About the Opportunity JOB SUMMARY The Associate AI Engineer will be responsible for designing, developing, and implementing AI systems and data pipelines that enhance and automate university operations across multiple departments. Transforms manual processes into AI-driven solutions, focusing on building robust data pipelines, creating efficient machine learning models, and integrating AI capabilities into existing systems to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service quality while reducing operational costs, utilizing expertise in machine learning, natural language processing, data engineering, and AI system integration with existing enterprise infrastructure. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Knowledge and skills required for this position are normally obtained through a Bachelor's degree in Linguistics, Computational Linguistics, Computer Science, or related field; with four to six years of experience working with AI or machine learning , with demonstrated success in enterprise applications.
Experience
in higher education or similar complex organizational environments preferred. Other necessary skills: LLM Expertise: Deep understanding of large language model capabilities, limitations, and optimal interaction patterns, with demonstrated experience designing effective prompts for enterprise applications. AI/ML Development Expertise: Strong proficiency in developing and deploying machine learning models and AI systems in production environments, with deep knowledge of contemporary AI frameworks, tools, and best practices. Software Engineering: Excellent software development skills with proficiency in Python, TensorFlow/PyTorch, and experience with containerized deployments and MLOps practices. Data Pipeline Engineering: Extensive experience with end-to-end data pipelines, data warehousing solutions , processing frameworks, and container technologies, with proficiency in Python, SQL, and version control/CI/CD practices. Machine Learning Engineering: Demonstrated experience in the full ML lifecycle including data preparation, feature engineering, model training, validation, deployment, and monitoring in production. Natural Language Processing: Advanced knowledge of NLP techniques and large language models (LLMs), including prompt engineering, context management, and implementation strategies for enterprise applications. Cloud Computing:
Experience
deploying and scaling AI systems in cloud environments, with knowledge of cloud-native AI services. Solution Architecture: Ability to design scalable, secure, and efficient AI system architectures that meet enterprise requirements and performance standards. System Integration: Ability to integrate AI solutions with existing enterprise systems, APIs, databases, and authentication services to create cohesive user experiences. Performance Optimization:
Experience
optimizing AI models for both accuracy and computational efficiency in resource-constrained environments. Security Awareness: Knowledge of security best practices for AI systems, including data protection, model security, and prevention of adversarial attacks. Data Science: Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, statistical analysis, and data visualization techniques relevant to AI applications. AI Ethics and Governance: Understanding of ethical considerations in AI development, including bias mitigation, fairness, transparency, and compliance with relevant regulations. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES AI System Design and Development Design, develop, and implement AI solutions to automate and enhance university operations, including service desk automation, administrative task processing, and QA testing systems. Create robust, scalable architectures that integrate with existing university systems and accommodate future growth. Data Pipeline Development and Management Design and implement end-to-end data pipelines that efficiently collect, process, and prepare data for AI systems. Build robust ETL processes using tools like Apache Airflow, cloud services, and data warehousing solutions to ensure reliable data flow between source systems and AI applications. Implement data quality checks, monitoring, and governance practices throughout the pipeline. Machine Learning Implementation and Fine-tuning Develop and fine-tune machine learning models for specific university use cases, including customizing large language models through prompt engineering, transfer learning, and domain adaptation. Create efficient training pipelines and establish systematic evaluation protocols. System Integration and Deployment Integrate AI systems with existing university infrastructure, including identity management, knowledge bases, ticketing systems, and communication platforms. Deploy models to production environments following established MLOPs practices and ensuring appropriate monitoring. Performance Monitoring and Optimization Monitor AI system and data pipeline performance, detect and address drift or degradation, optimize resource utilization, and continuously improve model accuracy and efficiency based on real-world usage patterns and feedback. Position Type Information Technology Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 111S Expected Hiring Range: $87,785.00 - $123,998.75 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.