Lead ML Platform Engineer

NTT DATA, Inc.; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 166,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

NTT DATA, Inc. in Charlotte, NC seeks a Real-Time Inference Engineering Lead to design and industrialize low-latency, resilient model-serving services for predictive AI use cases.

You will define deployment patterns, capacity controls, monitoring, performance standards, and operational practices across cloud and on-premises environments. Ideal candidates have 8+ years in online inference, Kubernetes, and CI/CD, with experience in enterprise model-serving platforms and inference runtimes.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in online inference and real-time model-serving architecture.
• Experience with cloud and on-prem deployments.
• Degree in computer science or engineering or related field.

Responsibilities

• Architect low-latency online inference and real-time model-serving solutions.
• Develop scalable APIs, microservices, and deployment patterns for predictive models.
• Implement Kubernetes-based deployment, autoscaling, load balancing, and traffic-management strategies.
• Conduct benchmarking, performance tuning, capacity planning, and load testing.
• Define monitoring, alerting, SLOs, runbooks, and incident-response practices.
• Build CI/CD pipelines for repeatable model and service releases.
• Design resilience, failover, disaster recovery, and graceful-degradation patterns.
• Lead technical reviews and mentor inference and platform engineers.

Skills

Online inference

REST/gRPC APIs

Kubernetes

Autoscaling

Latency optimization

Monitoring & SLOs

CI/CD

Resilience & HA

Cloud & on-prem

Education

Degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Model-serving platforms

Inference runtimes

Job description

Company Overview

NTT DATA strives to hire exceptional, innovative and passionate individuals who want to grow with us. If you want to be part of an inclusive, adaptable, and forward-thinking organization, We are currently seeking a Inference Lead to join our team in Charlotte, North Carolina (US-NC), United States (US).

Job Description

Real-Time Services – Real-Time Inference Engineering Lead

Role Summary

The Real-Time Inference Engineering Lead will design and industrialize low-latency, resilient model-serving services for predictive AI use cases. The role will define deployment patterns, capacity controls, monitoring, performance standards, and operational practices across cloud and on-premises environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect low-latency online inference and real-time model-serving solutions.
• Develop scalable APIs, microservices, and deployment patterns for predictive models.
• Implement Kubernetes-based deployment, autoscaling, load balancing, and traffic-management strategies.
• Conduct benchmarking, performance tuning, capacity planning, and load testing.
• Optimize latency, throughput, resource consumption, availability, and cost.
• Define monitoring, alerting, SLOs, runbooks, and incident-response practices.
• Build CI/CD pipelines for repeatable model and service releases.
• Design resilience, failover, rollback, disaster recovery, and graceful-degradation patterns.
• Lead technical reviews and mentor inference and platform engineers.

Required Skills

• 8 + years of experience in online inference and real-time model-serving architecture.
• REST/gRPC APIs and distributed microservices.
• Kubernetes, containers, autoscaling, and traffic management.
• Performance engineering, latency optimization, and load testing.
• Monitoring, SLOs, capacity planning, and production operations.
• CI/CD and progressive-deployment approaches.
• Resilience and high-availability engineering.
• Cloud and on-premises deployment experience.
• Preferred Qualifications
• Degree in computer science, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Experience with enterprise model-serving platforms and inference runtimes.
• Cloud, Kubernetes, SRE, or ML engineering certification.

NTT DATA provides a reasonable range of compensation for U.S.-based positions. The starting pay range for this role is $80-$88.85. Actual compensation will depend on a number of factors, including the candidate's relevant experience, technical skills, and other qualifications.

This position is eligible for company benefits including participation in medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending or health savings account, and AD&D insurance, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program, and additional voluntary or legally-required benefits

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30 billion trusted global innovator of business and technology services. We serve 75% of the Fortune Global 100 and are committed to helping clients innovate, optimize and transform for long term success. As a Global Top Employer, we have diverse experts in more than 50 countries and a robust partner ecosystem of established and start-up companies. Our services include business and technology consulting, data and artificial intelligence, industry solutions, as well as the development, implementation and management of applications, infrastructure and connectivity. We are one of the leading providers of digital and AI infrastructure in the world. NTT DATA is a part of NTT Group, which invests over $3.6 billion each year in R&D to help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. Visit us at us.nttdata.com

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NTT DATA is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. For our EEO Policy Statement, please click here. If you'd like more information on your EEO rights under the law, please click here. For Pay Transparency information, please click here.