Senior AI Engineer

Georgia Ports Authority; Savannah (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Georgia Ports Authority at Garden City Terminal seeks a Senior AI Engineer to design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines, cloud-based data platforms, and AI/ML solutions that support enterprise analytics and decision-making. You will collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to define objectives and gather complex data.

The role provides technical leadership across the data engineering and AI solution lifecycle, including deploying and monitoring models, ensuring data

Qualifications

• 5+ years designing, developing, and deploying enterprise data engineering and AI/ML solutions.
• Experience in cloud environments supporting enterprise analytics and data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Define AI/ML models and methodologies to address business problems.
• Preprocess structured and unstructured data for modeling.
• Build and maintain scalable data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes.
• Deploy, monitor, and optimize production AI/ML solutions and data pipelines.
• Translate analyses into actionable insights for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluate technologies and tools to improve data platforms and AI capabilities.
• Lead and mentor Analysts, engineers, and operations staff.

Skills

Python

SQL

Cloud platforms

AI/ML development

MLOps & CI/CD

Data visualization

Agentic coding tools

Communication

Education

Bachelors in Computer Science/Data Science/Math/Engineering

Masters preferred in Data Science/AI/CS

Tools

Databricks

Apache Spark

TensorFlow/PyTorch

Tableau/Power BI

Job description

Description

JOB INFORMATION:

Job Title: Senior AI Engineer

Department(s): 5072 - Information Technology

Location(s): Garden City Terminal

FLSA Status: Exempt

JOB OVERVIEW:

Under general supervision of the Director of IT – Application Development, the Senior AI Engineer designs, develops, and maintains scalable data pipelines, cloud-based data platforms, and AI/ML solutions that support enterprise analytics and business decision-making. The incumbent collaborates with business and technical stakeholders to define analytical objectives, develop research frameworks, and gather, integrate, and analyze complex structured and unstructured data. Responsibilities include designing, training, validating, deploying, and monitoring artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and statistical models; implementing ETL/ELT processes, MLOps, and CI/CD practices; ensuring data quality, security, and performance; and communicating data-driven insights and recommendations through reports and presentations. The Senior AI Engineer also provides technical leadership and guidance to software engineers, analytics professionals, and operations specialists throughout the data engineering and AI solution lifecycle.

Upholds the values of the GPA to promote Safety, Integrity, Respect, Community, Creativity and Opportunity. Promotes a safe work environment by participating in safety initiatives and reporting unsafe conditions and behaviors.

JOB DUTIES:

• Defines optimal AI/ML, predictive, and statistical models and research methodologies to address business problems.
• Performs exploratory data analysis and preprocessing of structured and unstructured data to ensure quality, completeness, and readiness for modeling.
• Designs, develops, and maintains scalable data pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, cloud-based data platforms, and model monitoring procedures to support AI/ML solutions and long-term model performance.
• Determines model features, parameters, and training strategies; trains, validates, evaluates, and optimizes AI/ML and statistical models.
• Deploys, monitors, and optimizes production AI/ML solutions and data pipelines to ensure reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Translates complex analytical findings into clear, actionable insights through written reports, dashboards, and oral presentations to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluates data engineering, AI/ML, cloud, and analytics technologies, recommending improvements and selecting appropriate tools and platforms.
• Conducts stakeholder interviews and data discovery activities to define analytical objectives and identify relevant data sources.
• Prepares project scoping documents including feasibility assessments, data requirements, and resource estimates for management review.
• Provides technical guidance and mentorship to Analysts, Operations specialists, software engineers, and other technical staff throughout the data and AI solution lifecycle.
• Ensures compliance with data governance, information security, privacy requirements, and responsible AI practices in all data and modeling activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned
• Complies with all policies and standards

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Expertise in Python required, with experience using data science and machine learning libraries such as Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch. High
• Advanced knowledge of statistical modeling, predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI techniques, including regression, classification, time series analysis, tree-based methods, and deep learning. High
• Advanced SQL proficiency and experience designing, developing, and maintaining ETL/ELT processes and scalable data pipelines required. High
• Experience building, deploying, monitoring, and maintaining AI/ML models in production environments, including familiarity with MLOps, CI/CD, and model lifecycle management. High
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms and services (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform), cloud data warehouses such as BigQuery, and data engineering technologies such as Databricks, Apache Spark, or similar platforms preferred. High
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data visualization skills, including experience with Tableau, Power BI, or comparable tools. High
• Experience using AI-assisted development and agentic coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot) to improve software development and data science productivity desired. High
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts and analytical findings into actionable recommendations for both technical and non-technical stakeholders. High

Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience designing, developing, and deploying enterprise data engineering and AI/ML solutions, including data pipelines, cloud-based data platforms, predictive modeling, and production AI/ML systems. Required
• Experience working in cloud environments and supporting enterprise analytics and data-driven decision-making Required

Education

• Required Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Information Systems, or a closely related quantitative field
• Preferred Master's Degree master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, or a related field

Licenses & Certifications

• TWIC - Transportation Worker Identification Credential Required
• Driver's License - Valid state driver's license Required

Note: This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, job requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require the performance of different or additional tasks. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, an without direct threat to the health or safety of others.

Revised: 8/26/2026

Mission: To empower entrepreneurs, strengthen industries, sustain communities, and fortify families by relentlessly striving to accelerate global commerce.