Lead AI Engineer

Placements24; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & benefits

Hybrid work model

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead AI Engineer in a hybrid role based in Tembisa to spearhead development and deployment of advanced AI solutions. You will guide a team, architect scalable AI systems, and drive AI integration across core operations.

The position emphasizes leadership, strategic architecture, and cross-functional collaboration. The role requires 5+ years in AI/ML engineering with at least 2 years in a lead capacity, strong Python and ML-lib proficiency, and cloud/MLOps expertise.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field with AI/ML specialization.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of robust AI and ML systems.
• Mentor and manage a team of AI engineers, fostering technical excellence and innovation.
• Define technical strategy and architecture for AI projects, aligning with business goals.
• Oversee the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle: data prep, model training, deployment, monitoring.
• Collaborate with product managers, data scientists, and stakeholders to deliver AI-powered features.
• Ensure quality, performance, and reliability of AI solutions in production.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentorship

Strategic planning

Communication

Project management

Education

Master's or PhD in Computer Science/Engineering (AI/ML)

Tools

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

AWS

Azure

GCP

MLOps

Job description

About the Role

Our client seeks an experienced and visionary Lead AI Engineer to spearhead the development and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence solutions. This hybrid role based in Tembisa offers a unique blend of hands-on engineering, strategic leadership, and cross-functional collaboration. You will guide a talented team of engineers, architect scalable AI systems, and ensure the successful integration of AI technologies into our core business operations. This position is crucial for driving innovation and maintaining our competitive edge in the rapidly evolving field of AI & Emerging Technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of robust, scalable AI and machine learning systems.
• Mentor and manage a team of AI engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
• Define technical strategy and architecture for AI projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
• Oversee the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, from data preprocessing and model training to deployment and monitoring.
• Collaborate with product managers, data scientists, and other stakeholders to deliver AI-powered features and products.
• Ensure the quality, performance, and reliability of AI solutions in production environments.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, with a specialization in AI/ML.
• 5+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, with at least 2 years in a lead or senior role.
• Proficiency in Python and popular ML libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps best practices.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, distributed systems, and data engineering principles.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management skills.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI projects with significant business impact.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility between office and remote work.
• Professional development opportunities, including training and conference attendance.
• Collaborative and innovative work environment in Tembisa .
• Performance-based bonuses and potential for stock options.