Lead Python AI/LLM/RAG Engineer

System Soft Technologies; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

System Soft Technologies is seeking a senior AI Lead in Charlotte, NC with 15+ years of experience and at least 3+ years in lead roles. The role emphasizes Python development, production REST APIs, and LLM-based solutions, including RAG, embeddings, and vector databases. A coding test is mandatory and OPT/EADs are not accepted.

Ideal candidates have 2+ years in AI/ML, strong cloud deployment skills, and proven technical leadership in architecture and delivery across teams.

Qualifications

• Must have 15+ years of experience.
• Must have 3+ years lead experience.
• 5+ years Python and 3+ years building production REST APIs.
• 2+ years developing LLM applications, incl. 1+ year with RAG, embeddings, and vector databases.
• 2+ years leading solution architecture and engineering delivery, plus 3+ years deploying applications on cloud infra.
• No OPT's or EAD's please.
• Mandatory coding test.

Skills

Lead experience

Python

REST APIs

LLM development

RAG

Embeddings

Vector databases

Cloud deployment

Solution architecture

Engineering delivery

Technical leadership

Job description

Must have recent 3+ years of "LEAD " EXP

MUST HAVE 15+ YEARS OF EXP

NO OPT'S OR EAD'S PLEASE

MANDATORY " CODING TEST "

MUST

LEAD EXP 3+ YEARS

5+ years of Python and 3+ years building production REST APIs.

2+ years developing LLM applications, including 1+ year with RAG, embeddings, and vector databases.

2+ years leading solution architecture and engineering delivery, plus 3+ years deploying applications on cloud infra

Additional Skill

• Python & API Development: 5+ years Python; 3+ years REST APIs.
• Agentic Development - 1 to 2 years
• AI/ML & Generative AI: 2+ years AI/ML; 2+ years LLM applications.
• RAG & Vector Databases: 1+ year building retrieval and embedding pipelines.
• Cloud & Deployment: 3+ years
• Technical Leadership & Architecture: 2+ years leading engineering delivery and solution design.

Preferred Skills (nice to have)

• Experience with AI workflow orchestration
• Model fine-tuning and open-source model experience using PyTorch or similar technologies
• AI evaluation, observability, and guardrails implementation.