Intermediate AI Engineer (JHB Hybrid - Contract 12 month renewable)

SUMMARY:
Research, develop and integrate AI technologies into software solutions, automated workflows and internal tools. The role works with AI models, including Large Language Models (LLMs), computer vision and speechto- text technologies, to develop new features and improve existing systems.

POSITION INFO:
Responsibilities Fine-tune and deploy AI models, including LLMs, computer vision and speech-to text models, for use in automated workflows and software tools. Research and evaluate new technologies, AI models and frameworks, and complete Proofs of Concept (PoCs) for new technologies, models and product features. De-risk new technologies by assessing their feasibility, performance, limitations and risks before recommending their use in a production environment. Complete written reports detailing technical investigations, findings and recommendations. Contribute technical input to business cases for investigated technologies, features and improvements. Develop and maintain tools, systems and AI-powered features in accordance with the Product roadmap. Integrate AI models, AI APIs and services into existing applications and automated workflows. Design and develop RESTful APIs and microservices to support AI applications and integrations. Containerize applications and services using Docker. Investigate and resolve bugs, troubleshoot technical issues, and support and maintain tools managed by the team. Support the ongoing improvement, reliability and maintainability of existing systems. Collaborate with the Product and Development teams to translate successful PoCs into practical software solutions. Technical Skills or Knowledge Required Strong Python development skills. Experience with Hugging Face Transformers and open-source LLMs. Experience integrating AI APIs into applications and automated workflows. Practical experience fine-tuning, deploying or running AI models, including exposure to Ollama or similar tools. Experience designing and developing RESTful APIs. Experience with Docker and application containerization. Understanding of microservices architecture and software integration. Ability to conduct technical investigations, evaluate new technologies and translate successful PoCs into practical software solutions. Good written communication and technical documentation skills, including the preparation of investigation reports. Key Competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to research, evaluate and learn new technologies independently. Practical approach to software development and technical problem-solving. Ability to assess technical risks and make informed recommendations. Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with Product and Development teams. Attention to code quality, system reliability and maintainability. Qualification Required Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science or a related technical field. Relevant practical experience in AI engineering or software development may be considered in place of a directly related qualification. Advantageous Additional certifications or coursework in machine learning, AI engineering or software development. Work Experience Required Minimum of 3 years' experience in software development, including practical experience working with AI or machine learning technologies.