Principal AI Engineer - Generative Models

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Performance bonuses

Health & retirement benefits

Professional development budget

Distributed team

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal AI Engineer in SA to lead cutting-edge generative AI initiatives from a remote capacity. You will mentor researchers, shape architecture, and push innovations in GANs, diffusion models, and LLMs.

The role emphasizes collaboration, responsible deployment, and publishing research while enabling scalable, production-ready systems across distributed platforms. You will engage with cross-functional teams, drive MLOps practices, maintain high standards of ethics and

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in CS/ML with focus on generative models.
• 7+ years AI/ML R&D experience focused on generative AI.
• Expert in GANs, VAEs, diffusion models, Transformers, and LLMs.
• Proficient in Python and DL frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, JAX).
• Strong theory in DL, probability, and statistics.
• Experience with large-scale data processing and distributed training.
• Proven track record leading technical projects and mentoring.
• Excellent communication; publications in AI conferences desirable.
• Experience with MLOps for production models.

Responsibilities

• Lead research, design, and implementation of advanced generative AI models.
• Develop novel algorithms for image synthesis, text/code generation, data augmentation.
• Architect scalable systems for training and deployment of generative models.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to apply generative AI across products.
• Stay at the forefront of generative AI research and evaluate new techniques.
• Mentor junior engineers and researchers.
• Publish research findings and contribute to open-source.
• Ensure responsible development and deployment, addressing ethics and biases.
• Evaluate and optimize model performance and production efficiency.

Skills

Generative AI

Transformers

MLOps

Distributed training

Python

Deep learning

Leadership

Education

PhD or MS in CS/ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

JAX

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a trailblazer in AI & Emerging Technologies, is seeking an exceptional Principal AI Engineer with a deep focus on Generative Models to join our pioneering team. This role is fully remote, allowing you to contribute from anywhere within South Africa. You will be instrumental in conceptualizing, developing, and deploying cutting-edge generative AI solutions, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in areas like content creation, data synthesis, and advanced simulations. This is a leadership position offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of generative AI within our organization and influence industry-wide advancements. We are building a world-class research and development capability, and you will be a cornerstone of this effort. The ideal candidate is a visionary technologist with a proven track record of innovation in deep learning, particularly with transformer architectures and other generative frameworks. Our client is committed to fostering a highly collaborative, research-driven, and impact-oriented remote work culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research, design, and implementation of advanced generative AI models, including GANs, VAEs, diffusion models, and large language models.
• Develop novel algorithms and architectures for diverse generative tasks, such as image synthesis, text generation, code generation, and data augmentation.
• Architect scalable and efficient systems for training and deploying generative models, potentially involving massive datasets and distributed computing.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify and implement high-impact applications of generative AI across various products and services.
• Stay at the forefront of generative AI research, critically evaluating new techniques and exploring their potential applications.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers and researchers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals, and contribute to open-source projects where appropriate.
• Ensure the responsible development and deployment of generative AI, addressing ethical considerations and potential biases.
• Evaluate and optimize model performance, scalability, and efficiency for production environments.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field with a strong focus on generative models.
• 7+ years of experience in AI/ML research and development, with a significant emphasis on generative AI.
• Demonstrated expertise in developing and implementing advanced generative models (GANs, VAEs, Diffusion Models, Transformers, LLMs).
• Proficiency in Python and deep learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX.
• Strong theoretical foundation in deep learning, probability, and statistics.
• Experience with large-scale data processing and distributed training frameworks.
• Proven ability to lead complex technical projects and mentor teams.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly.
• Experience publishing research in leading AI conferences (e.g., NeurIPS, ICML, ICLR) is highly desirable.
• Experience with MLOps practices and tools for deploying and managing models in production.

Benefits

• As a fully remote Principal AI Engineer, you will receive a highly competitive salary, performance bonuses, and comprehensive health and retirement benefits.
• We offer a generous budget for professional development, including conferences, courses, and research materials.
• You will have the flexibility to work from anywhere in South Africa, with opportunities to collaborate with a world-class, globally distributed team.
• Our client fosters an inclusive and innovative remote-first culture, focused on impact and continuous learning.
• This role provides the unique chance to work on groundbreaking generative AI technologies and shape the future of the field.
• We believe in empowering our engineers with the resources and autonomy they need to thrive.