Machine Learning Engineer - Reinforcement Learning

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 850,000 - 1,350,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health coverage

Retirement planning

Professional development

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 in Paarl, Western Cape, is seeking a talented Machine Learning Engineer specializing in Reinforcement Learning (RL) to join our innovative team. You will design, implement, and optimize RL algorithms for complex real‑world problems, collaborating with domain experts and software engineers.

Ideally, you hold a Master's or PhD in CS/AI/Robotics with a strong RL focus and have 3+ years in ML/RL, including deep RL and model-based approaches.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS/AI/Robotics with RL focus.
• 3+ years of ML/RL development experience.
• Strong RL theory including Q-learning and policy gradients.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with simulation environments (Gym, MuJoCo) and Git.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement RL algorithms and frameworks for optimization and control.
• Train and evaluate RL agents using simulation and real‑world data.
• Research and apply deep RL, model‑based RL, and multi‑agent RL techniques.
• Collaborate with domain experts and software engineers to define RL problem spaces.
• Optimize RL model performance for efficiency, stability, and scalability.
• Stay current with RL research and publish results when possible.
• Contribute to testing and validation methodologies for RL systems.
• Mentor junior engineers and share RL expertise.

Skills

Python

Reinforcement learning

Q-learning

Policy gradients

Value functions

Deep RL

Model-based RL

Multi-agent RL

Git

Communication

Education

Master's/PhD in CS/AI/Robotics (RL focus)

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Ray RLlib

Stable Baselines

OpenAI Gym

MuJoCo

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in developing advanced AI systems, is seeking a talented Machine Learning Engineer with a specialization in Reinforcement Learning (RL) to join their innovative team in Paarl, Western Cape. This role is crucial for pushing the boundaries of intelligent automation and decision‑making systems. You will be instrumental in designing, implementing, and optimizing RL algorithms for complex real‑world problems, contributing to breakthroughs in areas such as robotics, autonomous systems, and optimization. This is an exceptional opportunity to work in a collaborative research‑oriented environment in the beautiful Paarl region.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement RL algorithms and frameworks to solve challenging optimization and control problems.
• Train and evaluate RL agents using simulation environments and real-world data.
• Research and apply advanced RL techniques, including deep RL, model‑based RL, and multi‑agent RL.
• Collaborate with domain experts and software engineers to define RL problem spaces and integrate solutions.
• Optimize RL model performance for efficiency, stability, and scalability.
• Stay current with the latest research papers and advancements in reinforcement learning.
• Contribute to the development of robust testing and validation methodologies for RL systems.
• Mentor junior engineers and share expertise in reinforcement learning.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, or a related field with a strong focus on Reinforcement Learning.
• 3+ years of experience in developing and implementing machine learning models, with a significant focus on RL.
• Strong theoretical understanding of reinforcement learning concepts (e.g., Q‑learning, policy gradients, value functions).
• Proficiency in Python and relevant ML/RL libraries (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Ray RLlib, Stable Baselines).
• Experience with simulation environments (e.g., OpenAI Gym, MuJoCo) is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with software engineering best practices and version control (Git).
• Excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.

Benefits

• Our client offers a highly competitive salary and an attractive benefits package, including comprehensive health coverage and retirement planning.
• Opportunities for professional development, attending top AI conferences, and engaging in groundbreaking research are abundant.
• The work environment in Paarl, Western Cape, encourages innovation and collaboration, providing a stimulating setting for experts in the field of AI.
• Contribute to pioneering advancements in reinforcement learning.