Lead AI Engineer

Are you inspired by challenging the status quo? Do you thrive in collaborative environments that drive results? If so, Gates could be for you.

Gates is a leading manufacturer of application‑specific fluid power and power transmission solutions. We push the boundaries of material science to engineer solutions that continually exceed customer expectations.

Let's simplify it, think belts and hoses. Found in motorcycles, conveyor belts, cars, tractors, blenders, vacuum cleaners, bicycles, & 3D printers just to name a few. Because why not do it all?

We are seeking a Lead AI Engineer to advance our organization's artificial intelligence strategy and initiatives. In this hands‑on leadership role, you will bridge strategic vision with technical execution partnering across teams to identify high‑value AI opportunities and deliver scalable solutions that create measurable business impact.

You will combine deep technical expertise with strategic thinking, helping to define our AI roadmap while building innovative, production‑ready solutions.

• Partner with business and investment teams to evaluate and prioritize high‑impact AI use cases.
• Develop and maintain an AI operating framework to ensure consistent and ethical adoption.
• Advice on AI technology stack, architecture, and build‑vs‑buy decisions in collaboration with different Technology teams.
• Enhance traditional quantitative models using advanced AI and machine learning techniques.

• Design, develop, and deploy end‑to‑end AI solutions including LLM integrations and custom ML models.
• Implement scalable AI infrastructure to meet current and future business needs.
• Build reusable AI components and frameworks to accelerate innovation across teams.
• Stay current with emerging AI technologies and assess their applicability.
• Document methodologies, frameworks, and best practices to foster knowledge sharing.

• Promote AI literacy through training and awareness programs.
• Mentor team members on AI tools, model development, and implementation best practices.
• Communicate complex AI concepts clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer science, Data science, Mathematics, Engineering or equivalent experience.
• 5-7 years of general experience + 3+ years of experience developing and deploying production‑grade AI/ML solutions.
• Responsibility for research in simulating human intelligence processes, including learning, reasoning, and self‑correction
• Designing advanced AI algorithms to solve critical business challenges
• Setting the AI strategy, shaping the AI roadmap, making architecture decisions, and influencing enterprise‑wide adoption
• Hands‑on experience with LLM frameworks.
• Strong programming proficiency in Python and ML frameworks.
• Fluent in Kubernetes, containers, and Linux, with proven experience running large language models (LLMs) on‑premises and in cloud environments.
• Experience with vector databases, RAG architectures, and prompt engineering.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization tools.
• Proven ability to translate business needs into practical AI solutions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

• Master's degree in quantitative discipline (e.g., Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics) or a business‑related field.
• Proven experience collaborating within cross‑functional, matrixed organizations to drive enterprise‑wide initiatives.
• Strong business acumen with a demonstrated ability to translate strategy into actionable, measurable outcomes.

PAY & BENEFITS

• Full‑Time
• Salary Range: $129K-$160K
• Bonus Eligible: 10%
• Relocation is not provided
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance and other voluntary benefit options: benefits begin on the first day of the month immediately following your date of hire
• Eligible for 3 or weeks of paid vacation + 11 holidays (9 scheduled & 2 floating) + 8 sick days. All vacation days are accrued
• 401(k): 3% company contribution and additional 3% company match
• Tuition Reimbursement

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