Lead AI Engineer - Cloud Infrastructure Automation

Placements24; Mtubatuba Local Municipality; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Fully remote in SA

Home office stipend

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead AI Engineer to spearhead AI-powered automation across cloud infrastructure. This remote role requires leadership to guide a team of engineers, develop scalable AI solutions, and ensure reliable cloud operations.

You will shape our AI strategy for infrastructure and drive innovation. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in AI/ML within cloud environments, strong Python skills, and hands-on cloud platform experience, with a focus on MLOps and production deployments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of AI/ML in cloud environments.
• Strong Python and ML libraries experience (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Hands-on with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Proficiency in IaC tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Experience with Docker and Kubernetes.
• Solid understanding of MLOps and production ML deployment.
• Experience with anomaly detection, time-series analysis, and predictive modeling.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership and communication, remote work capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of AI-driven automation for cloud infrastructure.
• Develop ML models for predictive maintenance and anomaly detection.
• Architect scalable, fault-tolerant AI systems.
• Collaborate with DevOps, SRE, and engineering to CI/CD integration.
• Mentor junior engineers and drive technical excellence.
• Define and track KPIs for AI automation efforts.
• Evaluate new AI technologies to improve infrastructure management.
• Ensure security, compliance, and cost-effectiveness of cloud AI initiatives.
• Communicate technical vision and progress to stakeholders.

Skills

Python

ML libraries

Cloud platforms

Infrastructure as Code

Docker/Kubernetes

MLOps

Anomaly detection

Time-series analysis

Predictive modeling

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Terraform

CloudFormation

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client is looking for a highly motivated and experienced Lead AI Engineer to spearhead their cloud infrastructure automation initiatives. This role is fully remote, allowing you to work from anywhere within South Africa. You will be instrumental in designing, developing, and deploying advanced AI-powered solutions to optimize and automate our cloud infrastructure. This is a leadership position where you will guide a team of talented engineers, foster innovation, and ensure the scalability, reliability, and efficiency of our cloud services. The ideal candidate is passionate about AI, has a deep understanding of cloud technologies, and thrives in a remote-first, fast-paced environment. You will have the autonomy to shape our AI strategy for infrastructure and make a significant impact on our operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of AI-driven automation solutions for cloud infrastructure (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Develop machine learning models for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, resource optimization, and automated incident response.
• Architect and build robust, scalable, and fault-tolerant AI systems.
• Collaborate with DevOps, SRE, and engineering teams to integrate AI solutions into CI/CD pipelines and operational workflows.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for AI-driven automation efforts.
• Evaluate and implement new AI technologies and tools to enhance infrastructure management.
• Ensure the security, compliance, and cost-effectiveness of cloud infrastructure through AI-driven insights.
• Communicate technical vision and progress to stakeholders across the organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• Proven experience (5+ years) as an AI Engineer or Machine Learning Engineer, with a focus on cloud environments.
• Strong expertise in Python and common ML libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and their services.
• Proficiency in Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or CloudFormation.
• Experience with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Solid understanding of MLOps principles and best practices for deploying and managing ML models in production.
• Experience with anomaly detection, time-series analysis, and predictive modeling techniques.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with potential for bonuses based on company and individual performance.
• Full remote work flexibility, allowing you to work from anywhere in South Africa.
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits.
• Generous allowance for home office setup and professional development.
• Opportunities to work with cutting-edge AI technologies and cloud platforms.
• Collaborative and supportive remote work culture.
• Chance to lead impactful projects and shape the future of cloud automation.
• Regular virtual team-building activities and social events.