Lead AI Engineer

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Hybrid work model

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Professional growth opportunities

Access to advanced technology

Retirement savings plan

Job summary

Placements24 in George is seeking an experienced Lead AI Engineer to steer AI initiatives across the product ecosystem in a hybrid role. You will bridge research and practical deployment, guiding a talented team to build robust, scalable AI solutions.

The position combines technical leadership with hands-on engineering, cloud workflows, and a strategic view of how AI creates business value. You will mentor engineers and collaborate with data scientists and product managers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in CS, Engineering, or related field.
• 6+ years in software engineering with at least 3 years in AI/ML.
• Proven experience leading technical teams and managing complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of scalable AI/ML systems.
• Mentor AI engineers and foster technical excellence.
• Define AI roadmaps and project requirements with stakeholders.
• Oversee the ML lifecycle from data to production deployment.
• Implement MLOps practices including CI/CD and model monitoring.
• Troubleshoot AI systems and infrastructure issues.

Skills

Leadership experience

Mentoring teams

Strategic thinking

Excellent communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS

Azure

GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and visionary Lead AI Engineer to spearhead their AI initiatives in George . This hybrid role offers the unique opportunity to guide a talented team in developing and deploying advanced artificial intelligence solutions that drive business innovation. You will bridge the gap between research and practical application, ensuring our AI models are robust, scalable, and effectively integrated into our product ecosystem. This position requires a blend of technical leadership, hands-on engineering expertise, and a strategic understanding of how AI can deliver tangible business value.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable AI and machine learning systems.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
• Collaborate with data scientists, product managers, and other stakeholders to define AI roadmaps and project requirements.
• Oversee the entire ML lifecycle, from data acquisition and preparation to model training, evaluation, and production deployment.
• Implement best practices for MLOps, including CI/CD pipelines, model monitoring, and version control.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues related to AI systems and infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in software engineering, with at least 3 years focused on AI and machine learning .
• Proven experience leading technical teams and managing complex software projects.
• Strong programming skills in Python, and familiarity with ML frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Hybrid work model offering flexibility between home and office.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional growth and attending industry conferences.
• Access to advanced technology and collaborative work environment.
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution.