Machine Learning Engineer - NLP Focus

Placements24; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Performance bonuses

Professional development

Career advancement

Modern office facilities

Paid time off

Social events

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a dedicated Machine Learning Engineer with NLP specialization for an on-site role in Centurion, Gauteng. You will develop, deploy, and maintain NLP models, working hands-on with modern architectures and large text datasets within a collaborative AI team.

The role emphasizes practical implementation, rigorous model evaluation, and seamless integration into production systems. A strong ML and NLP foundation, plus teamwork, will drive successful AI initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Machine Learning Engineer with a focus on NLP.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, NLTK, and spaCy.
• Hands-on experience with transformer models and pre-trained language models (e.g., BERT, GPT).
• Experience with data preprocessing techniques for text data.
• Understanding of software development best practices and version control (Git).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to collaborate in an office environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy ML models for NLP tasks such as text classification, sentiment analysis, NER, and translation.
• Implement and optimize transformer-based architectures for NLP applications.
• Process and clean large volumes of text data for model training.
• Collaborate with data scientists and software engineers to integrate NLP models into production systems.
• Monitor and maintain performance of deployed NLP models and iterate.
• Research and apply state-of-the-art NLP techniques and algorithms.
• Contribute to data pipeline design for NLP projects.
• Evaluate model performance and provide actionable insights.
• Document model development, deployment processes, and experiments.

Skills

NLP experience

Python

Transformer models

Git

Deep learning

Text preprocessing

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

SpaCy

Education

BSc or MSc in CS/Computational Linguistics

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

NLTK

spaCy

Transformers

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a dedicated and talented Machine Learning Engineer with a specialization in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to join their esteemed team in Centurion, Gauteng, ZA. This is a full-time, on-site position where you will play a crucial role in developing, deploying, and maintaining machine learning models that understand and process human language. You will work at the forefront of NLP innovation, contributing to projects that enhance our product offerings and improve user interactions. This role requires a hands‑on approach, combining theoretical knowledge with practical implementation skills. You will be part of a collaborative environment where your contributions directly impact the success of our AI initiatives. We are looking for an individual who is passionate about NLP and eager to solve complex challenges in a dynamic setting. Your expertise will be vital in building sophisticated language models and integrating them into robust applications. We believe in nurturing talent and providing avenues for professional growth within our organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, train, and deploy machine learning models for NLP tasks, including text classification, sentiment analysis, named entity recognition, and machine translation.
• Implement and optimize deep learning architectures (e.g., Transformers, LSTMs, CNNs) for NLP applications.
• Process and clean large volumes of text data, preparing it for model training.
• Collaborate with data scientists and software engineers to integrate NLP models into production systems.
• Monitor and maintain the performance of deployed NLP models, iterating as needed.
• Research and apply state-of-the-art NLP techniques and algorithms.
• Contribute to the design and development of data pipelines for NLP projects.
• Evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics and provide actionable insights.
• Document model development, deployment processes, and experimental results.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, or a related field.
• Proven experience as a Machine Learning Engineer or similar role, with a strong focus on NLP.
• Proficiency in Python and common ML libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, NLTK, and spaCy.
• Hands‑on experience with transformer models and pre‑trained language models (e.g., BERT, GPT).
• Experience with data preprocessing techniques for text data.
• Understanding of software development best practices and version control (e.g., Git).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts.
• Ability to work collaboratively in an office environment.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including comprehensive medical aid, retirement fund contributions, and performance‑based bonuses.
• Employees have access to ongoing professional development opportunities, including workshops, training, and support for attending relevant conferences.
• The company fosters a supportive work environment with opportunities for career advancement within its AI division.
• We provide a structured work setting designed to encourage collaboration and innovation.
• The role is based in a modern office facility with convenient access.
• Paid time off and company‑sponsored social events are also part of our employee offering.