Principal AI / ML Engineer

Job#: 3054823
Job Description:
Principal AI / ML Engineer
Location: Norcross, Georgia (Remote)
Role Overview
This position serves as the senior technical leader and subject matter expert for machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The role is responsible for the design, development, and operationalization of AI solutions that address complex business challenges. The ideal candidate will accelerate delivery, elevate engineering quality, and strengthen team capabilities through hands-on technical leadership and mentorship. This is an opportunity to bridge the gap between data science experimentation and production-ready applications, evolving beyond traditional data science into interactive AI-powered business solutions.
Key Responsibilities

• Design and architect AI/ML solutions to address business problems, setting the technical direction and architectural patterns for the team.
• Lead the hands-on development of applications, services, APIs, and reusable components that deliver and operate data science solutions.
• Rapidly develop proof-of-value (POV) applications and prototypes to validate concepts with business stakeholders.
• Work directly with business stakeholders, data scientists, and engineers to understand requirements and identify high-value opportunities.
• Build interactive AI-powered applications, covering both traditional machine learning and modern Generative AI or Agentic AI use cases.
• Design end-to-end solutions that combine structured data, unstructured data, business rules, semantic search, and LLM capabilities.
• Establish and enforce engineering practices for deploying, operating, and monitoring ML/AI solutions in production, including standards for CI/CD, automated testing, and versioning.
• Lead architecture, design, and code reviews, serving as the final escalation point for complex technical decisions.
• Mentor other engineers, promote engineering best practices, and build the team's depth in cloud architecture, software development, and MLOps.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor during project intake and solution evaluation discussions.

Required Qualifications
Education: A bachelor's degree and 10+ years of experience in a related field, or a Master's degree and 8+ years of experience in a related field.
Experience: Proven background in end-to-end application development, preferably transitioning from a Software Engineering role into AI/ML Engineering. Experience should include AI/ML solution architecture, solution design, and proof-of-value development. Must possess experience in model operationalization and AI-powered workflow automation.
Technical Skills:

• Programming expertise in Python, SQL, and React.js.
• Knowledge of AI/ML concepts including Machine Learning, Generative AI, and Agentic AI systems.
• Understanding of Semantic Search, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), LLMs, and fine-tuning techniques.
• Experience with API-driven solution development, data enrichment, and classification.
• Familiarity with data engineering fundamentals and an understanding of distributed platforms like Spark/PySpark.
• Knowledge of traditional data science concepts (EDA, model development, analytics).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building AI-powered internal business applications.
• Experience evaluating governance, risk, and AI guardrail requirements.
• Knowledge of Databricks functionalities such as MLFlow, foundation models, model serving, and Unity AI capabilities.
• Experience with Azure-based AI deployments.
• Experience supporting both research-oriented and engineering-oriented AI teams.

Work Environment
This role is located in a comfortable indoor area. Most of the time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about. On rare occasions, there may be a need to move or lift light articles. The position typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.
Everforth Apex is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Everforth Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRateds Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico.
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Everforth Apex Benefits Overview: Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.
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