Lead Machine Learning Engineer - NLP

Placements24; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Health and retirement benefits

Training and conferences

Centurion, Gauteng office environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced Lead Machine Learning Engineer specializing in NLP in Centurion, Gauteng. You will lead a team to develop and deploy advanced NLP models, from research to production, shaping the tech direction of our AI initiatives.

The role requires strong NLP expertise, leadership, and hands-on coding in Python using spaCy, Hugging Face, and common DL frameworks, with cloud experience and a drive to deliver production-ready systems.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS/AI/linguistics or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on ML engineering experience with NLP focus.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (spaCy, NLTK, Transformers, scikit-learn).

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, and deployment of advanced NLP models and applications (sentiment analysis, text classification, translation, chatbots).
• Mentor and guide ML engineers and data scientists.
• Define and implement ML development and deployment pipelines (MLOps).
• Collaborate with product managers to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Research new NLP techniques to enhance offerings.
• Optimize models for performance, scalability, and reliability.

Skills

NLP specialist experience

Python

spaCy

NLTK

Hugging Face Transformers

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP)

MLOps

Leadership

Production ML systems

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, Linguistics, or related field

Tools

Python

spaCy

NLTK

Hugging Face Transformers

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

AWS

Azure

GCP

MLOps tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic player in the AI and emerging technologies sector, is seeking an experienced Lead Machine Learning Engineer with a specialization in Natural Language Processing (NLP). This role, based in **Centurion, Gauteng**, will lead a talented team in developing and deploying sophisticated NLP models and solutions. You will be instrumental in driving the technical direction of our NLP initiatives, from initial research and prototyping through to production deployment and ongoing optimization. This position requires a blend of strong technical expertise in NLP, proven leadership capabilities, and a passion for leveraging AI to solve complex business challenges. You will work with state-of-the-art technologies and contribute to impactful projects that are at the forefront of AI innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced NLP models and applications (e.g., sentiment analysis, text classification, machine translation, chatbots).


• Mentor and guide a team of ML engineers and data scientists, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.


• Define and implement best practices for ML development, including code quality, testing, and deployment pipelines (MLOps).


• Collaborate with product managers and stakeholders to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.


• Research and experiment with new NLP techniques and technologies to enhance our offerings.


• Optimize ML models for performance, scalability, and efficiency.


• Ensure the reliability and robustness of production ML systems.


• Contribute to the strategic roadmap for NLP development within the company.


• Stay updated on the latest research and industry trends in NLP and deep learning.


• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to ML models and infrastructure.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, Linguistics, or a related field.


• 5+ years of hands‑on experience in machine learning engineering, with a significant focus on NLP.


• Strong proficiency in Python and ML libraries such as spaCy, NLTK, Hugging Face Transformers, scikit‑learn.


• Expertise in deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch.


• Demonstrated experience in leading ML projects and mentoring junior engineers.


• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and associated ML services.


• Solid understanding of MLOps principles and tools for model deployment and monitoring.


• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills.


• Proven ability to deliver production‑ready ML systems.


• Experience with large language models (LLMs) and transformer architectures is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary package, including performance bonuses and potential for equity.


• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance are provided, along with a retirement fund contribution.


• We invest in our employees' growth through ongoing training, access to conferences, and opportunities for career advancement.


• Enjoy a collaborative office environment in **Centurion, Gauteng**, with amenities designed for productivity and well‑being.


• Join a team that is shaping the future of AI and making a real impact.