Lead NLP Engineer - Conversational AI

Placements24; George; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Performance bonuses

Growth opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Lead NLP Engineer in George, Western Cape to drive innovation in conversational AI. You will lead the design and deployment of NLP models for chatbots, voice assistants, and related AI services while mentoring a team of NLP engineers and data scientists.

You will collaborate with product managers and UX designers to deliver best-in-class experiences, evaluate new NLP libraries, and keep pace with AI research.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, AI, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in developing and deploying NLP models and services.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and relevant libraries (e.g., NLTK, spaCy, Hugging Face Transformers).
• Solid understanding of machine learning algorithms, deep learning architectures (RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers), and their application to NLP tasks.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps practices.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technical teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced NLP models for various conversational AI applications.
• Architect and implement robust and scalable solutions for intent recognition, entity extraction, sentiment analysis, and dialogue management.
• Mentor and guide a team of NLP engineers and data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Collaborate with product managers and UX designers to define and deliver best-in-class conversational experiences.
• Evaluate and integrate state-of-the-art NLP technologies and libraries into existing systems.
• Conduct performance analysis, identify areas for improvement, and implement optimizations for accuracy and efficiency.
• Stay current with the latest research and trends in NLP, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Ensure high-quality code standards and best practices are followed by the team.

Skills

Python

NLTK

spaCy

Transformers

Machine Learning

Deep Learning

RNNs

LSTMs

Cloud Platforms

MLOps

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Education

Master's degree

PhD

Computational Linguistics

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Hugging Face Transformers

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering technology firm at the forefront of AI and emerging technologies, is seeking a Lead NLP Engineer to drive innovation in conversational AI. This exciting opportunity is based in George, Western Cape, ZA , offering a dynamic hybrid work model that blends in-office collaboration with remote flexibility. You will spearhead the development of intelligent conversational agents, chatbots, and voice assistants that enhance user experience and streamline operations. This role requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of Natural Language Processing and a passion for creating human-like AI interactions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced NLP models for various conversational AI applications.
• Architect and implement robust and scalable solutions for intent recognition, entity extraction, sentiment analysis, and dialogue management.
• Mentor and guide a team of NLP engineers and data scientists, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Collaborate with product managers and UX designers to define and deliver best-in-class conversational experiences.
• Evaluate and integrate state-of-the-art NLP technologies and libraries into existing systems.
• Conduct performance analysis, identify areas for improvement, and implement optimizations for accuracy and efficiency.
• Stay current with the latest research and trends in NLP, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
• Ensure high-quality code standards and best practices are followed by the team.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, AI, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in developing and deploying NLP models and services.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python and relevant libraries (e.g., NLTK, spaCy, Hugging Face Transformers).
• Solid understanding of machine learning algorithms, deep learning architectures (RNNs, LSTMs, Transformers), and their application to NLP tasks.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and MLOps practices.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor technical teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to identifying and resolving challenges.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, retirement plans, performance bonuses, and opportunities for continuous professional growth.
• Embrace a flexible work environment in beautiful George, Western Cape, ZA , while working on transformative AI projects.
• This role provides the chance to make a significant impact and advance your career in a forward-thinking company.