Senior Applied AI Engineer

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Applied AI Solution Development: Design, build, and deploy production-quality AI-powered tools and workflows using large language models, AI APIs, and orchestration platforms. Architect and implement multi-agent systems, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines, and automated analytical workflows that address real organizational needs and are built for sustained daily use.
• AI Workflow Orchestration & Integration: Build and maintain intelligent automation pipelines using platforms such as n8n, LangChain/LangGraph, Microsoft Copilot Studio, CrewAI, and similar orchestration tools. Leverage APIs and emerging integration standards such as Model Context Protocol (MCP) to connect AI capabilities with existing data infrastructure (Snowflake, Python, internal systems) and create seamless, reliable workflows that operate with minimal manual intervention.
• Data Analysis & Strategic Insight: Conduct independent data analysis and contribute analytical thinking to team projects. Proactively identify opportunities where AI can unlock insights, surface patterns in large datasets, and recommend relevant analyses. Translate findings into clear, compelling data stories that inform leadership decisions.
• Solution Delivery & Follow-Through: Move effectively from concept to deployed solution. Take loosely defined ideas from leadership and independently scope, design, build, and deliver polished tools with intuitive interfaces, proper documentation, and sustainable architecture. Demonstrate consistent follow-through from ideation to completion.
• Prompt Engineering & LLM Optimization: Develop and refine sophisticated prompt architectures, system instructions, and evaluation frameworks that ensure consistent, high-quality outputs from LLMs. Stay current on model capabilities across providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, open-source models) and recommend the appropriate tool for each use case.
• Knowledge Management & Documentation: Build and maintain organizational knowledge bases, vector stores, and retrieval systems that enable AI tools to work effectively with proprietary data. Create clear technical documentation so that solutions are maintainable, transferable, and not dependent on any single individual.
• Collaboration & Communication: Work cross-functionally with data scientists, analysts, visualization developers, and organizational stakeholders. Communicate technical approaches in accessible language and participate in strategic conversations about where AI can drive the greatest organizational impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field; a Master’s degree is a plus.
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in software development, data engineering, or data science, with at least 2 years of hands-on applied AI/LLM experience in a professional setting.
• Demonstrated experience building and deploying production-ready AI solutions used by real stakeholders. A portfolio or live demonstrations of past work is strongly preferred and will carry significant weight in the evaluation process.
• Proficiency with AI orchestration and agent frameworks such as LangChain, LangGraph, CrewAI, AutoGen, n8n, or similar tools for building multi-step, multi-agent AI workflows.
• Working knowledge of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) patterns, vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, ChromaDB, Weaviate, pgvector), and embedding models.
• Experience with LLM APIs and platforms including OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, and/or open-source models via Hugging Face or Ollama.
• Proficiency in Python and SQL; familiarity with cloud data platforms such as Snowflake is a strong plus.
• Experience with low-code/no-code AI platforms such as Microsoft Copilot Studio, Power Automate, or similar enterprise AI tooling.
• Familiarity with emerging AI integration standards such as Model Context Protocol (MCP) and tool-use patterns for connecting LLMs with external systems is a plus.
• Solid foundation in data analysis, with the ability to independently explore datasets, identify patterns, and communicate findings through clear data narratives.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to connect technical capabilities to organizational goals and articulate the value behind both the data and the tools.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to explain complex AI concepts to non-technical audiences and collaborate effectively across teams.
• Self-directed, highly motivated, and able to manage projects from ideation through delivery with minimal supervision.

Compensation and Benefits

• The estimated salary range for this position is $140,000 - $180,000.
• We gladly offer:
• Up to 10% Annual Performance Bonus – rewarding your hard work and success.
• Hybrid Work Schedule (Must be located in San Diego) – offering flexibility to balance your work and personal life.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package – including Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and a Flexible Spending Account to support your health and well-being.
• 100% Premium Coverage for Employee Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life Insurance, plus 70% coverage for dependents for medical, dental and vision – ensuring both you and your family are well cared for.
• Generous 5% Retirement Plan Match – helping you build a secure financial future.
• Professional Development Reimbursements – investing in your growth and career advancement.
• 15 Days of Paid Time Off plus 16 Paid Holidays – promoting a healthy work-life balance and time to recharge