Senior Machine Learning Engineer - AI Research

Placements24; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 1,000,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Home office stipend

Advanced computing resources

Remote-first culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly motivated Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join its AI Research team in a fully remote role. You will design and deploy advanced ML models and collaborate with researchers and engineers from home.

The ideal candidate has a Master’s or PhD in a quantitative field, 5+ years of production ML experience, and strong Python and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch). You will mentor juniors and help build scalable cloud pipelines with Docker and Kubernetes.

Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI, ML, or related field.
• 5+ years designing, developing, and deploying ML models in production.
• Proficiency in Python and ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, data mining, and algorithm design.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, a research-oriented mindset, and strong communication abilities for remote collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize ML models for NLP, CV, and analytics.
• Conduct rigorous experimentation and evaluation of new algorithms.
• Develop and maintain robust, scalable ML pipelines for data preprocessing, model training, and cloud deployment.
• Collaborate with data scientists, software engineers, and product managers to integrate AI solutions.
• Stay updated on AI research and proactively identify opportunities for innovation.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to knowledge sharing initiatives.

Skills

Remote collaboration

Mentoring

Strong communication

Research mindset

Problem solving

Education

Master’s or PhD in Computer Science/AI

Tools

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

AWS/Azure/GCP

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a highly motivated and innovative Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join their cutting-edge AI Research team, operating in a fully remote capacity. You will be at the forefront of developing and deploying advanced AI models and algorithms that drive our client’s next generation of products and services. This role offers the unique opportunity to work on challenging, impactful projects, collaborate with world-class researchers and engineers, and contribute to the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence from the comfort of your own home. We are looking for a self-starter who thrives in a dynamic, distributed team environment and possesses a deep passion for pushing the boundaries of what AI can achieve, making a significant impact on global technology trends.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize state-of-the-art machine learning models for various applications, including natural language processing, computer vision, and predictive analytics.
• Conduct rigorous experimentation and evaluation of new algorithms and techniques to assess their performance and suitability.
• Develop and maintain robust, scalable machine learning pipelines for data preprocessing, model training, and deployment in cloud environments.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including data scientists, software engineers, and product managers, to integrate AI solutions into existing platforms.
• Stay abreast of the latest research and developments in AI and machine learning, and proactively identify opportunities for innovation.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the team’s technical growth and knowledge sharing initiatives.

Requirements

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, or a related quantitative field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in designing, developing, and deploying machine learning models in production environments.
• Proficiency in Python and popular machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or scikit-learn.
• Strong understanding of statistical modeling, data mining, and algorithm design.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Excellent problem-solving skills, a research-oriented mindset, and strong communication abilities for remote collaboration.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive remote work setup assistance and a generous home office stipend.
• Access to advanced computing resources and cutting-edge AI research tools.
• Flexible working hours and a supportive remote-first culture.
• Opportunities for professional development, attending top AI conferences, and publishing research.