AI Engineer (Automation)

SUMMARY:
Psybergate is an IT company that builds bespoke software solutions and provides highly skilled resources to its clients.
Our client, a leading organisation within the financial services sector, is looking for an experienced AI Engineer (Automation) to join their next-generation Payments Engineering team based in Sandton for a 12-month contract role.

We are looking for an AI Automation Engineer who can design, build, deploy and maintain production-grade AI and agentic automation solutions within a regulated financial environment. The ideal candidate will combine hands-on AI engineering experience with strong systems and architectural thinking, particularly around LLM orchestration, workflow automation, integrations and multi-agent solutions.
The successful candidate will work across the full solution lifecycle, from discovery and design through to build, deployment and optimisation. You will help transform high-effort Payments operations such as reconciliations, audit preparation, financial analytics, incident automation and least-cost routing into scalable, intelligent and auditable workflows, while ensuring appropriate human oversight and control integrity.

POSITION INFO:
What you will be doing: Design, build and deploy production-grade AI and agentic automation workflows for Payments operations. Develop AI-enabled solutions for reconciliations, audit and reporting preparation, financial analytics and other high-effort operational processes. Build LLM-powered workflows using technologies such as Claude\/Anthropic APIs, Spring AI, Python and n8n or equivalent workflow orchestration platforms. Design and implement multi-agent solutions using MCP or similar multi-agent coordination frameworks. Integrate internal and external systems using APIs, data pipelines and reporting platforms. Identify automation opportunities across Payments operations and translate them into scalable technical solutions. Deliver solutions across the full lifecycle, including discovery, design, development, deployment, monitoring and optimisation. Ensure human oversight, approval controls and appropriate intervention points are incorporated into high-risk or sensitive workflows. Ensure AI automation solutions are production-ready, auditable, reliable and compliant with organisational requirements. Classify automation initiatives according to appropriate risk tiers before development. Ensure solutions have clearly defined process ownership, documented data flows, appropriate access controls and comprehensive audit logging. Design automation solutions that preserve control integrity within regulated financial environments. Develop reusable AI automation frameworks, templates, components and workflows to support broader adoption. Establish documentation, technical standards and best practices for AI-enabled automation. Build dashboards and metrics to measure efficiency improvements, cost reduction, risk outcomes and return on investment. Support and train Payments teams in the adoption of AI-enabled workflows, tools and automation capabilities. Work closely with Payments Backend, Infrastructure and Platform, Compliance and Audit teams, as well as the AI Centre of Excellence. Translate business, operational and finance requirements into technical solutions, architectures and implementation roadmaps. Communicate technical concepts, risks and solution outcomes effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Take ownership of production solutions and continuously identify opportunities to improve their performance, reliability, scalability and business value. What we are looking for: Relevant IT, Computer Science, Engineering or equivalent qualification. Hands-on experience designing and deploying production-grade AI and\/or agentic systems . Strong practical understanding of LLM orchestration and AI-powered workflow automation. Experience with multi-agent systems and agent coordination frameworks. Strong understanding of AI failure modes, particularly within high-stakes or regulated environments. Hands-on experience with Spring AI and\/or Python-based AI orchestration . Experience using n8n or equivalent workflow automation\/orchestration platforms . Experience integrating AI APIs , such as Anthropic\/Claude or equivalent LLM platforms. Strong API and systems integration experience. Experience delivering solutions across the full lifecycle from discovery and design through to deployment and optimisation. Strong architectural and systems-thinking capabilities, with the ability to design scalable and future-ready solutions. Understanding of AI governance, risk classification, access controls, audit logging and data-flow documentation. Ability to balance automation efficiency with appropriate human oversight and control integrity. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills. Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced and ambiguous environments. Strong ownership mindset with a bias towards execution. Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. Ability to bridge business, finance and engineering requirements and translate them into practical technical solutions. Beneficial: Experience within Payments, banking or other regulated financial-services environments. Experience automating reconciliations, audit processes, financial reporting or financial analytics. Experience with incident automation or least-cost routing. Experience with MCP or similar multi-agent coordination technologies. Experience establishing AI automation standards, reusable frameworks and governance practices. Experience building operational dashboards and measuring automation ROI. Experience working closely with Compliance, Audit and AI Centres of Excellence. Please note that if you do not hear from us within 3 weeks, consider your application unsuccessful. Please note that most of our positions are remote; however, candidates should reside within travelling distance of the client site, as the working arrangements may change depending on business requirements. Follow for the Latest Vacancies Join Psybergate Careers Channel here: