Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Training & certifications

Conference opportunities

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking an experienced MLOps Engineer in Bloemfontein to bridge model development and production deployment. The role combines in-office collaboration with remote work within a hybrid model, focusing on scalable ML infrastructure and automation across the full lifecycle.

You will work with data scientists and engineers to deploy, monitor, and retrain models, using Docker/Kubernetes and cloud ML services. A strong Python background and CI/CD experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Degree in CS/Engineering or related quantitative field required.
• 3–5 years in software, DevOps or MLOps with pipelines experience.
• Strong Python and scripting ability; familiarity with ML frameworks.
• Hands-on with containers, cloud ML services, and CI/CD for ML.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable MLOps pipelines and infrastructure.
• Automate end-to-end ML lifecycle: data, training, deployment, monitoring.
• Implement CI/CD for ML models and model serving infra.
• Ensure high availability and low latency for serving endpoints.
• Monitor production models, detect drift, retrain when needed.
• Collaborate with data scientists and software engineers on deployments.
• Manage cloud ML platforms and services (AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, GCP).
• Enforce version control, testing, and reproducibility for ML experiments.
• Ensure security and compliance of ML systems and data.
• Troubleshoot ML infra issues and contribute tooling improvements.
• Support internal tooling to streamline MLOps processes.

Skills

Python

Scripting

ML concepts

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

AWS SageMaker

Azure ML

GCP AI Platform

Job description

About the Role Our client is a rapidly growing technology company focused on delivering data-driven solutions. We are seeking an experienced Machine Learning Operations (MLOps) Engineer to join our team. This role is pivotal in bridging the gap between machine learning model development and reliable production deployment. Based in **Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA**, this position operates on a hybrid model, combining essential in-office collaboration with the flexibility of remote work. You will be responsible for building and maintaining robust, scalable, and automated infrastructure for the entire ML lifecycle, from data ingestion and model training to deployment, monitoring, and retraining. This is an exciting opportunity to shape the operational excellence of our AI initiatives and ensure the seamless delivery of machine learning services.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain scalable MLOps pipelines and infrastructure.
• Automate the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, including data management, model training, validation, deployment, and monitoring.
• Implement CI/CD practices for machine learning models.
• Develop and manage infrastructure for model serving, ensuring high availability and low latency.
• Monitor model performance in production, detect drift, and trigger retraining or alerts.
• Collaborate closely with data scientists and software engineers to ensure smooth model deployment and integration.
• Manage cloud-based ML platforms and services (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Azure ML, GCP AI Platform).
• Implement best practices for version control, testing, and reproducibility of ML experiments.
• Ensure security and compliance of ML systems and data.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to ML infrastructure and model performance.
• Contribute to the development of internal tools and frameworks to streamline MLOps processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 3-5 years of experience in software engineering, DevOps, or MLOps.
• Proven experience building and managing ML pipelines and infrastructure.
• Proficiency in Python and scripting languages.
• Strong understanding of containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their ML services.
• Familiarity with ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Knowledge of CI/CD tools and practices.
• Experience with monitoring and logging tools.Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
• Understanding of machine learning concepts is essential.

Benefits

• Join our innovative team in **Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA**, with the benefits of a hybrid work arrangement.
• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health insurance, and a retirement savings plan.
• We invest in our employees' growth, providing access to training, certifications, and opportunities to attend industry conferences.
• You'll work with cutting-edge technologies in a collaborative and supportive environment.
• Enjoy a good work-life balance with generous leave policies.
• Be part of a team that is driving efficiency and reliability in AI deployments.