AI Tech Lead (m/f/d) – South Africa (Remote)

WaveSix Labs; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

WaveSix Labs is seeking an AI Tech Lead to establish a leading AI Engineering Hub in South Africa. This role will involve strategic leadership, driving AI innovation, and ensuring alignment with global strategies while mentoring a remote team. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in AI development and experience managing engineers, ready to tackle challenges in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

Flexibility in work schedule

Culture of trust and collaboration

Diversity and inclusivity

Entrepreneurial spirit

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of software development experience, with at least 2 years in AI product development.
• Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and manage engineering teams.
• Strong knowledge of scalable infrastructure and CI/CD pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the AI Engineering Hub and drive AI product development.
• Define AI engineering roadmap aligned with global business strategy.
• Oversee infrastructure design and manage CI/CD pipelines.

Skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Expertise in AI/GenAI

Strong problem-solving skills

Education

Degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

AI development frameworks (DSPy, LangGraph, etc.)

Job description

AI Tech Lead (m/f/d) – South Africa (Remote)

Permanent employee,Full-time· Remote, Cape Town, South Africa

What you'll do

PrimaryResponsibilities

Build & Lead our AI Engineering Hub in South Africa – Establish a strong remote team of engineers to drive AI product development for our German-based Product Studio.

Strategic Leadership – Act as the technical lead, defining the AI engineering roadmap and ensuring alignment with our global business strategy.

Bridge Business & Tech – Work closely with our consultants, product teams, and C-Level executives to translate business needs into actionable AI solutions.

Drive AI Innovation – Lead the design, prototyping, and development of cutting-edge GenAI solutions that deliver measurable business impact.

Guide Development & Engineering Standards – Ensure clean, maintainable code and best practices in AI engineering, working primarily with Python and GenAI libraries.

Scalability & Operations – Oversee infrastructure design, CI/CD pipeline management, and robust system operations.

What you bring

Required Skills and Qualifications

5-7 years of software development experience, with at least 2 years in AI product development.

Entrepreneurial mindset – comfortable working in a fast-moving, high-ownership environment.

Proven ability to recruit, mentor, and manage high-performing engineering teams.

Expertise in AI/GenAI – strong knowledge of AI development frameworks (e.g., DSPy, LangGraph, PydanticAI, crewAI).

Experience bridging business and technology – capable of translating technical concepts for business stakeholders.

Strong software engineering fundamentals – experience with scalable infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and system operations.

Fluent in English (German is a plus but not required).

Preferred Qualifications & Attributes

A degree in Computer Science, STEM, or a related field

Experience in a fast-paced and/or entrepreneurial environment

Experience leading remote/distributed teams.

Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to adapt in a dynamic company.

• Based in Cape Town Region is a plus

Why WaveSix?

At WaveSix, we’re riding the sixth wave of technological innovation, bringing the transformative power of AI to businesses and lives worldwide. Join us to work in an environment that values creativity, honesty, and individuality.

Work Your Way: We believe in flexibility and offer a hybrid work setup where your flow matters more than a 9-to-5 schedule

A Culture of Trust: Collaboration and open dialogue are at our core. Our culture is built on honest feedback and mutual support, ensuring everyone grows together

Diversity and Inclusivity: We welcome every wave rider, fostering a culture that celebrates diversity and thrives on unique perspectives

Entrepreneurial Spirit: At WaveSix, you’re not just an employee—you’re a co-owner of our vision. Take initiative, drive your growth, and leave your mark

Shape the Future: Join a team curious by nature and at the forefront of emerging technologies, exploring innovative AI solutions and delivering real impact.

WaveSix Labs is the world's first AI Product Studio dedicated to transforming innovative concepts into impactful AI solutions. We partner with industry leaders to navigate the complexities of AI adoption, offering end-to-end services from AI enablement workshops to scalable product development.

Our approach emphasizes rapid prototyping, user-centric design, and a unique venture client model that minimizes innovation risk.

Our track record speaks for itself:

• 130+ Global Top Executives Trained in Generative AI
• 20+ Prototypes Transformed into Scalable AI Products
• 5,000+ Annual Productivity Hours Gained