Lead AI Engineer - Natural Language Processing

About the Role Our client is seeking an accomplished Lead AI Engineer with a specialization in Natural Language Processing (NLP) to spearhead AI initiatives in Tembisa, Gauteng . This pivotal role demands a visionary leader capable of guiding a talented team of AI engineers and researchers in developing sophisticated NLP solutions. You will be responsible for the end-to-end development lifecycle, from conceptualization and prototyping to deployment and optimization of AI-driven products. This position offers the chance to make a significant impact on how users interact with technology through advanced language understanding and generation capabilities. The ideal candidate possesses a strong technical background in NLP, coupled with proven leadership and project management skills. Key Responsibilities • Lead a team of AI engineers and data scientists in the design, development, and deployment of NLP models and applications. • Define the technical roadmap for NLP projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technological advancements. • Develop and implement state-of-the-art NLP techniques, including sentiment analysis, text classification, named entity recognition, machine translation, and question answering systems. • Oversee the entire model lifecycle, from data collection and preprocessing to model training, evaluation, and continuous improvement. • Collaborate with product managers, software engineers, and stakeholders to gather requirements and deliver impactful AI solutions. • Establish best practices for code quality, testing, and deployment of NLP models. • Mentor and guide team members, fostering a culture of innovation and technical excellence. Requirements • Master's degree or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Computational Linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. • 7+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, with a strong focus on NLP. • Demonstrated experience leading technical teams and managing complex AI projects. • Expertise in programming languages such as Python, and NLP libraries (e.g., NLTK, spaCy, Hugging Face Transformers). • Proficiency with deep learning frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch. • Experience with data pipelines, cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), and MLOps practices. • Strong understanding of linguistic principles and statistical methods in NLP. • Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills. • Published research in NLP or related fields is a significant advantage. Benefits • This role offers a highly competitive salary package commensurate with experience, along with performance bonuses and stock options. • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance are provided, as well as a generous retirement savings plan. • We believe in continuous learning and offer significant opportunities for professional development, including attendance at key industry conferences and advanced training. • The Tembisa location offers a vibrant work environment with state-of-the-art facilities. • Flexible working arrangements are available to support work-life balance, making this a truly rewarding career opportunity. #J-18808-Ljbffr