Senior AI Engineer

NTT DATA is seeking an experienced Senior AI/Machine Learning Engineer with a strong Generative AI focus to join our AI practice in Johannesburg. This role will play a key part in designing, building, and deploying applied AI and GenAI solutions for enterprise clients across the Middle East & Africa region.

The successful candidate will work across the full AI solution lifecycle—from data exploration and model development to deploying production‑ready GenAI and machine learning solutions. The role requires a hands‑on engineer who is comfortable working with modern AI technologies, particularly large language models (LLMs), while collaborating closely with business, engineering, and client stakeholders.

• Design and develop Generative AI solutions, including LLM‑based applications
• Implement techniques such as prompt engineering, Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), and fine‑tuning
• Develop and evaluate machine learning models across supervised, unsupervised, and NLP use cases
• Optimize model performance, reliability, and cost efficiency for enterprise environments

• Work with structured and unstructured data sources (databases, APIs, documents, transcripts, logs)
• Collaborate with data engineers to support data ingestion, preparation, and transformation pipelines
• Ensure AI solutions are scalable, maintainable, and aligned with software engineering best practices

• Package and deploy AI and GenAI solutions into production (APIs, services, batch workflows)
• Support cloud‑based deployments, primarily on Microsoft Azure, including Azure OpenAI and Azure AI services
• Apply MLOps and LLMOps practices such as versioning, monitoring, evaluation, and continuous improvement

• Translate business problems into effective AI and GenAI use cases
• Contribute to proofs of concept (POCs), pilots, and enterprise‑scale implementations
• Support solution architects and senior AI leaders in client engagements and technical delivery

• Postgraduate level qualification (Honours or Masters) in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics or a related field
• Alternatively, equivalent practical experience delivering AI or machine learning solutions in enterprise environments

• Strong proficiency in Python for AI and machine learning development
• Solid understanding of machine learning fundamentals and evaluation techniques
• Hands‑on experience with ML frameworks such as scikit‑learn, PyTorch, or Tensor Flow
• Experience working with Generative AI and LLMs in practical use cases
• Strong data handling skills, including SQL and data querying
• Experience deploying models or AI services into production environments
• Experience with vector databases and embeddings (e.g., for RAG architectures)

• Experience with cloud platforms (Azure preferred; AWS or GCP acceptable)
• Familiarity with Azure OpenAI, Azure AI services, or similar GenAI platforms
• Experience building or consuming REST APIs and using containerisation tools such as Docker
• Exposure to MLOps / LLMOps tools and practices (e.g., MLflow, monitoring, CI/CD)

• 5–10 years of experience in AI, machine learning, or applied data science roles
• Demonstrated experience delivering real‑world AI or GenAI solutions beyond experimentation
• Comfortable working in a hybrid, client‑facing consulting environment
• Strong communication skills and a pragmatic, delivery‑oriented mindset

Equal Opportunity Employer NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category.