AI Operations Manager

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary and bonuses

Health and retirement benefits

Professional development opportunities

Relocation assistance to Western Cape

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced AI Operations Manager to oversee deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of AI systems in a hybrid environment in Paarl, Western Cape. Lead a team through production lifecycle and CI/CD for AI models.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in IT operations or MLOps, strong leadership, and cloud experience across AWS/Azure/GCP. You will collaborate with data scientists and engineers to ensure reliable AI infrastructure and incident response.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT operations, system administration, or MLOps.
• Proven experience in managing and deploying AI/ML models in production.
• Strong understanding of MLOps principles, tools (e.g., Kubeflow, MLflow), and CI/CD practices.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their related services for AI/ML deployment.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
• Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack).
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration.
• Experience working in a hybrid work environment is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the deployment, configuration, and management of AI/ML models into production environments.
• Develop and implement robust MLOps practices and CI/CD pipelines for AI systems.
• Monitor the performance, health, and security of AI infrastructure and models, ensuring high availability.
• Establish and manage incident response procedures for AI-related issues.
• Collaborate with data scientists and engineers to troubleshoot and resolve production issues.
• Manage resource allocation and optimization for AI compute and storage needs.
• Develop and maintain documentation for AI operational processes and procedures.
• Lead and mentor the AI operations team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Stay updated on emerging MLOps tools and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with relevant data governance and security policies.

Skills

AI/ML

MLOps

CI/CD

Kubeflow

MLflow

Cloud platforms

Python

Bash

PowerShell

Docker

Kubernetes

Prometheus

Grafana

ELK

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Information Technology

Tools

Kubeflow

MLflow

Docker

Kubernetes

Prometheus

Grafana

ELK

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced AI Operations Manager to oversee the deployment, monitoring, and maintenance of AI systems in their dynamic operational environment in Paarl, Western Cape. This role is crucial for ensuring the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of our client's AI infrastructure. You will lead a team responsible for managing the full lifecycle of AI models in production, from deployment pipelines to performance monitoring and incident response. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in MLOps, system administration, and AI/ML concepts, combined with excellent leadership and project management skills. This hybrid role offers the opportunity to work closely with both on-site and remote teams, contributing to the seamless integration of advanced AI technologies within the organization's operations in the picturesque region of the Western Cape.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the deployment, configuration, and management of AI/ML models into production environments.
• Develop and implement robust MLOps practices and CI/CD pipelines for AI systems.
• Monitor the performance, health, and security of AI infrastructure and models, ensuring high availability.
• Establish and manage incident response procedures for AI-related issues.
• Collaborate with data scientists and engineers to troubleshoot and resolve production issues.
• Manage resource allocation and optimization for AI compute and storage needs.
• Develop and maintain documentation for AI operational processes and procedures.
• Lead and mentor the AI operations team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Stay updated on emerging MLOps tools and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with relevant data governance and security policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in IT operations, system administration, or MLOps.
• Proven experience in managing and deploying AI/ML models in production.
• Strong understanding of MLOps principles, tools (e.g., Kubeflow, MLflow), and CI/CD practices.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their related services for AI/ML deployment.
• Proficiency in scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
• Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with monitoring and logging tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK stack).
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and leadership skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration.
• Experience working in a hybrid work environment is preferred.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility.
• Comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for professional development and certifications.
• Access to modern technology and infrastructure in Paarl, Western Cape.
• Collaborative team environment.
• Generous annual leave.
• Employee wellness programs.
• Relocation assistance available for candidates moving to the Western Cape.
• Company-provided laptop and mobile phone.