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 transitioning to market economies. Founded in 1991, the EBRD operates in over 30 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, employing a diverse workforce that reflects a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. The EBRD's mission is to foster the transition to open market-oriented economies and to promote private and entrepreneurial initiatives. The organization is committed to sustainability, equality, and digital transformation, ensuring that its operations have a positive impact on the regions it serves.

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. You will not only be responsible for coding but also for shaping the overall AI engineering landscape at EBRD, mentoring junior team members, and promoting responsible AI standards throughout the organization.

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, testable, and responsible AI solutions on Azure. Your duties will involve translating business needs into technical solutions, delivering production-grade models and pipelines, and mentoring interns and analysts. You will be expected to write clean, maintainable Python code, manage the delivery of AI features, implement unit and integration tests, validate and tune models for optimal performance, and actively participate in agile ceremonies. Additionally, you will contribute to technical design discussions, drive innovation, and establish automated testing and quality gates within CI/CD pipelines.

Required Qualifications:
To be considered for this position, candidates must demonstrate proficiency 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. Candidates should also 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, along with experience in developing RESTful APIs and integrating AI models as services. Knowledge of prompt engineering techniques and responsible AI principles is also necessary.

Educational Background:
Candidates should possess a relevant degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in AI/ML or software engineering are advantageous and may enhance a candidate's profile. Continuous learning and professional development in AI technologies and methodologies are encouraged and valued within the organization.

Experience:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3-5 years of experience in AI/ML or data-driven software engineering roles. This experience should include hands-on work with AI/ML applications, Python programming, and modern machine learning frameworks. Candidates should have a proven track record of delivering production-grade AI solutions and managing small to medium-sized projects independently.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the EBRD's operational regions is considered a plus and may enhance a candidate's application.

Additional Notes:
This position is a fixed-term contract lasting 3 years. The role is full-time and offers a hybrid working arrangement, with a minimum expectation of in-person collaboration three days a week. The EBRD is committed to diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of their background. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of competitive benefits and prioritizes employee wellbeing.