Senior AI Engineer

About the Role

As a Senior AI Engineer at Avathon, you will play a key role in designing and delivering advanced AI solutions with a strong emphasis on Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs). You will apply scientific rigor to develop scalable, production-ready machine learning systems that drive measurable business impact, working on challenging problems in forecasting, demand planning, renewable energy optimization, anomaly detection, and prescriptive maintenance. With minimum 5 years of industry experience, you are expected to bring strong expertise in statistical modeling, ML engineering, and modern AI architectures, particularly in GenAI and LLM-based applications. This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects that shape next-generation AI capabilities within the organization.

You Will

• Design, develop, and deploy machine learning and Generative AI solutions to solve complex business problems
• Build, fine-tune, and optimize Large Language Models (LLMs) and transformer-based architectures for real-world applications
• Apply rigorous scientific methodologies to experimentation, model evaluation, and performance optimization
• Develop scalable ML pipelines and production-grade systems in collaboration with Engineering teams
• Conduct prompt engineering, model alignment, evaluation, and performance benchmarking for GenAI applications
• Work closely with Product, Engineering, and Business stakeholders to translate ambiguous requirements into data-driven AI solutions
• Instrument and monitor LLM applications in production using observability tools, tracking cost, latency, quality, and drift
• Contribute to model governance, responsible AI practices, and performance monitoring in production environments
• Stay current with advancements in Generative AI, LLM research, and applied machine learning, incorporating relevant innovations into company solutions

You'll Have

• Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or a related quantitative field
• Minimum 5 years of hands-on industry experience in AI engineering, machine learning, data science, or applied AI roles
• Strong experience with Generative AI frameworks and Large Language Models (e.g., transformer architectures, fine-tuning, RAG systems)
• Proficiency in Python and modern ML/AI libraries such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face, or equivalent ecosystems
• Solid understanding of statistical modeling, experimentation, and model evaluation methodologies
• Experience building and deploying ML models into production environments
• Familiarity with data engineering workflows and cloud-based ML platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure)
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to work independently on complex and ambiguous problem statements
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present technical insights clearly to cross-functional stakeholders

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, and embedding-based search systems
• Hands-on experience with LLM observability platforms (e.g., Langfuse, LangSmith, Arize Phoenix, Weights & Biases) for tracing, cost tracking, and quality monitoring in production
• Experience with LLM evaluation frameworks (e.g., RAGAS, DeepEval) and evaluation patterns such as LLM-as-judge and automated regression testing
• Practical experience deploying LLM applications with guardrails, prompt versioning, hallucination detection, and model drift monitoring
• Exposure to distributed training, model optimization, and scalable inference architectures
• Knowledge of MLOps practices, CI/CD for ML (Travis CI, Jenkins), and model lifecycle management
• Prior experience applying AI solutions in industrial or asset-intensive environments
• Experience working in fast-paced startup or product-driven environments
• Industry experience in one or more of the following domains: Mining, Oil & Gas, Aerospace, Supply Chain, Logistics, or Renewable Energy

Benefits & Perks

What are the benefits and perks at Avathon? Below are some highlights we offer to our U.S. full-time employees -- we'd love to connect and share more!

• Evolving culture with the opportunity to drive new ideas and technology
• Stock Option Grants
• Medical Coverage and Parental Leave Plans
• 401k with Employer Match
• Monthly Technology Allowance
• Newly renovated office space located near Pleasanton, CA -- including fully stocked beverage and snack areas

Contract and temporary roles are not eligible for the above benefits.

Compensation

Pay Range: $130k - $155k salary annually. Pay for this position is based on a number of factors including geographic location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.

Location: This role is not remote. Candidates must be based in the Bay Area, CA and are expected to report to our Pleasanton office 5 days a week.