Lead AI Engineer

E-Merge IT Recruitment Johannesburg, Gauteng R 1,400,000 – R 0

Full-time Closes 10 Nov 2026 · 11 days left

Johannesburg, Gauteng R 1,400,000 – R 0 Full-time Closes 10 Nov 2026

This job is for a Lead AI Engineer who will work as both a technical leader and hands-on developer. You will be responsible for building and managing key AI products, reporting to the Head of AI. The role is based in Johannesburg with some remote work allowed. The company is looking for someone who can deliver high-quality AI solutions, guide the team, and ensure everything runs smoothly in production.

Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and deliver major AI projects (voice agents, automated call quality checks, AI systems for text channels).
- Design and improve AI prompts, create structured outputs from LLMs, and ensure systems are reliable, fast, and cost-effective.
- Mentor engineers, review work, and collaborate with dashboard/campaign teams and operations for deployments.

Requirements:
- 7+ years in software engineering, with 3+ years in AI systems (LLMs, speech-based AI).
- Strong Python skills, expertise in voice/conversational AI, speech processing, or LLM evaluation.
- Experience with Microsoft Azure (serverless, Kubernetes, messaging, cloud storage).
- Knowledge of AI coding tools (Cursor, Claude), voice platforms, and monitoring tools (Application Insights, Grafana).

Benefits:
- Permanent, hybrid role in Sandton, Johannesburg.
- Salary up to R1.4M/year (negotiable).
- Flexible work environment with cutting-edge AI projects.