AI Engineer

ONEOK; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 92,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

ONEOK is seeking an AI Engineer to design, build, and operate AI systems that power Operations. You will own production AI work, including agents, tools, and evaluation pipelines, delivering reusable infrastructure for the team.

The role requires at least five years in software engineering with AI/ML production experience, strong Python skills, and experience with LLM-based systems, APIs, and scalable architectures. Collaboration with IT, Security, and Analytics is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of software engineering experience, including production ownership of AI or ML systems.
• Extensive experience with LLM-based systems, including agent frameworks, tool use, evaluations, prompt engineering, and retrieval.
• Strong Python engineering skills, with familiarity in at least one of optimization, forecasting, or computer vision.
• Experience designing APIs, SDKs, or frameworks consumed by other engineers.
• Proven track record operating systems in production, including monitoring, incident response, and cost management.

Responsibilities

• Production AI systems: Develop, deploy, and maintain operations-critical AI systems, including agents, harnesses, tools, and evaluation pipelines. Accountable for reliability, latency, cost, and accuracy.
• Advanced algorithms: Develop numerical optimization, forecasting, computer vision, and anomaly detection capabilities in cases where off-the-shelf AI does not meet the operational requirement.
• Shared frameworks: Develop the code templates, agent skills, and function-calling patterns reused by Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Analysts, enabling consistent and efficient delivery across the team.
• Tooling and prompts: Design, tune, and evaluate purpose-built tools, function calls, and prompt templates.
• Operations-aware user experience: Develop custom user interfaces for operations workflows, designed from user requirements.
• Mentorship: Develop the capabilities of Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Analysts in AI engineering practices, code quality, and system design. Establish and maintain the technical standard for the team.
• Security and IT partnership: Ensure AI systems meet ONEOK IT and security standards as they are transitioned to production.

Skills

LLM-based systems

Python engineering

Agent frameworks

API design

Cost management in production

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Job description

#WeAreONEOK – Fortune 500 company. 100+ years in business. Leading midstream service provider. Safety first. Sustainable operations. Environmentally responsible. Employee focused.

Job Summary

Design, build, and operate the AI systems that Operations relies on. The AI Engineer is responsible for the most technically demanding work — advanced algorithms, production agents, and shared frameworks — and delivers reusable infrastructure that enables the rest of the team to work efficiently.

Essential Functions And Core Responsibilities

• Production AI systems: Develop, deploy, and maintain operations-critical AI systems, including agents, harnesses, tools, and evaluation pipelines. Accountable for reliability, latency, cost, and accuracy.
• Advanced algorithms: Develop numerical optimization, forecasting, computer vision, and anomaly detection capabilities in cases where off-the-shelf AI does not meet the operational requirement.
• Shared frameworks: Develop the code templates, agent skills, and function-calling patterns reused by Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Analysts, enabling consistent and efficient delivery across the team.
• Tooling and prompts: Design, tune, and evaluate purpose-built tools, function calls, and prompt templates.
• Operations-aware user experience: Develop custom user interfaces for operations workflows, designed from user requirements.
• Mentorship: Develop the capabilities of Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Analysts in AI engineering practices, code quality, and system design. Establish and maintain the technical standard for the team.
• Security and IT partnership: Ensure AI systems meet ONEOK IT and security standards as they are transitioned to production.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Management Information Systems, Computer Sciences, Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or other related field with specific job-related experience as follows:

Required Experience

• Minimum 5 years of software engineering experience, including demonstrated production ownership of AI or ML systems.
• Extensive experience with LLM-based systems, including agent frameworks, tool use, evaluations, prompt engineering, and retrieval.
• Strong Python engineering skills, with familiarity in at least one of optimization, forecasting, or computer vision.
• Experience designing APIs, SDKs, or frameworks consumed by other engineers.
• Proven track record operating systems in production, including monitoring, incident response, and cost management.

