Principal Member of Technical Staff, AI

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* Job Description:

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* Job Title:

** Principal Member of Technical Staff, AI
** Operating Company**:
Environmental Solutions Group
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* Location:

** Austin, TX
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* Reports to:

** Senior Director, Business Process & Digital Systems
** Department:
** Information Technology
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* POSITION SUMMARY:

** The Principal Member of Technical Staff, AI serves as a senior technical leader responsible for driving the architecture, development, and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence solutions across Environmental Solutions Group. This role blends deep technical expertise with strategic vision, guiding the organization in leveraging AI to enhance product capabilities, optimize operations, and create innovative, data‑driven solutions. The position requires mastery of machine learning, embedded AI, and large‑scale system design, along with the ability to mentor engineering teams and influence long‑term technology direction.
** ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:
*** Lead the design, development, and implementation of advanced AI and machine learning models for embedded, cloud, and edge‑based systems.
* Architect scalable AI platforms, pipelines, and frameworks that support production‑grade deployment across multiple product lines.
* Partner with product, engineering, and executive leadership to define AI strategy, roadmap, and technical standards.
* Conduct research and evaluate emerging AI technologies, tools, and methodologies to drive innovation and competitive advantage.
* Provide expert guidance on data engineering, model training, validation, optimization, and lifecycle management.
* Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to integrate AI capabilities into hardware, software, and IoT systems.
* Lead root‑cause analysis and resolution of complex AI‑related technical challenges.
* Establish best practices for responsible AI, model governance, and system reliability.
* Mentor and coach engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
* Represent the organization as a subject‑matter expert in AI at internal and external technical forums.
** JOB SPECIFICATIONS:
*** Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience is required;
Master’s or Ph.D. in Computer Science, AI/ML, Data Science, or related field preferred.
* 10+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, data science, or advanced software development.
* Proven expertise in machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, or natural language processing.
* Strong proficiency in Python and experience with frameworks such as Tensor Flow, PyTorch, ONNX, or similar.
* Demonstrated experience architecting and deploying AI systems in production environments.
* Solid understanding of cloud platforms, MLOps, and scalable data pipelines.
* Experience with embedded AI, edge computing, or real‑time inference systems is highly desirable.
* Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
* Ability to influence technical direction at an organizational level and lead cross‑functional initiatives.
* Track record of innovation, patents, publications, or contributions to open‑source AI projects is a plus.
* Travel less than 10% is required for this role.
** KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
**** Ethics and Work Standards:
** Maintain the highest ethical and work standards, while promoting the same attributes in co-workers and others.  Ensure that all business activities – with both internal and external customers – to be performed with a professional demeanor and that all participants be held accountable to this high standard.
** Communication:
** Expresses thoughts clearly, both orally and in writing, using good grammar. Presents concise, well-organized reports in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.  Listens to understand input, feedback, and concerns.  Provides complete information in an open, honest, and straightforward manner.  Responds promptly and positively to questions and requests.
** Teamwork and Relationships:
** Works with other employees willingly and in a spirit of cooperation and teamwork.  Supports cooperation.  Demonstrates a commitment to the entire business and is supportive of all initiatives (company and departmental) to help grow…