Senior Machine Learning Engineer - AI Research (Remote)

Placements24; Bloemfontein; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus structure

Health, dental, and vision coverage

Pension/retirement plan

Generous paid time off

Home office stipend

Professional development funding

Remote-first environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Machine Learning Engineer for a fully remote role with a base in Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA. You will design, train, and deploy advanced ML models, working with large datasets and collaborating with global AI researchers.

The role requires 6+ years in ML, strong Python and framework skills, and experience in cloud/MLOps. Remote-first setup enables global collaboration while staying connected with the local market.

Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. in CS/ML/AI or related field.
• 6+ years of professional ML experience.
• Production-ready ML model development and deployment.
• Experience with TF, PyTorch, or Keras.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and train state-of-the-art ML models, including deep learning.
• Develop and optimize algorithms for NLP, vision, and analytics.
• Process and analyze large datasets to extract features.
• Collaborate with researchers and product teams to deploy ML solutions.
• Build and maintain scalable ML training/evaluation/deployment pipelines.
• Stay current with ML research and innovations.
• Contribute to new ML techniques and methods.
• Write clean Python code and mentor junior engineers.
• Evaluate model performance and identify improvements.

Skills

Python

Deep learning

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

NumPy

Pandas

Scikit-learn

AWS

GCP

Azure

MLOps

Distributed training

Publications

Education

Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science / ML / AI

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Keras

Job description

About the Role

Our client is at the forefront of artificial intelligence innovation and is seeking an experienced Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join their groundbreaking research division. This fully remote position will focus on designing, developing, and deploying advanced machine learning models to solve complex real-world problems. You will work with large datasets, contribute to novel algorithm development, and play a key role in shaping the future of AI technology. This is a unique opportunity to collaborate with a globally distributed team of leading AI researchers and engineers, contributing to high-impact projects from your dedicated home office. The work environment is fast-paced, intellectually stimulating, and emphasizes pushing the boundaries of what's possible in AI, even with the role based out of Bloemfontein, Free State, ZA.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and train state-of-the-art machine learning models, including deep learning architectures.
• Develop and optimize algorithms for various applications, such as natural language processing, computer vision, and predictive analytics.
• Process and analyze large, complex datasets to extract meaningful insights and features.
• Collaborate with research scientists and product teams to translate research concepts into deployable ML solutions.
• Build and maintain robust, scalable ML pipelines for model training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Stay current with the latest research and advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence.
• Contribute to the development of new ML techniques and methodologies.
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code in Python or other relevant languages.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to a culture of technical excellence.
• Evaluate model performance and identify areas for improvement.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, or a related quantitative field.
• Minimum of 6 years of professional experience in machine learning engineering or research.
• Proven experience in developing and deploying production-ready ML models.
• Expertise in one or more deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras).
• Strong programming skills in Python, including libraries like NumPy, Pandas, and Scikit-learn.
• Solid understanding of ML algorithms, statistical modeling, and data structures.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and MLOps practices.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration abilities, particularly in a remote setting.
• Experience with distributed training and large-scale data processing is a plus.
• Publications in top-tier ML conferences or journals are highly valued.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary
• Performance-based bonus structure
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Generous 401(k) matching program
• Ample paid time off
• Technology allowance to equip your home office with the best tools
• Continuous professional development encouraged, with funding for conferences, courses, and research publications
• Flexibility and autonomy of a remote-first work environment