Development Lead - AI

Sourced IT Recruitment Specialists; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth

High-impact projects

Permanent role

Job summary

Sourced IT Recruitment Specialists in Christchurch seeks an experienced AI solutions leader to own development initiatives and drive AI strategy. You will design, develop, test, and maintain AI-enabled applications, APIs, and integrations while guiding engineering teams and ensuring secure, scalable production-ready solutions.

Collaborate with Architecture, Data, DevOps and delivery teams, and contribute to high-impact projects in a well-established organisation investing heavily in AI

Qualifications

• Proven experience delivering AI-enabled applications
• Experience with APIs and integration services
• Cloud development in Azure
• Experience in Agile delivery

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and maintain AI-enabled applications, services, and integrations
• Build reusable AI capabilities, orchestration services, APIs, and MCP services
• Integrate AI solutions with enterprise platforms, systems, and data sources
• Provide technical guidance across AI initiatives and support development teams
• Ensure solutions are secure, scalable, maintainable, and production-ready
• Work with Architecture, Data, DevOps and delivery teams on approved designs
• Participate in planning, estimation, code reviews, testing, and documentation
• Drive continuous improvement of AI development practices and standards
• Identify delivery risks, dependencies, and technical challenges
• Promote high-quality development, testing, and deployment practices across AI projects

Skills

Software development

AI technologies

APIs & integration

Azure cloud

Agile delivery

Technical leadership

Communication

Tools

Azure

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Sourced IT Recruitment Specialists – Christchurch, South Island

• Lead the delivery of enterprise AI solutions, APIs, and AI-enabled applications.
• Modern technology stack, career growth, and high-impact projects.
• Permanent, Christchurch-based position.

• Lead the delivery of enterprise AI solutions, APIs, and AI-enabled applications.
• Modern technology stack, career growth, and high-impact projects.
• Permanent, Christchurch-based position.

Lead the development of practical AI solutions that drive business outcomes.

What our client can offer:

This is an opportunity to take ownership of AI development initiatives within a well-established organisation investing heavily in AI capability. You will work with modern technologies, contribute to meaningful projects, and collaborate with experienced technical teams. The role offers technical leadership while remaining hands-on with development.

What you will do:

• Design, develop, test, and maintain AI-enabled applications, services, and integrations
• Build reusable AI capabilities, orchestration services, APIs, and MCP services
• Integrate AI solutions with enterprise platforms, systems, and data sources
• Provide technical guidance across AI initiatives and support development teams
• Ensure solutions are secure, scalable, maintainable, and production-ready
• Work closely with Architecture, Data, DevOps, and delivery teams to implement approved designs
• Participate in planning, estimation, code reviews, testing, and documentation
• Drive continuous improvement of AI development practices and standards
• Identify and communicate delivery risks, dependencies, and technical challenges
• Promote high-quality development, testing, and deployment practices across AI projects

Skills and experience we are looking for:

• Strong software development experience across modern application platforms
• Commercial experience working with AI technologies, LLMs, AI APIs, orchestration frameworks, or AI integration patterns
• Experience developing APIs, integration services, and reusable software components
• Cloud development experience, ideally within Azure environments
• Understanding of MCP concepts and AI integration approaches is advantageous
• Experience working within Agile delivery environments
• Strong knowledge of testing, code reviews, deployment practices, documentation, and software delivery standards
• Ability to provide technical leadership and guide development practices without direct people management responsibility
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Clear communication skills with the ability to work effectively across technical and non-technical teams