Senior AI Solutions Engineer, Data Science, Penguin Random House (Open to Remote)

Penguin Random House; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Penguin Random House is seeking a Senior AI Solutions Engineer to build AI-powered systems that improve publishing operations and data science workflows.

You will own end-to-end services, integrate MCP servers with internal data, and collaborate across catalog, sales, and operations to enhance decision making.

Qualifications

• 3+ years shipping production-quality software with ML/AI components.
• Experience standing up MCP servers or similar AI integration layers.
• Experience with AWS, Databricks, model APIs (Bedrock/Anthropic/OpenAI), and vector databases.
• MS/PhD in computer science, ML, or related field.
• Experience applying AI/ML to commercial problems (forecasting, pricing, marketing, search).
• Background in media or publishing domains.
• Fluency with retrieval-augmented generation, embeddings, prompt engineering, and evaluation of generative systems.
• Strong Python engineering, version control, testing, and CI.
• Excellent communication and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate LLM-powered applications and services over our catalog, sales, and operational data.
• Stand up and maintain MCP servers and tool integrations that connect AI models and assistants to internal data and systems safely and reliably.
• Own services end-to-end: architecture, implementation, deployment, evaluation, and monitoring in our AWS/Databricks environment.
• Evaluate emerging AI tooling and patterns, run pilots, and lead adoption of what works.
• Raise the team's AI engineering capability: run working sessions and pair programming, and build internal tools to accelerate AI usage across the team.

Skills

Production software

Python engineering

ML/AI expertise

Communication

Mentorship

Education

MS/PhD in Computer Science or ML

Tools

MCP servers

AWS

Databricks

Bedrock/Anthropic/OpenAI

Vector databases

CI

Job description

Company Description

Penguin Random House is the leading adult and children's publishing house in North America, the United Kingdom and many other regions around the world. In publishing the best books in every genre and subject for all ages, we are committed to quality, excellence in execution, and innovation throughout the entire publishing process: editorial, design, marketing, publicity, sales, production, and distribution. Our vibrant and diverse international community of nearly 300 publishing brands and imprints include Ballantine Bantam Dell, Berkley, Clarkson Potter, Crown, DK, Doubleday, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Little Golden Books, Knopf, Modern Library, Pantheon, Penguin Books, Penguin Press, Penguin Random House Audio, Penguin Young Readers, Portfolio, Puffin, Putnam, Random House, Random House Children's Books, Riverhead, Ten Speed Press, Viking, and Vintage, among others. More information can be found at http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/.

Penguin Random House LLC

New York, 1745 Broadway, United States

remote

USD 180,000 - 220,000 (Yearly)

Job Description

Penguin Random House publishes more of the books people love than anyone else in the world and the Data Science team helps those books find their readers: recommendation systems that surface the right book for the right person, forecasting models that guide print runs and marketing spend, and AI-powered tools that support our publishing teams.

We're hiring a Senior AI Solutions Engineer to build the systems behind this next wave of AI work for improving operations: agentic applications, LLM-powered services, and the interfaces (e.g. MCP servers) that connect AI models and assistants to our internal data and tools. You'll work at the intersection of a world-class publishing business and the modern AI stack, and you'll own what you build all the way to production.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Design, build, and operate LLM-powered applications and services (e.g. agentic workflows, retrieval/RAG systems, classification pipelines) over our catalog, sales, and operational data
• Stand up and maintain MCP servers and tool integrations that connect AI models and assistants to our internal data and systems safely and reliably
• Own services end-to-end: architecture, implementation, deployment, evaluation, and monitoring in our AWS/Databricks environment
• Evaluate emerging AI tooling and patterns (agent frameworks, MCP, evaluation harnesses, new model capabilities), run structured pilots, and lead adoption of what works
• Raise the team's AI engineering capability: run working sessions and internal demos, pair program with scientists, and build internal tools to help accelerate AI usage across the team.

Qualifications

• 3+ years building and shipping production-quality software, including hands-on work with machine learning or AI systems that include the following preferred qualifications:
  • Experience standing up MCP servers or comparable tool-integration layers for AI assistants
  • Experience with cloud ML platforms (AWS, Databricks), model APIs (Bedrock, Anthropic, OpenAI), and vector databases
  • Advanced degree (MS/PhD) in computer science, machine learning, or a related quantitative field
  • Experience applying AI/ML to commercial problems such as demand forecasting, pricing, sales and marketing optimization, recommendation, or search
  • Background in media, publishing, or other content-rich domains
• Demonstrated fluency with the current LLM stack: retrieval-augmented generation, embeddings, prompt engineering, agentic patterns, and rigorous evaluation of generative systems
• Strong Python engineering skills with experience in version control, testing, and CI
• Self-motivated, with strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to teach and level up teammates.

Additional Information

The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $220,000.

All positions are currently eligible for annual profit award or bonus, subject to Company results.

Penguin Random House job postings include a good faith compensation range for each open position. The salary range listed is specific to each particular open position and takes into account various factors including the specifics of the individual role, and candidate's relevant experience and qualifications.

Full-time employees are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program. Our range of benefits include, but are not limited to, Medical/Prescription drug insurance, Dental, Vision, Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k), Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life/AD&DD Insurance, Commuter Benefits, Student Loan Repayment Program, Educational Assistance & generous paid time off.

We value the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

We value the array of talents and perspectives that a diverse workforce brings. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, genetic information, or pregnancy.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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