How We Measure Success

• Reliability, latency, and unit cost of production AI systems.
• Adoption of shared frameworks and templates across Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Analysts, measured by active reuse.
• Evaluation coverage and regression detection rate on deployed systems.
• Quality of mentorship, reflected in the growth and independence of Forward Deployed Engineers and AI Analysts.

Team & Collaboration

Engages across the full Operations Analytics team. Partners with Forward Deployed Engineers to advance proven prototypes into enterprise-grade products, supports AI Analysts with tooling and prompt optimization, and relies on the Data Steward for reliable, contextualized data. Maintains close working relationships with IT and Security.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Skills in: relational database design including table structures, indexes and primary/foreign key fields.
• Skills in: use and function of office equipment including computers and applicable software.
• Skills in: interacting, advising and communicating effectively.
• Skills in: developing solutions to complicated issues using abstract thinking in new or complex situations.
• Skills in: managing and prioritizing multiple assignments with competing deadlines.
• Skills in: reading and interpreting correspondence, reports, production statistics, cost analyses, contracts, accounting statements, income statements, ledgers, manuals and legal documents.
• Ability to: develop information, conduct meetings and present information to individuals and groups.
• Ability to: apply math, algebra, statistical and volumetric methods.
• Ability to: be self-motivated and self-directed.
• Ability to: influence and facilitate discussions across a wide range of teams and technologies.
• Ability to: mentor less experienced personnel on complex technologies.

Licenses and Certifications

None required

Strength Factor Rating - Physical Demands/Requirements

• Sedentary Work - Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally (Occasionally: activity or condition exists up to 1/3 of the time) and/or a negligible amount of force frequently (Frequently: activity or condition exists from 1/3 to 2/3 of the time) to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Strength Factor Description - Physical Demands/Requirements

• Standing: Remaining on one's feet in an upright position at a work station without moving about (Occasionally)
• Walking: Moving about on foot (Frequently)
• Sitting: Remaining in a seated position (Constantly)
• Lifting: Raising or lowering an object from one level to another (includes upward pulling) (Occasionally)
• Carrying: Transporting an object, usually holding it in the hands or arms, or on the shoulder (Occasionally)
• Pushing: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves away from the force (Occasionally)
• Pulling: Exerting force upon an object so that the object moves toward the force (includes jerking) (Occasionally)
• Climbing: Ladders, Stairs (Occasionally)
• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling (Occasionally)
• Stooping: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the spine at the waist (Occasionally)
• Kneeling: Bending the legs at the knees to come to rest on the knee or knees (Occasionally)
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending the legs and spine (Occasionally)
• Crawling: Moving about on the hands and arms in any direction (Occasionally)
• Reaching: Extending hands and arms in any direction (Constantly)
• Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with the hand or hands (Manual Dexterity) (Constantly)
• Fingering: Picking, pinching or otherwise working with the fingers primarily (Finger Dexterity) (Constantly)
• Feeling: Perceiving such attributes of objects/materials as size, shape, temperature, texture, movement or pulsation by receptors in the skin, particularly those of the finger tips (Constantly)
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas/information by means of the spoken word (Frequently)
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sound by the ear (Frequently)
• Tasting/Smelling: (Occasionally)
• Near Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less (Constantly)
• Far Vision: Clarity of vision at 20 feet for more (Frequently)
• Depth Perception: Three-dimensional vision; ability to judge distances and spatial relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are (Frequently)
• Vision: Color - The ability to identify and distinguish colors (Constantly)

Working Conditions/Environment

• Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions

Working Conditions

• Well lighted, climate controlled areas (Constantly)
• Frequent repetitive motion (Constantly)
• CRT (Computer Monitor(s)) (Constantly)

Travel

• Travel to other locations required.

Driving

• Based on assigned tasks, employee may be assigned a company vehicle requiring the applicable driver's license

ONEOK is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, religion, creed, national origin, gender identity, disability, military/veteran status, genetic information or any other categories protected by applicable law.

The job description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of ONEOK.

ONEOK is committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. To request an accommodation email [e-mail] or call 1-855-663-6547.

Expected Salary Range

$92,000.00 - $138,000.00