AI Technical Lead

Mesa Associates, Inc.; Madison (AL); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Mesa Associates, Inc. is seeking an AI Technical Lead to turn approved AI opportunities into practical, secure, and measurable business solutions.

You will evaluate use cases, shape solution architecture, guide prototypes, and coordinate delivery with IT and governance teams to ensure policy alignment and risk controls. You will lead AI intake discussions, assess workflows for business value, data readiness, integration needs, and feasibility, and design scalable AI approaches with reusable

Qualifications

• Advanced SQL skills.
• Proficient Python programming.
• Experience delivering enterprise AI projects.
• Ability to collaborate with IT, cybersecurity, data governance, privacy, and legal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead AI intake discussions, clarify business needs, and define expected outcomes and success measures.
• Evaluate priority workflows for value, feasibility, data readiness, integration needs, complexity, and supportability.
• Design AI solution approaches, reusable patterns, integrations, and operating requirements.
• Evaluate AI platforms, models, vendors, and products, including security and third-party risk considerations.
• Build or guide proofs of concept and validate accuracy, reliability, usability, cost, and technical fit.
• Coordinate development, testing, deployment readiness, access, support, release activities, and monitoring.
• Support governance reviews with recommendations, evidence, status updates, and escalation of material risks.
• Maintain AI roadmap and backlog, align delivery priorities, and help teams use approved capabilities.

Skills

Python

SQL

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science

Bachelor's in Data Analytics

Job description

Disclaimer:Be cautious and only respond to emails from our mesainc.com domain. We will never ask for sensitive information, such as bank account details, SSN, etc., via email. If you receive any communication asking for such information, it is not from Mesa. For any concerns, or to verify the authenticity of a message, please contact us through our official channels.

The AI Technical Lead helps turn approved AI opportunities into practical, secure, and measurable business solutions.
This role evaluates use cases, shapes solution architecture, guides prototypes, coordinates delivery, and prepares AI capabilities for operational use while partnering with IT and governance and control functions on policy, approval, and risk decisions.

What You Will Do

• Lead AI intake discussions, clarify business needs, and define expected outcomes and success measures.
• Evaluate priority workflows for business value, feasibility, data readiness, integration needs, complexity, and supportability.
• Design AI solution approaches, reusable patterns, integrations, human review points, and operating requirements.
• Evaluate AI platforms, models, vendors, and products, including security and third-party risk considerations.
• Build or guide proofs of concept and validate accuracy, reliability, usability, cost, and technical fit.
• Coordinate development, testing, deployment readiness, access, support, release activities, and operational monitoring.
• Support governance reviews with recommendations, evidence, status updates, and escalation of material technical risks.
• Maintain the AI roadmap and backlog, align delivery priorities, and help teams use approved AI capabilities effectively.

What We Are Looking For

• 7+ years in technology leadership, software delivery, technical program management, enterprise architecture, data science, or a related field.
• 3+ years delivering or evaluating enterprise AI, machine learning, analytics, or LLM-enabled solutions.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL, with experience using cloud AI services, LLM platforms, APIs, integrations, solution architecture, and AI delivery data patterns.
• Experience moving solutions from feasibility assessment and proof of concept through testing, implementation, monitoring, and support.
• Ability to work across multiple business units, IT, cybersecurity, data governance, privacy, legal, vendor, and governance teams while explaining technical decisions clearly.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Data Analytics, Information Technology, or a related field.

Preferred Experience

• Master's degree in a relevant technical or analytical field.
• Experience with Azure AI, Microsoft Copilot, Azure OpenAI, or similar enterprise AI platforms.
• Experience with MLOps or LLMOps, including evaluation, observability, reliability, lifecycle management, and cost control.
• Working knowledge of responsible AI, NIST AI RMF, privacy, security, and enterprise risk processes.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role means AI opportunities are assessed consistently, high-impact workflows are prototyped and validated, and approved solutions move through a disciplined path from prototype to production.

The right candidate will help ensure AI capabilities are reliable, measurable, supportable, cost-aware, and adopted effectively by the business.

Notice to External Search Firms: Mesa Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries do not accept unsolicited resumes and will not be obligated to pay a placement fee for unsolicited resumes. Mesa Associates, Inc. Talent Acquisition engages with approved search firms directly for specific hiring needs.

Qualifications

Skills

Required

Advanced

SQL

Intermediate

Python

Intermediate

Behaviors

Required

Functional Expert

Considered a thought leader on a subject

Detail Oriented

Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Motivations

Required

Self-Starter

Inspired to perform without outside help

Education

Required

Bachelors or better in Computer Engineering or related field.

Bachelors or better in Data Analytics or related field.

Experience

Required

3 years

Delivering or evaluating enterprise AI, machine learning, analytics, or LLM-enabled solutions.

7 years

Technology leadership, software delivery, technical program management, enterprise architecture, data science, or a related field.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.