Principal AI Engineer

COMPANY OVERVIEW

KKR is a leading global investment firm that offers alternative asset management as well as capital markets and insurance solutions. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and supporting growth in its portfolio companies and communities. KKR sponsors investment funds that invest in private equity, credit and real assets and has strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR’s insurance subsidiaries offer retirement, life and reinsurance products under the management of Global Atlantic Financial Group. References to KKR’s investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds and insurance subsidiaries.

TEAM OVERVIEW
KKR’s Technology team is pivotal in building and supporting the firm’s technological foundation. Recognized as a key business enabler, technology at KKR accelerates global scale and business transformation. The team drives excellence by evolving technology into platform-based capabilities, enhancing agility and business impact.

POSITION SUMMARY
KKR is seeking a seasoned Senior AI Engineer for development and deployment of cutting-edge Generative AI and ML solutions. This is a multi-disciplinary with business-facing responsibilities requiring ownership across the entire project lifecycle—from ideation through deployment and ongoing optimization.

This role requires a deep understanding of cloud-native architecture and proficiency in Python programming. Experience with financial data is highly desirable. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in machine learning, data analysis, and a passion for building scalable AI systems that drive innovation and efficiency.

PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES
•    End-to-end project lifecycle ownership: Encompassing ideation, requirements gathering, prototyping, development, MVP delivery, and long-term maintenance of production-grade AI solutions that are tailored for business purposes.
•    Business-facing collaboration: Partner closely with product owners, stakeholders, business consumers, App Dev teams, and domain experts to translate business goals into technical solutions.
•    Agile project delivery: Actively engage in sprint ceremonies—planning, daily stand-ups, backlog grooming, sprint reviews and retrospectives. Manage backlog items, prioritize based on business value, and ensure timely delivery.

TECHNICAL RESPONSIBILITES
•    Design, develop, and deploy AI Agents and Tools for business utilization. 
•    Integration of best-in-class AI solutions, Large Language Models, and Search Engines.
•    Architect and implement scalable, secure, and cost-effective AI solutions on cloud platforms such as AWS and GCP.
•    Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate AI models into existing systems and workflows.
•    Optimize model performance through hyperparameter tuning, A/B testing, and continuous monitoring.
•    Document processing at scale with embeddings and indexing for Semantic Search.
•    Knowledge Graph integration.
•    Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations and implement ethical AI practices.
•    Mentor junior engineers and contribute to the team's knowledge base. 

QUALIFICATIONS
REQUIRED
•    Strong communication skills and experience working in cross-functional teams. 
•    Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
•    5+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, with a focus on Generative AI.
•    10+ years of experience in software engineering, with a focus on distributed architecture.
•    Proficiency in Python and experience with frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch.
•    Demonstrated experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and cloud-native services.
•    Strong understanding of machine learning algorithms and data structures.
•    Database and SQL experience.
•    Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently.

PREFERRED
•    Experience with financial datasets, including time-series data and market analytics.
•    Familiarity with MLOps practices and tools.
•    Knowledge of ethical considerations in AI and security architecture.
•    Strong presentation skills with business focus.

#LI ONSITE

KKR is an equal opportunity employer.  Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by applicable law.