AI Engineer

Aquent; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A Mid-Level AI Engineer / AI Developer role is available through our client, a premier financial services institution, in partnership with Aquent. You will design, develop, and deploy AI-enabled applications and services, focusing on generative AI, RAG, and scalable backend systems.

You will work with software engineers, product managers, architects, and data specialists to deliver robust AI features, with guidance from senior engineers, and you will be responsible for production support and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/SE/DS or related field.
• 3–6 years professional software development experience.
• 2+ years hands-on AI/ML or Generative AI projects.
• Proficient in Python, Java, C#, or TypeScript/JavaScript.
• Experience building REST APIs and distributed services.
• Experience with Azure, AWS, or GCP cloud platforms.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deploy AI-enabled applications.
• Build Generative AI solutions utilizing large language models (LLMs).
• Develop AI agents, workflows, prompts, tools, and orchestration frameworks.
• Implement retrieval-augmented generation, semantic search, and knowledge retrieval.
• Construct APIs, microservices, and backend services for AI workloads.
• Evaluate and optimize model performance, cost, and latency.
• Develop automated testing, monitoring, and observability for AI apps.
• Collaborate with product owners to translate requirements into solutions.
• Implement responsible AI practices, security, and governance.
• Contribute to architecture, coding standards, and best practices.

Skills

Python

Java

C#

TypeScript/JavaScript

REST APIs

Distributed systems

Cloud (Azure/AWS/GCP)

CI/CD

Observability

AI/ML

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science/Software Engineering/Data Science

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

OpenAI

Anthropic Claude

Azure OpenAI

Vector databases

Job description

Our client, a premier financial services institution, is dedicated to empowering individuals and institutions through innovative technology and robust financial solutions. Partnering with Aquent, they are at the forefront of leveraging artificial intelligence to redefine how they serve their customers and operate their business. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and making a tangible impact on cutting-edge AI initiatives.

Are you a passionate AI Engineer ready to make a significant impact? We are thrilled to partner with our client, a leader in financial innovation, to find a Mid-Level AI Engineer / AI Developer who will be instrumental in shaping the future of AI-powered applications and services. In this dynamic role, you will be at the heart of designing, developing, and deploying cutting-edge AI solutions that directly enhance customer experiences and drive operational excellence. You’ll contribute to projects that improve developer and customer productivity, build scalable and secure AI services, and demonstrate ownership from initial design through to production support, all while collaborating effectively across diverse teams.

About the Role

As a Mid-Level AI Engineer / AI Developer, you will play a crucial role in building the next generation of intelligent applications. You will work closely with a talented team of software engineers, product managers, architects, and data specialists to create robust and scalable AI solutions. This position offers the chance to independently deliver high-quality AI features, with the benefit of technical guidance from senior engineers and architects, fostering continuous growth and learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, test, and deploy AI-enabled applications and services, ensuring high quality and reliability.
• Build and integrate Generative AI solutions utilizing large language models (LLMs).
• Develop sophisticated AI agents, workflows, prompts, tools, and orchestration frameworks.
• Implement advanced retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, and knowledge retrieval solutions.
• Construct APIs, microservices, and robust backend services to support demanding AI workloads.
• Evaluate, benchmark, and optimize AI model performance, quality, cost, and latency.
• Develop automated testing, monitoring, and observability strategies for AI applications.
• Collaborate with product owners and business stakeholders to translate complex requirements into innovative technical solutions.
• Implement responsible AI practices, security, privacy, and governance controls within all AI solutions.
• Contribute significantly to architectural decisions, coding standards, and engineering best practices.
• Support AI applications in production, participating in troubleshooting and incident resolution to maintain operational excellence.

Must-Have Qualifications

We are looking for an individual with a solid foundation in software development and a proven track record in AI/ML applications. Your expertise will be critical in driving our innovative projects forward.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a closely related technical field.
• 3–6 years of professional software development experience.
• 2+ years of hands-on experience building AI/ML or Generative AI applications.
• Strong programming proficiency in one or more of the following languages: Python, Java, C#, or TypeScript/JavaScript.
• Demonstrated experience developing REST APIs and distributed services.
• Practical experience working with major cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.
• A strong understanding of core software engineering fundamentals, including design patterns, testing methodologies, CI/CD pipelines, security best practices, and observability.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

These qualifications will set you apart and allow you to hit the ground running, contributing to even more complex and impactful projects from day one.

• Experience with leading LLM platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Azure OpenAI, or Gemini.
• Proficiency in building advanced AI agents, tool calling frameworks, and multi-agent workflows.
• Experience with RAG architectures and working with vector databases.
• Familiarity with prompt engineering techniques and evaluation frameworks.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration technologies like Docker, Kubernetes, or Cloud Run.
• Experience working within Agile development environments.