Associate AI/ML Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is a pioneering international organization established to support the development of market economies and promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives in countries across Europe, Asia, and beyond. Founded in 1991, the EBRD has grown to employ thousands of professionals and operates in over 30 countries. The organization is committed to fostering sustainable development, inclusivity, and innovation in its operations, ensuring that its values are reflected in its workplace culture and practices.

Job Overview:
As an Associate AI/ML Engineer at EBRD, you will play a crucial role in designing, building, and delivering intelligent systems that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies. This position is centered around creating scalable chatbots, conversational AI, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems using advanced tools such as Azure AI Services, Prompt Flow, and Vector Search. You will have the autonomy to translate complex business problems into effective AI solutions while adhering to best practices for quality, fairness, and explainability. This role is ideal for engineers who are passionate about transforming data into actionable insights and driving innovation within the organization. Your responsibilities will extend beyond coding; you will influence the engineering of AI across the organization, ensuring that the solutions you develop are robust, scalable, and aligned with business objectives. You will also mentor junior team members, fostering a culture of responsible AI development and technical excellence.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Associate AI/ML Engineer will independently enable the development and delivery of AI/ML applications, including chatbots and conversational agents. Key responsibilities include designing, building, and maintaining intelligent systems using modern tools and practices. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure the development of scalable and responsible AI solutions on Azure. Specific duties include: authoring clean and maintainable Python code, contributing to peer code reviews, designing and developing AI solutions using Azure AI Services, managing the delivery of AI features in alignment with business goals, implementing unit and integration tests, validating and tuning models for optimal performance, actively participating in agile ceremonies, translating business requirements into technical designs, serving as a point of contact for AI/ML queries, and driving innovation and self-directed improvements within the team. You will also establish automated testing and quality gates within CI/CD pipelines, ensuring that the solutions you deliver meet the highest standards of quality and performance.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must be proficient in Python and have hands-on experience in AI/ML or data-driven software engineering roles. A strong practical background in developing AI/ML applications using Python and modern ML frameworks is essential. Familiarity with Azure AI Services, Prompt Flow, Azure ML, and Azure AI Search (Vector Store) is required. You should have experience in building and deploying AI features, designing reproducible training and inference pipelines, and preparing data for model training. The ability to translate business requirements into well-structured technical user stories is crucial, as is experience in developing RESTful APIs and integrating AI models as services. Knowledge of prompt engineering techniques and a commitment to responsible AI principles are also important.

Educational Background:
A relevant educational background is essential for this position, typically including a degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. Advanced degrees may be preferred, particularly for candidates looking to engage in more complex AI/ML projects. Continuous learning and professional development in AI/ML technologies and practices are highly valued.

Experience:
Candidates should possess a solid level of experience in AI/ML engineering, ideally with several years of practical experience in developing and deploying AI solutions. Experience in working with cross-functional teams and delivering projects in an agile environment is beneficial. The ability to operate independently on medium-sized deliverables is expected, along with a track record of mentoring junior developers and contributing to team growth.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset, particularly those relevant to the regions in which EBRD operates, enhancing communication with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract lasting three years, reflecting the organization's commitment to long-term projects and initiatives. The role is full-time, and EBRD offers hybrid and flexible working arrangements, encouraging collaboration in person at least three days a week. The organization prioritizes employee wellbeing and provides a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits, including opportunities for professional development and a supportive work environment that values diversity and inclusion.