Principal Machine Learning Engineer - AI Research

Placements24; Sandton; Hybrid; ZAR 3,046,000 - 5,415,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work stipend

Home office support

Unlimited PTO

Equity / stock options

Conference attendance support

Professional development opportunities

Remote-friendly collaboration

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal Machine Learning Engineer to drive fundamental AI advancements in a fully remote role. You will conceive, develop, and deploy novel ML algorithms and models, collaborating with world-class scientists and engineers.

The position requires a PhD or Master’s, 8+ years of ML experience, and a strong research track record. You will lead technical directions, mentor teammates, and contribute to publications while shaping scalable ML infrastructure.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master's in CS/AI/ML or related field.
• 8+ years of hands-on ML research and development experience.
• Proven track record in deploying ML algorithms and models.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of advanced ML algorithms and models.
• Design scalable ML systems, pipelines and infrastructure.
• Mentor engineers and researchers on technical projects.
• Publish findings in top AI conferences/journals.

Skills

Python programming

Research leadership

Mentoring teams

Communication skills

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/AI/ML

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

JAX

AWS

GCP

Azure

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence research lab, is seeking a visionary Principal Machine Learning Engineer to drive fundamental advancements in AI. This is a senior, impactful role focused on conceiving, developing, and implementing novel machine learning algorithms and models that push the boundaries of what's possible. The ideal candidate will possess a deep theoretical understanding of ML/AI principles, coupled with extensive hands-on experience in building and deploying sophisticated ML systems. You will work in a highly collaborative, research-intensive environment alongside world-class scientists and engineers. This is a fully remote position, offering the flexibility to contribute to groundbreaking AI research from anywhere.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the research and development of advanced machine learning algorithms and models.
• Design, implement, and optimize ML systems for scalability, efficiency, and performance.
• Conduct thorough experimentation and validation of ML models, analyzing results to drive improvements.
• Collaborate with research scientists to translate theoretical concepts into practical ML solutions.
• Develop and maintain robust ML pipelines for data preprocessing, training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in ML/AI research and apply them to innovative projects.
• Mentor and guide junior machine learning engineers and researchers.
• Contribute to publications in top-tier AI conferences and journals.
• Ensure the ethical and responsible development and deployment of AI technologies.
• Architect and build scalable and reliable ML infrastructure.
• Communicate complex technical concepts effectively to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Drive innovation and set technical direction for key AI initiatives.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in machine learning engineering, with a strong focus on research and development.
• Proven track record of developing and deploying novel ML algorithms and models.
• Deep understanding of various ML paradigms including deep learning, reinforcement learning, and natural language processing.
• Expert proficiency in programming languages such as Python and ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, JAX).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and distributed computing environments.
• Strong theoretical foundation in statistics, linear algebra, and calculus.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical projects and mentor teams.
• Outstanding communication and collaboration skills, essential for a remote setting.
• Experience with MLOps practices is a significant plus.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and equity/stock options package.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous remote work stipend and home office support.
• Unlimited paid time off and flexible working hours.
• Significant opportunities for professional development, conference attendance, and research publication support.
• A truly innovative and collaborative research environment with top AI talent.
• Access to powerful computing resources and cutting-edge AI technologies.
• Work on projects with significant societal impact.