Senior AI Engineer

ABOUT HAKKODA, An IBM Company Hakkoda, An IBM Company is a modern data consultancy that empowers data driven organizations to realize the full value of the Snowflake Data Cloud. We provide consulting and managed services in data architecture, data engineering, analytics and data science. We are renowned for bringing our clients deep expertise, being easy to work with, and being  an amazing place to work! We are looking for curious and creative individuals who want to be part of a fast-paced, dynamic environment, where everyone’s input and efforts are valued. We hire outstanding individuals and give them the opportunity to thrive in a collaborative atmosphere that values learning, growth, and hard work. Our team is distributed across North America, Latin America, and Europe. If you have the desire to be a part of an exciting, challenging, and rapidly-growing Snowflake consulting services company, and if you are passionate about making a difference in this world, we would love to talk to you!.
Overview: We are seeking a Senior AI Engineer with a strong track record of developing and deploying AI solutions, particularly in the domain of large language models (LLMs), agents, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) pipelines. This role will involve close collaboration with clients to architect, build, and deliver real-world solutions using platforms such as Snowflake, AWS, and Google Cloud. The ideal candidate combines technical depth with a pragmatic, delivery-oriented mindset and has excellent communication skills to lead client engagements and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities:

• Solution Architecture: Lead the design and development of LLM-based solutions including RAG pipelines, agent workflows, and generative AI applications.
• Multi-platform Implementation: Develop and deploy AI solutions across Snowflake, AWS, Google Cloud, Databricks, and other enterprise environments.
• Client-Facing Delivery: Work directly with clients to understand business needs, propose architectures, and implement solutions that deliver measurable value.
• Model Development & Optimization: Fine-tune models, build embedding workflows, implement vector search, and monitor performance in production environments.
• Workflow Automation & Integration: Architect AI systems that integrate with cloud-based data pipelines and enterprise tools, ensuring reliability and scalability.
• Mentorship & Collaboration: Provide technical leadership, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to the growth of Hakkoda’s AI practice
• Innovation & Research: Stay informed on emerging AI technologies and bring innovative capabilities into production use.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, or a related field (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred).
• Experience: Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in AI engineering, machine learning, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience working in a professional services or consulting environment with client-facing responsibilities.
• Must Haves:
• Proven experience developing and deploying LLM-powered applications into production
• Strong background in RAG architecture, vector search, and embedding pipelinesFamiliarity with agent frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or Crew AI
• Expertise in Python, with sound software engineering practices
• Experience working with Snowflake, including Cortex and UDFs for AI integration
• Hands-on experience deploying AI solutions on multiple cloud platforms (especially AWS and GCP)
• Strong client-facing skills, with the ability to lead technical discussions and present to stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to scope, build, and deliver full AI solutions—not just prototypes
• Nice-to-Have Skills
• Experience with LLMOps tools (PromptLayer, LangSmith, Weights & Biases, etc.)
• Understanding of AI cost optimization and production reliability concerns
• Prior experience with consulting or professional services engagements
• Experience building AI solutions with synthetic or simulated data
• Contributions to open-source AI projects or active involvement in AI communities
• Soft Skills:
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences, including clients.
• Strong leadership skills, with a track record of successfully managing projects and mentoring junior team members.
• Problem-solving expertise with a creative approach to overcoming client challenges and delivering results under tight timelines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Extensive experience with industry-specific AI applications, such as healthcare, finance, supply chain, or retail/CPG.
• Advanced proficiency in natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision technologies.
• Previous experience leading teams or projects in an Agile or Scrum environment.

Hakkoda, An IBM Company, is an exciting, high growth company, and we’re scaling our team. We are looking for exceptional people who share our values, challenge ordinary thinking, and push the pace of innovation while building a future for themselves and Hakkoda. We are a collaborative team of high achievers. We love to explore, challenge and have a lot of fun along the way. Are you ready for the adventure? Click here to see our culture on display.
Hakkoda is an IBM subsidiary which has been acquired by IBM and will be integrated in the IBM organization. Hakkoda will be the hiring entity. By Proceeding with this application, you understand that Hakkoda will share your personal information with other IBM subsidiaries involved in your recruitment process, wherever these are located. More information on how IBM protects your personal information, including the safeguards in case of cross-border data transfer, are available here.