCP ML Engineer)
• Published research papers or patents in AI/ML domains
• Experience in retail, fashion, or consumer products industries
• Knowledge of SAP integration and enterprise systems
• Active participation in AI/ML communities, conferences, or open-source projects
• Experience with regulatory compliance (GDPR, CCPA) in AI applications