AI/ML Operations Engineer (MLOps)

Placements24; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Performance bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an AI/ML Operations Engineer (MLOps) in Paarl, Western Cape to bridge model development and production deployment. You will build and automate pipelines, deploy, monitor, and retrain ML models at scale on cloud and on-premises infrastructures.

The role requires strong software engineering, DevOps, and ML lifecycle expertise, with hands-on experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and cloud services. The position offers competitive salary and growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering or related field.
• 3+ years of software eng/DevOps experience with MLOps focus.
• Proven experience building and managing CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong understanding of ML lifecycle and frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Proficiency with containers (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for ML deployment.
• Scripting skills (Python, Bash).
• Familiarity with monitoring/logging tools (Prometheus, Grafana, ELK).
• Excellent problem-solving and collaboration abilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain CI/CD pipelines for ML models.
• Automate deployment, monitoring, and retraining of ML models in production.
• Manage infrastructure for ML experimentation, training, and serving (Kubernetes, Docker).
• Develop monitoring solutions to track model performance, drift, and health.
• Collaborate with Data Scientists/ML Engineers for smooth model operation.
• Optimize ML workflows for scalability, efficiency, and cost.
• Implement version control, testing, and reproducibility best practices.
• Troubleshoot and resolve ML deployment/infrastructure issues.
• Manage cloud infrastructure (AWS/Azure/GCP) for ML workloads.
• Contribute to internal tools/frameworks to streamline MLOps.

Skills

CI/CD pipelines

MLOps understanding

Python scripting

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Terraform

Prometheus

Grafana

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a rapidly growing AI startup located in the vibrant technology hub of Paarl, Western Cape, is seeking a skilled AI/ML Operations Engineer (MLOps) to join their innovative team. This critical role focuses on bridging the gap between machine learning model development and reliable production deployment. You will be responsible for building, automating, and managing the infrastructure and pipelines necessary to deploy, monitor, and maintain our AI/ML models at scale. The ideal candidate possesses a strong background in software engineering, DevOps, and a deep understanding of the machine learning lifecycle. This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the operational excellence of cutting-edge AI solutions in Paarl, Western Cape.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain CI/CD pipelines for machine learning models.


• Automate the deployment, monitoring, and retraining of ML models in production environments.


• Implement and manage infrastructure for ML experimentation, training, and serving (e.g., using Kubernetes, Docker).


• Develop robust monitoring solutions to track model performance, drift, and system health.


• Collaborate closely with Data Scientists and ML Engineers to ensure smooth integration and operation of models.


• Optimize ML workflows for scalability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.


• Implement best practices for version control, testing, and reproducibility in MLOps.


• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to ML model deployment and infrastructure.


• Manage cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP) supporting ML workloads.


• Contribute to the development of internal tools and frameworks to streamline MLOps processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.


• 3+ years of experience in software engineering or DevOps, with a focus on MLOps.


• Proven experience building and managing CI/CD pipelines.


• Strong understanding of the machine learning lifecycle and common ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).


• Proficiency with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).


• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their associated services for ML deployment.


• Solid scripting skills (e.g., Python, Bash).


• Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack).


• Excellent problem-solving and debugging skills.


• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.


• Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools (e.g., Terraform, CloudFormation) is a plus.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, performance bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and a retirement fund. Employees enjoy a dynamic and innovative work environment with opportunities for professional development, training, and attending industry events in Paarl. We provide a clear career progression path within a growing company. Generous paid time off is included. This role is based at our modern offices in the scenic Western Cape.