Lead AI Engineer

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Flexible hours

Health insurance

Professional development budget

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead AI Engineer to spearhead AI development from a remote-first position. You will guide a talented team in designing, building, and deploying advanced AI solutions while shaping technical strategy and architecture.

Your leadership will drive ML projects end-to-end in a collaborative environment. The ideal candidate has 7+ years in software with AI/ML focus, strong programming skills (Python/Java), and experience with TensorFlow or PyTorch, plus cloud and MLOps

Qualifications

• Masters or PhD in CS/AI or equivalent practical experience.
• Extensive AI/ML software engineering background.
• Proven track record leading technical teams and AI projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of scalable AI/ML systems.
• Define best practices for AI development and deployment pipelines.
• Architect robust ML models ensuring performance and reliability.
• Mentor AI engineers to grow technical capabilities.
• Collaborate with product managers to define AI strategy and roadmaps.
• Evaluate and adopt new AI tools and technologies.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Mentoring

AI/ML leadership

Problem solving

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/AI

Tools

Python

Java

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS

Azure

GCP

MLOps

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for an experienced and visionary Lead AI Engineer to spearhead their AI development efforts from anywhere. This is a pivotal role where you will guide a talented team in designing, building, and deploying sophisticated AI solutions. You will be responsible for technical strategy, architectural decisions, and ensuring the successful implementation of machine learning models and systems. This remote-first position offers the chance to shape the future of AI at the company, foster a culture of innovation, and mentor engineers in a dynamic and collaborative environment. The ideal candidate is a strong technical leader with a proven track record in delivering complex AI projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of scalable AI/ML systems and applications.
• Define and implement best practices for AI development, including coding standards, testing, and deployment pipelines.
• Architect robust and efficient machine learning models, ensuring their performance and reliability.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI engineers, fostering their technical growth and productivity.
• Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to define AI strategy and roadmaps.
• Evaluate and adopt new AI technologies and tools to enhance the team's capabilities.

Requirements

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, AI, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Extensive experience (7+ years) in software engineering with a specialization in AI/ML.
• Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and managing AI projects.
• Expertise in programming languages (Python, Java) and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and MLOps.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and equity options.
• Fully remote work environment with flexible hours.
• Opportunity to lead cutting-edge AI initiatives and influence technical direction.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous professional development budget and support for attending conferences.
• A culture that promotes autonomy, collaboration, and continuous learning.