Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading research organization in Pretoria seeks a Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer to design and implement AI systems architecture. The role includes leading technical solutions for client programmes and developing innovative AI-based solutions. Candidates should possess an Honours degree in computer science or related fields and have over seven years of experience in artificial intelligence and software development, particularly in machine learning and data engineering. This position requires proven leadership and expertise in AI technologies.

Qualifications

• An Honours degree in computer science/engineering or related fields.
• At least seven years experience in artificial intelligence and software development.
• Experience in applied machine-learning and computer vision tasks.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement AI systems architecture and solutions.
• Provide leadership in technical solutions to client programmes.
• Research and develop innovative solutions in the AI space.

Skills

Applied machine-learning with regression and classification

Computer vision tasks

Natural language processing

Building multimodal models

Big-data unsupervised learning

Data platform engineering

Deep learning frameworks (TensorFlow, Keras, Theano)

Programming in modern object-oriented languages

Supervision and mentoring skills

Education

Honours degree in computer science/engineering

Tools

TensorFlow

Keras

Theano

AWS

IBM Cloud

Azure

Job description

Job title

Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer

Job Location

Gauteng, Pretoria

Deadline

January 18, 2026

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About the job

The CSIR has a vacancy for a Principal Artificial Intelligence Engineer in the Emerging Digital Technologies for Fourth Industrial Revolution (EDT4IR) Research Centre within the Next Generation Enterprises and Institutions Cluster. The incumbent will be responsible to design, develop and implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems architecture and solutions. This position is based in Pretoria and will report to the Research Group Leader.

Key responsibilities

• Provide leadership in the provision of technical solutions to client programmes;
• Propose and/or contribute to the strategic investment plan and implement Parliamentary Grant, Contract Research and Development and other grant‑funded projects;
• Research, develop and test innovative solutions in AI and remain well‐versed in new approaches in tools, methods or technologies in the evolving AI space;
• Supervise/mentor junior staff in the area(s) of expertise;
• Generate and lead science engineering and technology (SET) activity outputs e.g. reports, guidelines, system requirements, peer‑reviewed publications, and technology and software packages;
• Understand and interpret client requirements by contributing to user requirement analysis and/or well‑articulated proposals;
• Participate in external task teams or committees in relevant domains;
• Provide technical support on business development and participate in client interactions;
• Manage projects through planning of appropriate processes and policies to ensure Intellectual Property (IP) protection and technology transfer;
• Advance theoretical AI approaches to deployable solutions, i.e. implemented and deployed into large‑scale production systems;
• Develop technology demonstrators to contribute to an increase in new localised technologies;

Qualifications, skills and experience

An Honours degree in computer science/engineering, electrical/electronic engineering, information technology or related fields with at least seven years experience in artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) and software development in artificial intelligence technologies;

Experience in the following is required

• Applied machine‑learning with regression, classification, etc. models for supervised learning;
• Computer vision tasks;
• Natural language processing and understanding;
• Building multimodal models;
• Unstructured data;
• Big‑data unsupervised learning;
• Data platform engineering;
• Proficiency and experience building AI models with a deep learning framework such as TensorFlow, Keras or Theano;
• Ability to select hardware (and relevant production/deployment knowledge) to run an ML model with the required latency;

Business Development and financial acumen

• Ability to construct scopes and proposals for potential clients.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Exposure to Project Management

• Technical lead for complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Understanding of transforming/implementing software/algorithms for use in real‑life systems would be advantageous.
• Conflict management skills will be advantageous.
• Knowledge of programming in modern object‑orientated languages, with Open‑Source development tools and platforms.
• Ability to apply resource management techniques to run an ML model with the required latency.
• Demonstrated experience in bringing theoretical machine‑learning approaches illustrated in academia research papers to actual implementations, i.e. implemented and deployed into large‑scale production system certain advanced ML and applied ML algorithms.
• Cloud‑based platforms: AWS, IBM Cloud, Azure.
• Ability to demonstrate Object‑orientated software engineering skills.
• Strong quantitative skills (mathematics/statistics/computer science).
• Demonstrated ability to supervise/mentor/develop junior staff.
• Research/Data Analysis jobs.

Demonstrated skills in

Analytical thinking, flexibility and adaptability, investigative orientation, planning and organising, problem solving, verbal and written communication, team work, self‑management (planning, prioritising and time management includes the ability to work independently), systems level thinking, multi‑disciplinary knowledge.