Senior/Lead Research Engineer

Public Service Division; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Public Service Division in Singapore is seeking a Senior AI Engineer/Lead to drive applied AI solutions across training, assessment, and operations. You will design, implement, and deploy AI models with a focus on computer vision and speech recognition, guiding junior engineers and coordinating with academic and industry partners.

You will collaborate on centre-level AI projects and contribute to broader AI initiatives across R&D, operations, and education, ensuring technical delivery and

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in CS/AI/CE/Data Science or related field.
• Hands-on experience in computer vision and/or speech recognition, including model development, training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Proficiency in Python and AI/ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV, Hugging Face).

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy AI models for training, assessment, safety, operations, and decision-support.
• Develop AI solutions involving video analytics, object detection, image classification, and speech-to-text.
• Work with data from video, audio, sensors, simulators, and other sources for AI analytics.
• Integrate AI models with software platforms, dashboards, and training platforms for deployment.
• Explore and prototype techniques including deep learning, multimodal learning, NLP, and LLMs where relevant.
• Lead AI components within R&D projects and ensure timely delivery of outputs.
• Mentor AI engineers and review technical approaches.

Skills

Computer vision

Speech recognition

Python

Problem solving

Communication skills

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science / AI / Computer Engineering / Data Science

Tools

PyTorch

TensorFlow

OpenCV

Hugging Face

Job description

[What the role is]

Most Positive Workplace Collaboration Award – Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) Awards 2025

Ranked #19 for The Straits Times Singapore’s Best Employers 2024 & 2025

The Centre of Excellence in Maritime Safety (CEMS) is a national R&D centre, a collaborative effort between Singapore Polytechnic and the Singapore Maritime Institute. We focus on developing innovative digital solutions and training systems to enhance maritime safety. Our state-of-the-art research facilities, including South-east Asia’s first navigation research simulator, setting us as an innovation champion.

You will join CEMS as a Senior AI Engineer/Lead and play a key role in developing applied AI solutions for real-world use cases across training, assessment, operations, research, and digital transformation.

The role requires strong hands-on experience in computer vision and/or speech recognition, with the ability to design, develop, evaluate, and deploy AI models. You will work on centre-level AI projects and may also contribute to department- and school-level AI initiatives involving broader AI adoption across R&D, operations, and education.

As a senior member of the team, you will also supervise and guide AI engineers, support project planning, and ensure technical delivery across multiple AI workstreams.

[What you will be working on]

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement AI models and pipelines for real-world applications in training, assessment, safety, operations, and decision-support.
• Develop AI solutions involving video analytics, object detection, image classification, visual attention analysis, speech-to-text, audio processing, communication analysis, and related applied AI tasks.
• Work with data from video, audio, sensors, simulators, operational systems, and other sources to develop AI-enabled analytics and assessment capabilities.
• Integrate AI models with software platforms, dashboards, simulators, sensor systems, training platforms, or decision-support tools to support practical deployment and operational use.
• Explore, evaluate, and prototype suitable AI techniques, including deep learning, sequence models, multimodal learning, natural language processing, and large language model applications where relevant.
• Lead AI components within R&D projects, manage technical milestones, prepare documentation, and ensure timely delivery of project outputs.
• Supervise and mentor AI engineers or junior team members, review technical approaches, guide model development, and support capability building within the AI team.
• Work with internal teams, academic staff, industry partners, and external stakeholders to co-develop AI solutions and apply AI capabilities across centre-, department-, and school-level initiatives.
• Present AI approaches, findings, prototypes, and project outcomes to management, project partners, and industry collaborators in a clear and practical manner.

[What we are looking for]

Qualifications

• Tertiary Qualification in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• Strong hands-on experience in computer vision and/or speech recognition, including model development, training, evaluation, and deployment. Relevant technical experience may include video analytics, object detection, image classification, pose or behaviour recognition, visual attention analysis, speech-to-text, audio processing, speaker or communication analysis, natural language processing, or multimodal AI involving video, audio, sensor, simulator, or time-series data.
• Proficiency in Python and experience with AI/ML frameworks and toolkits such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, OpenCV, Hugging Face, or equivalent.
• Strong understanding of machine learning and deep learning model development, including data preparation, model training, evaluation, optimisation, and performance validation.
• Experience integrating AI models into software systems, dashboards, simulators, training platforms, or operational applications is preferred.
• Experience with Large Language Models (LLMs) is an added advantage, particularly in applications beyond standard chatbot or document Q&A systems, such as multimodal AI, speech/video understanding, automated assessment, structured information extraction, model evaluation, fine-tuning, or integration with operational software systems.
• Experience leading AI workstreams, supervising technical staff, or mentoring junior engineers is preferred.
• Strong problem-solving ability, project execution skills, communication skills, and ability to work with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.