Lead AI/ML Engineer: Hybrid AI/Optimization Lead

84.51; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 125,000 - 207,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401(k) with matching

Paid time off

Job summary

84.51° is seeking a Lead AI/ML Engineer (G3) on the Labs team to blend optimization science with modern AI/ML. You will be a hands-on technical lead contributing daily code and shaping how AI layers augment classical optimization engines to solve real merchandising challenges.

You will mentor engineers, align with cross-functional stakeholders, and scale production systems across Labs. This role emphasizes deep optimization foundations and scalable solutions for large-scale retail data.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Applied Mathematics, or a related field.
• 4+ years experience building ML/AI/optimization systems, including deployment and scaling.
• Strong software engineering fundamentals with Python.
• Proficiency in Python, NumPy, pandas, PySpark and at least 3 ML/Optimization libraries (PyTorch, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, Pyomo).
• Experience deploying at least one optimization problem (e.g., routing, scheduling, facility location).
• Experience with production CI/CD and MLOps tools (MLflow, Azure ML, Databricks).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure preferred), Docker, and Kubernetes.
• Ability to lead projects and work with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain end-to-end ML, AI, and optimization-based solutions.
• Design hybrid AI/optimization systems (learned warm starts, surrogate models).
• Lead design, implementation, and reviews for POCs and production systems.
• Lead end-to-end lifecycle from prototyping to production hand-off.
• Collaborate with researchers and data scientists to scale new algorithms.
• Architect ML/AI ops pipelines for experiments, deployment, and monitoring.
• Create modular, reusable ML components and APIs.
• Drive best practices in code quality, observability, and documentation.
• Mentor junior and senior engineers and researchers.

Skills

Python programming

NumPy & Pandas

ML & optimization

CI/CD & MLOps

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Math/ML

Tools

Gurobi

CPLEX

OR-Tools

Pyomo

Job description

84.51° is seeking a Lead AI/ML Engineer (G3) on the Labs team to blend optimization science with modern AI/ML. You will be a hands-on technical lead contributing daily code and shaping how AI layers augment classical optimization engines to solve real merchandising challenges.

You will mentor engineers, align with cross-functional stakeholders, and scale production systems across Labs. This role emphasizes deep optimization foundations and scalable solutions for large-scale retail data.