Principal Machine Learning Engineer

Placements24; Noord-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,600,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & bonuses

Health, dental, vision coverage

Generous PTO

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to lead the design, deployment, and scaling of advanced ML systems in Kimberley. You will mentor engineers, set technical direction, and drive production-grade ML infrastructure across the organization.

The role requires a PhD/masters in CS/ML with 10+ years of experience, strong Python expertise, and proficiency with TensorFlow/PyTorch, cloud platforms, and MLOps.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in CS/ML or related field.
• 10+ years in ML engineering with leadership.
• Experience designing and deploying production ML systems at scale.
• Proficiency in Python and ML libraries (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).
• Strong software engineering fundamentals and system design.
• Experience with Spark/Hadoop and cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• MLOps experience for model monitoring and deployment.
• Excellent leadership and mentoring skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end development and deployment of ML models from concept to production.
• Design scalable ML pipelines and infrastructure.
• Mentor ML engineers and promote best practices.
• Collaborate with data scientists, researchers, and product managers.
• Architect production-grade ML systems for reliability and performance.
• Evaluate and select ML algorithms and tools.
• Optimize models for latency and resource use.
• Stay current with ML advancements and champion adoption.
• Conduct code reviews and uphold engineering standards.
• Troubleshoot complex ML system issues.

Skills

Python

ML frameworks

Leadership

Mentoring

System design

Distributed systems

Big data

Cloud platforms

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

Spark

Hadoop

AWS

Azure

GCP

MLOps tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly accomplished Principal Machine Learning Engineer to drive innovation and technical excellence within their advanced AI research division, based in Kimberley, Northern Cape. In this pivotal role, you will lead the design, development, and deployment of sophisticated machine learning systems that solve complex business challenges. You will mentor a team of talented engineers, set technical direction, and ensure the scalability and robustness of our ML infrastructure. This position requires a deep understanding of ML algorithms, software engineering best practices, and experience in deploying models into production environments. You will be instrumental in translating cutting-edge research into tangible products and services, contributing significantly to the company's growth and technological leadership. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader with a passion for building high-performing ML solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end development and deployment of machine learning models and systems, from conception to production.
• Design and implement scalable, efficient, and robust ML pipelines and infrastructure.
• Mentor and guide junior and senior machine learning engineers, fostering technical growth and best practices.
• Collaborate with data scientists, researchers, and product managers to define project requirements and deliver impactful solutions.
• Architect and develop production-grade ML systems, ensuring reliability, maintainability, and performance.
• Evaluate and select appropriate ML algorithms and tools for specific project needs.
• Optimize ML models for performance, latency, and resource utilization.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in machine learning and AI technologies, championing their adoption where appropriate.
• Conduct code reviews and contribute to establishing high engineering standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues related to ML systems.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Statistics, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in machine learning engineering or a related role, with a proven track record of leading complex projects.
• Extensive experience in designing, building, and deploying production ML systems at scale.
• Expertise in Python and common ML libraries/frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).
• Strong understanding of software engineering principles, including data structures, algorithms, and system design.
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) and cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Proficiency in MLOps practices and tools for model monitoring, deployment, and management.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and mentoring skills.
• Experience with distributed systems and parallel computing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous paid time off and company holidays.
• Professional development opportunities, including conferences and advanced training.
• Opportunity to work on challenging and impactful projects in Kimberley, Northern Cape.
• Relocation assistance for qualified candidates.
• 401(k) matching program and other retirement savings plans.