Lead AI Engineer

Placements24; Mossel Bay; Hybrid; ZAR 2,487,000 - 3,482,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Health coverage

Work-from-home stipend

Unlimited PTO

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead AI Engineer to drive our AI initiatives in a fully remote-first environment. You will set technical direction, architecture, and deliver scalable AI/ML systems while leading a distributed team of engineers and researchers.

You will mentor the team, define best practices for MLOps and data governance, collaborate with product teams to shape the AI roadmap, and stay ahead of AI advances to deliver impactful solutions across products and services.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field.
• 7+ years in AI/ML engineering; 2+ years in lead/management role.
• Experience building and deploying large-scale AI systems in production.
• Proficient in Python and AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of scalable AI systems.
• Mentor and manage a team of AI engineers and researchers.
• Define best practices for AI development, MLOps, and data governance.
• Collaborate with product management to define the AI roadmap.

Skills

Leadership

Remote team management

Strategic vision

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in CS/AI

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

MLOps tooling

Job description

About the Role

Our client is a fully remote-first organization seeking a highly experienced and visionary Lead AI Engineer to spearhead their artificial intelligence initiatives. This role is pivotal in guiding the technical direction, architecture, and implementation of advanced AI systems that will shape the company's future products and services. You will lead a team of talented AI engineers and researchers, foster a culture of innovation, and ensure the successful delivery of robust, scalable, and impactful AI solutions. This is a unique opportunity for a senior leader to make a significant impact in a distributed work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable AI and machine learning systems.
• Mentor and manage a team of AI engineers, providing technical guidance and career development support.
• Define and champion best practices for AI development, MLOps, and data governance within the organization.
• Collaborate with product management and other engineering teams to define the AI roadmap and feature pipeline.
• Architect robust and efficient AI solutions that meet performance, scalability, and reliability requirements.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in AI and machine learning, identifying opportunities for innovation.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, or a related field.
• 7+ years of professional experience in AI/ML engineering, with at least 2 years in a lead or management role.
• Demonstrated experience building and deploying large-scale AI systems in production.
• Expertise in Python and common AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Strong understanding of MLOps principles and tools.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, with experience in managing remote teams.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and stock options package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous work-from-home stipend and professional development budget.
• Unlimited paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Opportunity to lead impactful AI projects in a fully remote setting, regardless of your location, contributing significantly to the evolution of AI within the company.