Lead Machine Learning Engineer - NLP

Placements24; Polokwane; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and wellness benefits

Retirement savings plan

Learning and professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks an experienced Lead Machine Learning Engineer with NLP specialization to lead design, development, and deployment of advanced NLP models in Polokwane, Limpopo.

You will mentor a team of ML engineers and researchers, architect scalable ML systems, and collaborate with product managers, software engineers, and domain experts to deliver AI-powered features. Stay updated with NLP research and drive innovation.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, AI, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in machine learning engineering with a focus on NLP.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, NLTK, or spaCy.
• Proven experience deploying ML models to production.
• Solid understanding of transformer architectures and language models (BERT, GPT).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; excellent leadership and teamwork abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development and deployment of NLP models, including text classification, sentiment analysis, NER, and QA systems.
• Mentor and guide a team of ML engineers and data scientists.
• Architect and build scalable, production-ready ML systems and pipelines.
• Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, and domain experts to define AI-powered features.
• Stay current with NLP/ML research and identify opportunities for innovation.
• Evaluate and select tools, technologies, and frameworks for NLP projects.
• Optimize model performance, efficiency, and scalability for large-scale deployments.
• Contribute to IP through patents and publications.

Skills

NLP

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

spaCy

NLTK

Transformers

Leadership

MLOps

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science/AI

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering firm at the forefront of AI innovation, is seeking an experienced Lead Machine Learning Engineer with a specialization in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to join their dynamic team in Polokwane, Limpopo. This pivotal role involves leading the design, development, and deployment of advanced NLP models and systems that drive core business functionalities. You will be instrumental in shaping the future of our client's AI initiatives, guiding a team of talented engineers and researchers. The position requires a deep understanding of state-of-the-art NLP techniques, a passion for solving real-world problems using AI, and strong leadership capabilities. Working in our client's modern facility in Polokwane, Limpopo, you will be part of a collaborative and forward-thinking environment, contributing to projects that have a significant market impact. This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious ML engineer looking to make a substantial contribution to a growing AI leader.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development and deployment of NLP models, including text classification, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, and question answering systems.
• Mentor and guide a team of machine learning engineers and data scientists, fostering technical excellence and collaboration.
• Architect and build scalable, production-ready ML systems and pipelines.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, software engineers, and domain experts to define and deliver AI-powered features.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in NLP and machine learning, identifying opportunities for innovation.
• Evaluate and select appropriate tools, technologies, and frameworks for NLP projects.
• Optimize model performance, efficiency, and scalability for large-scale deployments.
• Contribute to the company's intellectual property through patents and publications.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field.
• Extensive experience (5+ years) in machine learning engineering, with a strong focus on NLP.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, NLTK, or spaCy.
• Proven experience in deploying ML models into production environments.
• Solid understanding of transformer architectures, language models (e.g., BERT, GPT), and their applications.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps practices.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

Benefits

Our client offers a highly competitive salary package, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and a robust retirement savings plan. Employees are provided with opportunities for continuous learning and professional development, including access to training, workshops, and industry conferences. The company culture emphasizes innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance, with ample paid time off and flexible working arrangements considered where operationally feasible. The Polokwane, Limpopo office is equipped with modern facilities and resources to support cutting-edge AI research and development.