Senior Machine Learning Engineer

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Performance bonuses

Paid time off

Professional development

Hybrid working model

Access to cutting-edge technology

Innovation and collaboration culture

Career advancement

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer for their Bloemfontein team. The role involves crafting and deploying ML models, building data pipelines, and ensuring scalable, reliable systems.

You will collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to deliver AI-powered solutions in a hybrid work setting. The ideal candidate brings 5+ years in ML engineering, strong Python and ML library expertise, and hands-on experience deploying models in production.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of experience in machine learning engineering or related roles.
• Experience deploying and managing ML models in production.
• Strong Python programming and ML libraries (scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and CI/CD.
• MLOps familiarity and software engineering practices.
• Experience with data processing/big data (e.g., Spark) is a plus.
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills.
• Hybrid work environment experience.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain production-grade ML models and systems.
• Develop and optimize data pipelines for ingestion, processing, and feature engineering.
• Deploy ML models into production with scalability and reliability.
• Collaborate with data scientists to translate research models into deployable code.
• Implement MLOps for CI/CD, monitoring, and operations.
• Work with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) to leverage ML services.
• Troubleshoot model and system performance issues.
• Mentor junior ML engineers and share knowledge.

Skills

Python

CI/CD

MLOps

Communication

Education

Master's degree in CS/Engineering

Tools

scikit-learn

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Spark

Job description

About the Role Our client, a leader in digital transformation services, is seeking an experienced Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join their growing team in Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA. This pivotal role involves designing, developing, and deploying sophisticated machine learning solutions that drive innovation and provide tangible value to clients. Operating under a hybrid work model, the position offers a balance between focused remote work and collaborative team engagement. You will be responsible for building and optimizing ML models, creating robust data pipelines, and ensuring the scalability and reliability of deployed systems. The ideal candidate will possess a strong command of ML algorithms, software engineering principles, and experience with cloud platforms. You will work closely with data scientists, software developers, and product managers to bring AI-powered products and features to life. This is a fantastic opportunity for a motivated engineer to tackle complex challenges, mentor junior team members, and significantly contribute to the advancement of AI solutions within a dynamic and supportive organizational structure. We are looking for individuals passionate about leveraging data and algorithms to solve real-world problems and drive business impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain production-grade machine learning models and systems.
• Develop and optimize data pipelines for ingestion, processing, and feature engineering.
• Deploy ML models into production environments, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Collaborate with data scientists to translate research models into deployable code.
• Implement MLOps practices for continuous integration, delivery, and monitoring of ML systems.
• Work with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) to leverage their ML services and infrastructure.
• Troubleshoot and resolve issues related to ML model performance and system operations.
• Stay current with the latest advancements in machine learning, deep learning, and related technologies.
• Mentor junior machine learning engineers and contribute to team knowledge sharing.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of experience in machine learning engineering or a related role.
• Proven experience deploying and managing machine learning models in production.
• Strong programming skills in Python and proficiency with ML libraries (e.g., scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Experience with cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Solid understanding of software engineering best practices, including version control and CI/CD.
• Familiarity with MLOps principles and tools is highly desirable.
• Experience with data processing and big data technologies (e.g., Spark) is a plus.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities.
• Experience in a hybrid work environment.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary up to ZAR.
• Comprehensive health insurance.
• Retirement savings plan with company matching.
• Performance-based bonuses.
• Generous paid time off.
• Professional development budget for conferences and training.
• Flexible hybrid working model.
• Access to state-of-the-art technology and tools.
• A culture that fosters innovation and collaboration.
• Opportunities for career advancement.