Principal RL AI Engineer — Remote Research Leader

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private health insurance

Retirement plan

Stock options

Remote work

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal AI Engineer specialized in reinforcement learning to drive research and development of cutting-edge RL algorithms. This fully remote role is open to top talent worldwide, with Randburg, Gauteng as a known presence.

You will lead design and evaluation of RL systems, mentor researchers, publish findings, and shape the strategic direction of the AI program while collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• PhD or Master’s in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in machine learning with deep specialization in reinforcement learning.
• Proven research and development track record with RL publications or notable open-source contributions.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, or JAX).
• Strong understanding of RL concepts and algorithms (Q-learning, Policy Gradients, Actor-Critic).
• Experience with simulation environments (OpenAI Gym, MuJoCo).
• Ability to work independently and lead complex research projects in a remote setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of novel reinforcement learning algorithms and frameworks.
• Develop and optimize RL agents for complex environments, including simulation and real-world applications.
• Conduct in-depth research into advanced RL topics (deep RL, multi-agent RL, exploration strategies, model-based RL).
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate RL solutions into product development pipelines.
• Mentor junior engineers and researchers, providing technical guidance and fostering innovation.
• Stay abreast of the latest RL advancements through literature review and conferences.
• Develop robust testing and validation methodologies for RL systems.
• Contribute to strategic direction of the company’s AI research efforts.
• Publish research findings in top-tier conferences and journals.
• Ensure scalability, efficiency, and reliability of RL implementations.

Skills

Reinforcement Learning

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

JAX

RL algorithms

Research leadership

Education

PhD or Master’s in CS/AI/ML/Robotics

Tools

OpenAI Gym

MuJoCo

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Principal AI Engineer specialized in reinforcement learning to drive research and development of cutting-edge RL algorithms. This fully remote role is open to top talent worldwide, with Randburg, Gauteng as a known presence.

You will lead design and evaluation of RL systems, mentor researchers, publish findings, and shape the strategic direction of the AI program while collaborating with cross-functional teams.