Head of AI Research & ML Systems

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,600,000 - 2,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Retirement fund contribution

Professional development opportunities

Generous leave policy

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Lead AI Research Engineer to drive innovation across NLP, CV, and predictive analytics. You will lead a team of researchers and engineers, shaping ML strategy from research to production, with a strong focus on scalable architectures and ethical AI.

The role combines hands-on development with strategic planning, requiring a track record of publishing in top AI venues and a passion for transforming research into real-world product features.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, AI or ML or related quantitative field.
• 7+ years in machine learning research and development with leadership experience.
• Deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch and Python proficiency.
• Strong knowledge of NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, and predictive analytics.
• Experience deploying ML models to production and managing lifecycle.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data technologies.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical mindset, and stakeholder management; publications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced ML models and algorithms.
• Oversee the end-to-end ML lifecycle from data collection to deployment.
• Manage and mentor a team of AI/ML engineers and researchers.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify AI opportunities and data-driven solutions.
• Conduct rigorous research to advance AI techniques and product capabilities.
• Define ML system architecture ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Translate research findings into actionable product features and strategies.
• Stay current with AI advancements and champion MLOps and ethical AI practices.

Skills

Leadership

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

NLP

Computer Vision

Reinforcement Learning

Predictive Analytics

Cloud Platforms

Big Data

Publications

Communication

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in CS/AI/ML or related field

Job description

Placements24 in Cape Town is seeking a Lead AI Research Engineer to drive innovation across NLP, CV, and predictive analytics. You will lead a team of researchers and engineers, shaping ML strategy from research to production, with a strong focus on scalable architectures and ethical AI.

The role combines hands-on development with strategic planning, requiring a track record of publishing in top AI venues and a passion for transforming research into real-world product features.