Lead AI Engineer - Remote First

Our client is a rapidly expanding tech firm at the forefront of AI innovation, seeking an exceptional Lead AI Engineer to join their fully remote-first team. This position, based remotely but with occasional team meetups planned virtually, is crucial for architecting and implementing scalable AI solutions. You will guide a talented team of engineers and researchers in developing and deploying state-of-the-art artificial intelligence systems.

The ideal candidate possesses a deep technical understanding of AI/ML principles and a proven ability to lead projects from conception to production. As a remote-first organization, we emphasize asynchronous communication, robust documentation, and empowering our team members to thrive in a distributed work environment.

This role offers the chance to make a significant impact on products used by millions worldwide, working from the comfort of your home in or near
** Tembisa, Gauteng**. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued.

• Lead the design and development of scalable AI/ML platforms and services.
• Mentor and guide a team of AI engineers and data scientists in a remote setting.
• Oversee the end-to-end machine learning lifecycle, including data preparation, model training, evaluation, and deployment.
• Collaborate with product management to define AI features and roadmap.
• Establish best practices for MLOps, CI/CD, and code quality in AI projects.
• Architect robust and efficient data pipelines for AI model training and inference.
• Troubleshoot and optimize AI models and systems for performance and scalability.
• Foster a collaborative and productive remote working environment.
• Contribute to technical strategy and decision-making for AI initiatives.

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 8+ years of experience in software engineering, with at least 5 years focused on AI/ML engineering.
• Proven experience leading engineering teams, preferably in a remote setting.
• Expertise in Python and common AI/ML libraries (e.g., Tensor Flow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Strong understanding of distributed systems, cloud computing (AWS, Azure, or GCP), and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with MLOps tools and practices (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow).
• Excellent communication skills, with a talent for clear, concise asynchronous interaction.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and deliver high-quality results in a remote environment.
• Experience with big data technologies is a plus.
• A passion for building intelligent systems and driving innovation.

This remote-first position offers a highly competitive salary of ZAR per annum, extensive paid time off, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and a generous budget for professional development and home office setup.

As a fully remote role, you have the freedom to work from anywhere within South Africa, while being part of a vibrant and collaborative team based near
** Tembisa, Gauteng**. We provide opportunities for career advancement, access to cutting-edge technology, and a culture that prioritizes work-life balance and employee well-being. Join us and help shape the future of AI from your own home office.