Principal AI Architect - Machine Learning Platforms (Remote-First)

About the Role

Our client, a pioneering force in the AI landscape, is seeking a highly accomplished Principal AI Architect to spearhead the design and development of our scalable machine learning platforms. This is a fully remote position, ideal for experienced architects who thrive in distributed environments and possess a deep understanding of AI infrastructure and MLOps. You will be responsible for defining the technical vision and architectural blueprint for our AI capabilities, ensuring that our platforms are robust, efficient, and capable of supporting cutting-edge research and product development. As a Principal Architect, you will influence the strategic direction of our AI technology stack, collaborating closely with engineering teams, data scientists, and product leaders across the organization.

The role demands a unique blend of deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills, particularly within a remote-first operational model. This is your chance to shape the foundational infrastructure for AI innovation at a global scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and own the overall architecture for our machine learning platforms, ensuring scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Design and implement MLOps strategies and best practices for efficient model development, deployment, and monitoring.
• Evaluate and select appropriate technologies, frameworks, and tools for our AI infrastructure.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to build and maintain robust data pipelines for AI model training and inference.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to AI and software engineering teams.
• Develop technical roadmaps and strategies for evolving our AI platform capabilities.
• Ensure adherence to security, compliance, and governance standards for AI systems.
• Communicate architectural decisions and technical vision to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; Ph.D. preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in software architecture, with a significant focus (5+ years) on AI/ML systems and platforms.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale, distributed machine learning systems.
• Deep understanding of cloud computing platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Expertise in MLOps principles and tools (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow, CI/CD for ML).
• Strong knowledge of data engineering, distributed systems, and microservices architecture.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic planning skills.
• Experience working effectively in a fully remote team environment.
• Familiarity with various ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) and big data technologies (Spark, Hadoop).

Benefits

This position offers the full advantages of a remote-first work environment, promoting work-life balance and global collaboration. Our client provides an industry-leading salary, comprehensive health insurance, retirement contributions, and a generous stock option plan. We invest heavily in our employees' professional growth, offering access to cutting-edge training, conferences, and opportunities to present at leading tech events. Enjoy flexible working hours and a supportive culture that values autonomy and impact. The role is based out of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal , but can be performed entirely remote.