AI Engineer

Black Pen Recruitment; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 500,000 - 650,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing technology firm is seeking an AI Engineer to develop AI-powered solutions in Johannesburg. The ideal candidate will have strong experience with LLMs, vector databases, and chatbot development, contributing to innovative mining logistics. This role requires collaboration in a hybrid work environment and offers significant growth opportunities in AI development.

Benefits

Investment in learning opportunities

Exposure to cutting-edge AI technology

Opportunity to shape AI practices

Real-world impact with immediate visibility

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in AI development.
• Experience in deploying AI-powered models in industrial settings.
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Implement and fine-tune LLMs for automation and workflow optimization.
• Develop RAG pipelines for knowledge retrieval.
• Build AI-powered chatbots for customer service automation.
• Design AI solutions for identity verification and security.

Skills

Strong experience with LLMs and NLP, including GPT-4

Proficiency with vector databases such as Pinecone

Experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Hands-on experience with chatbot development

Strong computer vision skills using OpenCV

Experience with AI API development using FastAPI

Proficiency with Docker for packaging AI models

Excellent communication skills

Strong problem-solving skills

Job description

Our client is a growing technology company that revolutionizes mining logistics across South Africa. Their platform connects mines and hauliers, automating vehicle tracking, order management, and weighbridge operations using NFC technology and IoT devices integrated with AWS Cloud.

Role Overview

Our client is seeking an AI Engineer to develop and deploy AI-powered models, chatbots, interactions, and intelligent automation solutions that transform mining operations across South Africa. You will focus on large language models (LLMs), vector search, AI-driven verification, and scalable AI deployment to improve security, process automation, and decision-making in industrial environments.

Their core values include Focus on the Mission, Respect, Excellence, Integrity, and working as One Team.

Job Type : Permanent Full-time

Workplace : Hybrid / Remote

Location : Lonehill Sandton, South Africa

Requirements

• Strong experience with LLMs and NLP, including GPT-4, OpenAI API, and fine-tuning transformer models
• Proficiency with vector databases such as Pinecone and PostgreSQL pgvector
• Experience with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) for knowledge retrieval and document search
• Hands-on experience with chatbot development, including AI-powered integrations for WhatsApp web and API-based automation
• Strong computer vision skills using OpenCV, PyTorch, TensorFlow for facial recognition and image analysis
• Experience with AI API development and deploying AI services using FastAPI, Flask, or GraphQL
• Knowledge of cloud and edge AI deployment on AWS and on-premise devices
• Proficiency with Docker for packaging and deploying AI models in scalable environments
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to build innovative AI solutions for real-world applications
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams
• Ability to work independently and take ownership of AI challenges in industrial environments

Preferred Skills

• Experience with AI workflow automation tools such as n8n, LangChain, AutoGen
• Knowledge of AI task automation including WhatsApp AI agents and business process automation
• Experience with business process AI integration for form processing and decision-making automation
• Familiarity with AI workflow deployment and task orchestration pipelines
• Experience with AWS IoT Greengrass for deploying AI models at edge locations with intermittent connectivity
• Experience in the mining or industrial sector
• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies

Challenges and Opportunities

• Technical Variety: Work across diverse AI technologies, including LLMs, computer vision, and edge computing, providing exposure to cutting-edge AI applications
• Real-World Impact: Build AI solutions that directly affect mining operations with immediate visibility of performance
• Growth Environment: Join a rapidly expanding company entering new markets (Namibia and Botswana) with opportunities to shape AI development practices
• Complex Problem Solving: Navigate multi-site environments where AI must operate with intermittent connectivity and hardware integration
• Innovation Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a Lead AI Engineer role as AI adoption expands

Cultural Fit

The ideal candidate will

• Be passionate about AI development and continuously self-learn through tutorials, courses, and personal projects outside of work hours
• Take initiative in problem-solving, building innovative AI solutions for complex industrial challenges
• Embrace collaboration and knowledge sharing, contributing to our clients' collective technical growth
• Stay updated on AI trends, LLM advancements, and automation best practices
• Be willing to share in team responsibilities, including occasional after-hours support when needed
• Adapt positively to changing priorities and evolving project requirements
• View AI development as more than just a day job, continuously evolving your skills and expertise

Work Arrangement

This is a full-time on-site position based in Lonehill, Sandton. Core hours are 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The role requires physical presence for collaboration with the development team and hardware integration to deliver mission-critical AI solutions for mining.

Responsibilities

• Implement and fine-tune LLMs (GPT, Claude, Llama, OpenAI API) for automation and workflow optimization
• Develop Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipelines for knowledge retrieval and document search
• Build AI-powered chatbots for WhatsApp web and customer service automation integrated with mining operations
• Develop vector databases (Pinecone, PostgreSQL, pgvector) for structured AI-powered search and decision-making
• Implement image and text similarity search for identity verification and security automation
• Deploy AI models as scalable APIs using FastAPI or Flask for system integration
• Develop AI-driven identity verification solutions using facial recognition (OpenCV, PyTorch, TensorFlow)
• Design AI-powered computer vision models for automated image analysis and driver authentication
• Optimize AI models for cloud and edge environments with intermittent connectivity
• Use Docker for packaging and deploying AI models across remote locations
• Collaborate with the team to integrate AI solutions into apps, services, and databases.

Benefits

• Investment in learning opportunities for committed developers
• Exposure to cutting-edge AI technology and diverse challenges
• Opportunity to shape AI development practices in a growing company
• Real-world impact with immediate visibility of contributions
• Access to advanced AI infrastructure and potential leadership roles

Key Skills

Proficiency in AI development, cloud deployment, and computer vision, with a focus on industrial applications.

Employment Type : Full Time

Experience : 3+ years

Vacancy : 1