AI Engineer; m​/f​/d - Graduate Program

Holtzbrinck is a global group of companies dedicated to exploring and sharing ideas , innovations , and stories that move people , broaden perspectives , and enable progress . With more than 14,000 employees worldwide , we drive developments in education , science , publishing , and journalism – guided by curiosity , responsibility , and a passion for content .

Our diverse group includes Springer Nature, Digital Science, DIE ZEIT, Rowohlt, S. Fischer, and Macmillan Learning.

As the central partner within the group , Holtzbrinck Holding promotes innovation and collaboration across the companies and supports their sustainable development .

Our 24-month Graduate Program is built around AI and innovation projects. As part of the CHAPTR team, a tech-driven innovation company backed by Holtzbrinck, you will build and scale AI solutions in close collaboration with teams across the group’s businesses.

We believe that the future of work lies in working alongside AI – using technology to unlock creativity and increase impact, while keeping human perspective at the core of everything we do.

In this context, you will work on cutting‑edge projects with real impact. By exploring use cases, prototyping solutions, and supporting their implementation, your work will turn emerging technologies into practical applications. You will work in a dynamic and international environment that encourages curiosity, continuous learning, and the ongoing development of your technical and business skill set.

As an AI Engineer in the CHAPTR team, you will work on AI-powered applications and contribute to turning emerging technologies into practical, value-creating solutions. The role sits at the intersection of software engineering and applied AI, with a strong focus on learning, building, and collaborating across teams.

Our current Tech-Stack:
Google Cloud, Firebase, Python, Typescript, Terraform, Github, Cloud Firestore, Event Arc, Pub Sub, GCIP, Cloud Storage, Cloud Functions v2, React, Big Query, Github Actions, Elastic Search, commercial AI services, Open Source AI Models.

As part of a small, driven and collaborative team, you will work on:

• Deliver AI-powered features end-to-end, from scoping, design and requirements engineering to feature evaluation, deployment and operation.
• Design, build and maintain cloud-native, event-driven AI applications across the full stack.
• Evaluate, integrate, and optimize AI models for production use.
• Build and maintain robust AI inference, evaluation, and monitoring solutions.
• Collaborate closely with product, design, and non-technical stakeholders to identify requirements and turn business needs into value-creating technical solutions.
• Operate and improve production systems, taking responsibility for reliability, quality, and technical debt.
• Stay up to date with the latest AI developments and contribute to continuous improvements of our toolsets, workflows and solutions that we build based on the state of the art.

We are looking for curious and driven graduates with a strong interest in AI and software engineering, who are eager to apply their skills to drive innovation in a business context.

• Strong academic background in a relevant field (e.g. Computer Science, Data Science, Mathematics) – or equivalent practical experience. We also welcome candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, provided you bring strong technical expertise in data science, AI, or software engineering.
• Ability to read and understand code in at least one high‑level, type-safe programming language.
• Solid understanding of version control (Git) and collaborative workflows.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and approach complex challenges in a structured and pragmatic way.
• High level of ownership and accountability, combined with a collaborative mindset and a willingness to contribute to team success.
• Clear and structured communication across different levels of detail and with diverse stakeholders.
• Proven curiosity for technology and the state of the art – demonstrated through studies, personal projects, or…