Lead Machine Learning Engineer - AI Research

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Stock options

Health, dental, vision coverage

Professional development budget

Flexible hours

Remote work opportunities

State-of-the-art facilities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead Machine Learning Engineer to spearhead cutting-edge AI projects in Cape Town. You will guide a team of engineers and researchers, shaping scalable ML systems and driving innovations in NLP, computer vision, and beyond.

You will define the ML roadmap, mentor talent, and ensure production-grade delivery with robust MLOps practices. A strong leadership and technical background is essential for success in this role.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
• 7+ years of machine learning experience with a proven track record leading ML projects from conception to production.
• Deep expertise in ML areas such as deep learning, NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, or time-series analysis.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and distributed computing systems.
• Strong software engineering principles and MLOps practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
• Experience with big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop) is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of advanced ML models and algorithms for real-world problems.
• Mentor and manage ML engineers and data scientists to foster collaboration and excellence.
• Define ML roadmap and strategy aligned with research and business objectives.
• Develop scalable ML pipelines for data ingestion, training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Research state-of-the-art ML techniques and assess applicability to projects.
• Collaborate with product managers to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Ensure performance, reliability, and efficiency of deployed models.
• Contribute to research publications, talks, and open-source where appropriate.
• Champion MLOps and software engineering best practices within the team.

Skills

Leadership

Machine Learning

Python

Deep Learning

NLP

Computer Vision

ML Project Management

Communication

Education

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client is at the vanguard of Artificial Intelligence research and development, and they are looking for an exceptional Lead Machine Learning Engineer to spearhead their innovative projects in Cape Town . This critical role involves designing, building, and deploying sophisticated machine learning models that will drive the next generation of intelligent systems. You will lead a talented team of engineers and researchers, fostering a culture of innovation and scientific rigor. The ideal candidate will have a profound understanding of deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and scalable ML systems. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on cutting-edge AI technologies and shape the future of the field from Cape Town . We offer a challenging yet rewarding environment with unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and contribution to groundbreaking research.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced machine learning models and algorithms for complex real-world problems.
• Oversee and mentor a team of machine learning engineers and data scientists, fostering collaboration and technical excellence.
• Define the ML roadmap and strategy, aligning with the company's overall research and business objectives.
• Develop and optimize scalable ML pipelines for data ingestion, model training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Conduct in-depth research into state-of-the‑art ML techniques and technologies, evaluating their applicability to our projects.
• Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
• Ensure the performance, reliability, and efficiency of deployed ML models.
• Contribute to the scientific community through publications, presentations, and open‑source contributions where appropriate.
• Champion best practices in MLOps, software engineering, and data science within the team.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
• Extensive experience (7+ years) in machine learning, with a proven track record of leading successful ML projects from conception to production.
• Deep expertise in one or more areas of ML, such as deep learning, NLP, computer vision, reinforcement learning, or time‑series analysis.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit‑learn.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and distributed computing systems.
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles and MLOps practices.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear explanations for diverse audiences.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) is a significant plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance‑based bonuses.
• Stock options package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous professional development budget for conferences and training.
• Flexible working hours and remote work opportunities.
• State‑of‑the‑art research facilities and equipment.
• Opportunity to work on impactful and industry‑leading AI projects.
• Vibrant and collaborative work culture.
• Pension fund and life insurance.