Lead AI Engineer (Remote)

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first culture

Health, dental, and vision benefits

Home office setup allowance

Professional development budget

Flexible working hours

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an experienced Lead AI Engineer to drive design, development, and deployment of scalable AI solutions across a remote-first team. You will set technical direction and lead engineers to deliver impactful AI systems from anywhere in the world.

Leader will mentor engineers, define roadmaps, oversee MLOps pipelines, and ensure production readiness. Candidates have 7+ years software experience with 5+ years AI/ML and strong Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch skills.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS, AI, or related field.
• 7+ years of software engineering, with 5+ years in AI/ML development.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and delivering complex AI projects.
• Expertise in Python and deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong understanding of MLOps, cloud platforms, and distributed systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture, design, and development of robust AI/ML systems.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI engineers, promoting best practices and technical excellence.
• Define technical strategy and roadmap for AI initiatives, aligning with business goals.
• Oversee the implementation of AI models, MLOps pipelines, and deployment strategies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions.
• Ensure the scalability, reliability, and security of AI systems in production.

Skills

AI/ML development

Python

Leadership

Remote team management

Clear communication

Problem solving

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/AI

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Docker

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and visionary Lead AI Engineer to join their dynamic, fully remote team. This pivotal role involves leading the design, development, and deployment of scalable AI solutions that address critical business needs. You will guide a talented team of engineers, set technical direction, and ensure the successful implementation of state-of-the-art AI systems. This remote-first position is ideal for a seasoned professional who excels at driving innovation, fostering collaboration across distributed teams, and architecting the next generation of AI technologies, making a significant impact from anywhere in Gauteng or beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and development of robust AI and machine learning systems.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI engineers, promoting best practices and technical excellence.
• Define technical strategy and roadmap for AI initiatives, aligning with business goals.
• Oversee the implementation of AI models, MLOps pipelines, and deployment strategies.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to gather requirements and translate them into effective technical solutions.
• Ensure the scalability, reliability, and security of AI systems in production.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years focused on AI/ML development.
• Proven experience in leading engineering teams and delivering complex AI projects.
• Expertise in programming languages like Python and deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong understanding of MLOps, cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), and distributed systems.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills for remote environments.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary tailored for a remote leadership role.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits package.
• Generous home office setup allowance and professional development budget.
• Flexible working hours and a remote-first culture.
• Opportunity to shape the future of AI and lead innovative projects.