Senior ML Engineer – 10 Yrs - Johannesburg (Hybrid)

About the Role

Job Vault is pleased to present an exciting opportunity for a highly experienced Senior Machine Learning Engineer to join a forward-thinking organisation based in Johannesburg. This hybrid role offers the chance to contribute significantly to the development and implementation of advanced machine learning solutions. If you possess a deep understanding of ML principles and a proven track record of delivering impactful projects, this position warrants your serious consideration. The company is at the forefront of technological innovation, dedicated to creating sophisticated software solutions that address global client needs.

As a Senior ML Engineer, your core responsibilities will revolve around the entire lifecycle of machine learning systems. You will be instrumental in conceptualising, building, and deploying robust ML models that drive real business value. This involves:

• **Model Development & Implementation:** Designing, developing, and implementing machine learning algorithms and models tailored to specific business problems. This includes feature engineering, model training, validation, and optimisation.
• **Data Handling & Analysis:** Working extensively with large datasets, performing exploratory data analysis, and preparing data for model consumption. You'll ensure data quality and integrity throughout the process.
• **Scalability & Productionisation:** Architecting and deploying ML models into production environments, ensuring they are scalable, reliable, and performant. This includes considerations for MLOps principles and ongoing monitoring.
• **Cross-Functional Collaboration:** Partnering closely with software engineers, data scientists, product managers, and other stakeholders to understand requirements, translate them into ML solutions, and integrate these solutions seamlessly into existing systems.
• **Technical Leadership & Mentorship:** Providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior team members, fostering a culture of learning and continuous improvement within the ML team. You'll champion best practices in ML development.
• **Research & Innovation:** Staying abreast of the latest advancements in machine learning and artificial intelligence, and proactively exploring new techniques and tools to enhance the company's capabilities.

What They're Looking For

The ideal candidate for this Senior ML Engineer position will bring a substantial depth of experience and a strong theoretical foundation in machine learning. A minimum of 10 years of experience in a related engineering or data science capacity is essential, with a significant portion focused specifically on machine learning.

Key requirements include:

• **Extensive ML Expertise:** Proven experience in developing, training, and deploying a variety of machine learning models, including but not limited to supervised and unsupervised learning techniques, deep learning, and natural language processing.
• **Programming Proficiency:** Strong coding skills in languages commonly used in ML, such as Python, with libraries like TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn, and pandas. Experience with other relevant languages may also be advantageous.
• **Data Science Fundamentals:** A solid grasp of statistical concepts, probability, and data manipulation techniques.
• **Software Engineering Acumen:** A strong understanding of software engineering principles, including version control (e.g., Git), testing methodologies, and deployment strategies, is crucial for productionising models effectively.
• **Problem-Solving Skills:** Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to tackle complex technical challenges.
• **Communication Prowess:** Strong verbal and written communication skills, enabling clear articulation of technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• **Educational Background:** A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related quantitative field is typically expected.

In South Africa, senior machine learning engineering roles often command competitive salaries, reflecting the specialised skills and experience required. Employers range from established technology firms and financial institutions to innovative startups and consulting companies. Career progression typically involves moving into more senior technical leadership, specialised AI research, or management roles within data science and engineering departments.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field.
• 3+ years of experience in software development.
• Proficiency in Java, C#, or Python.
• Strong understanding of algorithms and data structures.