Principal AI Engineer - Computer Vision

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance bonuses

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Retirement plans

Conference attendance support

Training opportunities

Academic pursuit support

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal AI Engineer specializing in Computer Vision in Rustenburg, North West. You will lead the design, development, and deployment of state-of-the-art CV systems, architect scalable pipelines, and mentor junior engineers to deliver robust AI solutions for real-world applications.

The role requires a PhD or MSc in CV/ML, 8+ years of hands-on CV experience, and deep expertise in DL frameworks and CV libraries. Strong publication history is highly desirable.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in CS/EE with CV/ML specialization.
• 8+ years in developing and deploying CV systems.
• Publication record in CV/ML is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and deployment of advanced computer vision algorithms.
• Architect scalable CV systems for real-time use.
• Develop and optimize deep learning models for detection, segmentation, recognition, and video analysis.
• Collaborate with data scientists and software engineers to integrate CV into product pipelines.
• Mentor and guide junior AI engineers; drive technical excellence.
• Test and validate AI models for performance and reliability.
• Stay updated on CV and DL advancements; contribute to MLOps pipelines.
• Present findings to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Identify new research opportunities in CV.

Skills

8+ years CV experience

Team leadership

Strong problem-solving

Effective communicator

Education

PhD or Master in CS/EE CV/ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

OpenCV

scikit-image

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leader in the AI & Emerging Technologies sector, is looking for an exceptional Principal AI Engineer specializing in Computer Vision to join their advanced research and development team in Rustenburg, North West. This senior role is critical in driving the development of state-of-the-art computer vision systems, from conceptualization through to production deployment. You will be responsible for architecting and implementing complex AI models that enable machines to 'see' and interpret the visual world. This position demands a deep technical expertise, a passion for innovation, and the ability to mentor and lead junior engineers. You will collaborate with a talented group of researchers and engineers, contributing to groundbreaking projects that have significant real-world impact. We offer a stimulating work environment where you can push the boundaries of what's possible in AI and contribute to shaping the future of visual intelligence technology. The ideal candidate will have a strong publication record and a proven ability to deliver robust, scalable AI solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced computer vision algorithms and models.
• Architect scalable and efficient computer vision systems for real-time applications.
• Develop and optimize deep learning models for tasks such as object detection, image segmentation, facial recognition, and video analysis.
• Collaborate with data scientists and software engineers to integrate computer vision solutions into product pipelines.
• Mentor and guide junior AI engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence.
• Conduct rigorous testing and validation of AI models to ensure performance and reliability.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and advancements in computer vision and deep learning.
• Contribute to the development of robust MLOps pipelines for computer vision models.
• Present technical findings and project progress to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Identify and explore new research avenues and technological opportunities in computer vision.

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a specialization in Computer Vision or Machine Learning.
• 8+ years of hands-on experience in developing and deploying computer vision systems.
• Expertise in deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Keras.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, C++, and relevant libraries (OpenCV, scikit-image).
• Strong understanding of image processing techniques, 3D vision, and deep neural network architectures (CNNs, Transformers).
• Experience with large-scale datasets and data augmentation techniques.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects and mentor engineering teams.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and a strong analytical mindset.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Publication record in top-tier computer vision conferences (CVPR, ICCV, ECCV) is highly desirable.

Benefits

Our client provides a highly competitive salary, along with performance bonuses and comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and retirement plans. We offer ample opportunities for professional growth, including support for conference attendance, training, and further academic pursuits. Employees gain access to cutting-edge research facilities and computational resources. The role is based in Rustenburg, North West, offering a dynamic work environment within a leading technology company. We foster a collaborative and innovative culture, providing the chance to work on challenging and impactful projects.