Lead AI Software Engineer – Build Scalable ML Systems

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Dental/vision coverage

Generous vacation policy

Advanced training & development

Leadership role in Kimberley AI team

Stock options

Retirement plan with company matching

Job summary

Placements24 in Kimberley, Northern Cape, is seeking a Lead AI Software Engineer to design, develop, and deploy AI-powered software. You will lead a team of engineers across the full SDLC, driving technical direction and production readiness.

The role requires a strong AI/ML background, deep coding skills in Python/Java/C++, cloud experience, and a passion for scalable distributed systems. On-site presence is expected to foster collaboration and project leadership.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.
• 7+ years of software engineering experience with at least 4 years in AI/ML development.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams and managing software projects.
• Strong proficiency in Python, Java, or C++.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML concepts, algorithms, and frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containers (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Expertise in building scalable distributed systems.
• Excellent problem-solving, debugging, and analytical skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with MLOps principles and practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of AI software engineers in design, development, and deployment of AI/ML solutions.
• Architect scalable and robust software systems for AI applications.
• Write high-quality, maintainable code for AI models and infrastructure.
• Oversee the entire software development lifecycle, including testing, deployment, and monitoring.
• Collaborate with AI researchers and data scientists to integrate models into production systems.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, fostering technical growth within the team.
• Define and enforce coding standards, best practices, and development processes.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.
• Stay current with emerging AI technologies and software engineering trends.
• Contribute to technical strategy and roadmap planning.

Skills

AI/ML leadership

Team leadership

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Master's degree or PhD in CS/SE

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Docker

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Placements24 in Kimberley, Northern Cape, is seeking a Lead AI Software Engineer to design, develop, and deploy AI-powered software. You will lead a team of engineers across the full SDLC, driving technical direction and production readiness.

The role requires a strong AI/ML background, deep coding skills in Python/Java/C++, cloud experience, and a passion for scalable distributed systems. On-site presence is expected to foster collaboration and project leadership.