AI / ML Engineering Manager

Datonomy Solutions; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 000 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading tech solutions company in Cape Town seeks an experienced AI / ML Engineering Manager to lead a team in developing and deploying innovative AI solutions. The successful candidate will manage engineers and data scientists, establish best practices, and collaborate closely with business stakeholders. The role requires over 8 years of experience in AI / ML with strong leadership skills and a background in cloud platforms. Competitive compensation and a supportive work environment await the right candidate.

Qualifications

• 8+ years experience in AI / ML engineering, data science, or related roles.
• 3+ years in a leadership or management capacity.
• Proven track record of production-grade AI / ML solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of AI / ML engineers and data scientists.
• Design, develop, and maintain AI / ML models.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders for AI-driven innovation.
• Establish best practices for ML model development.
• Oversee technical architecture and data infrastructure.

Skills

Leadership

AI / ML Engineering

Data Science

Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)

Python

SQL

MLOps

Software Engineering Practices

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering or related field

Tools

ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced AI / ML Engineering Manager to lead a team of engineers and data scientists in developing, deploying, and scaling AI and machine learning solutions. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping our AI / ML strategy, ensuring solutions are aligned to business objectives, and building a high-performance, diverse, and inclusive team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of AI / ML engineers and data scientists.
• Drive the design, development, deployment, and maintenance of AI / ML models and systems in production environments.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for AI-driven innovation and measurable value creation.
• Establish and implement best practices for ML model development, MLOps, and data engineering pipelines.
• Oversee technical architecture, data infrastructure, and cloud-based solutions to support scalable AI / ML delivery.
• Ensure governance, compliance, security, and ethical use of AI across projects.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, experimentation, and knowledge sharing within the team.
• Work closely with senior leadership to define and deliver on the AI / ML roadmap.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field (PhD advantageous).
• 8+ years experience in AI / ML engineering, data science, or related roles, with at least 3+ years in a leadership / management capacity.
• Proven track record of managing teams delivering production-grade AI / ML solutions at scale.
• Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), MLOps, and data engineering practices.
• Proficiency in Python, SQL, and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, etc.).
• Solid understanding of modern software engineering practices (CI / CD, DevOps, APIs, microservices).
• Experience working in retail, e-commerce, or consumer-focused industries is advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinker with ability to align AI / ML solutions to business goals.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement.
• Problem-solving mindset with ability to balance innovation and pragmatism.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in team-building and delivery.