Lead Machine Learning Engineer - Computer Vision

Placements24; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Relocation assistance

Flexible working hours

Comprehensive health, dental, and視on

Job summary

Placements24 in Cape Town is looking for a Lead Machine Learning Engineer specializing in Computer Vision to lead the development of cutting-edge CV models. You will guide a team of engineers, shaping solutions for image recognition, object detection, and video analysis in a fast-moving tech environment.

The role requires a Master's or PhD, 7+ years in ML with a CV focus, and a proven track record leading projects and mentoring teams.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS, AI, ML or related field.
• 7+ years hands-on ML experience with strong CV focus.
• Proven leadership of ML projects and mentoring teams.
• Expertise with TensorFlow, PyTorch or Keras.
• Proficiency in Python, C++, and OpenCV / scikit-learn.
• Experience with cloud platforms and MLOps a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of CV ML models (image classification, object detection, segmentation, tracking).
• Mentor a team of ML engineers and foster technical excellence.
• Define technical roadmap for CV projects and identify research areas.
• Develop training/validation/testing pipelines for ML models.
• Optimize models for performance and deployment on cloud/edge.
• Collaborate with product managers, engineers, and domain experts to translate requirements.
• Stay updated with CV and deep learning advancements.
• Conduct code reviews and promote best practices in ML development.
• Evaluate and integrate new tools/frameworks to improve ML workflows.
• Contribute to IP through publications and patents.

Skills

Leadership

Team mentorship

Communication

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree in CS/AI/ML

PhD in CS/AI/ML (preferred)

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

OpenCV

scikit-learn

Python

C++

AWS/Azure/GCP

MLOps

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge AI research and development firm, is looking for a highly accomplished Lead Machine Learning Engineer specializing in Computer Vision to join their innovative team in the dynamic city of Cape Town . This leadership role involves driving the development of advanced computer vision models and solutions that power next-generation applications. You will guide a team of talented engineers, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in image recognition, object detection, and video analysis. This is an exceptional opportunity for an expert in the field to contribute to groundbreaking projects in a thriving tech ecosystem. The position is located in Cape Town , a global hub for technology and innovation in South Africa .

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of state-of-the-art machine learning models for computer vision tasks (e.g., image classification, object detection, segmentation, tracking).
• Manage and mentor a team of machine learning engineers, fostering technical excellence and collaboration.
• Define the technical roadmap for computer vision projects, identifying key research areas and technological advancements.
• Develop and implement robust training, validation, and testing pipelines for ML models.
• Optimize ML models for performance, efficiency, and deployment on various platforms (cloud, edge).
• Collaborate closely with product managers, software engineers, and domain experts to translate business requirements into effective ML solutions.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in computer vision and deep learning.
• Conduct code reviews, provide technical guidance, and ensure the adoption of best practices in ML development.
• Evaluate and integrate new tools, frameworks, and technologies to enhance the ML development process.
• Contribute to the company's intellectual property through publications and patents.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 7 years of hands-on experience in machine learning, with a strong focus on computer vision.
• Proven experience leading ML projects and mentoring engineering teams.
• Expertise in deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Keras.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, C++, and relevant libraries (e.g., OpenCV, scikit-learn).
• Strong understanding of various computer vision algorithms and techniques.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps practices.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work on complex, ambiguous problems.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Experience with large-scale datasets and distributed training is a plus.
• Published research in top-tier AI/ML conferences or journals is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous stock options and long-term incentives.
• Significant budget for professional development, conferences, and training.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful AI projects at the forefront of technology.
• Vibrant and collaborative work environment in Cape Town .
• Relocation assistance for qualified candidates.
• Flexible working hours.