About The Company
The appliedAI Initiative is dedicated to transforming Europe's industrial landscape by positioning the region as a leader in artificial intelligence. Our mission is to create a future shaped by innovative AI solutions that benefit society and industry alike. Through a robust ecosystem of strategic partners, comprehensive programs, and cutting-edge services, we support companies on their AI journey, ensuring holistic and sustainable growth. Our team comprises a diverse, interdisciplinary, and highly driven group of professionals who possess deep technical expertise and a focus on practical applicability. We foster a culture of collaboration and openness, working closely with leading companies and technology pioneers to develop trustworthy AI solutions. Our vision emphasizes the importance of AI Agents as the next frontier in artificial intelligence, with appliedAI leading the way in how this technology is integrated into industry and beyond across Europe.
About The Role
As a Senior AI Engineer at appliedAI, you will be at the forefront of building and delivering complex, production-grade AI systems for industrial clients operating in regulated environments. Your role involves taking full ownership of the end-to-end AI deployment process, from architecture design to operationalization, while setting high standards for engineering excellence across the team. You will architect innovative AI solutions that include classical machine learning, generative AI applications, validated retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and agentic systems, all tailored to meet operational technology (OT) and edge constraints. Your expertise will ensure deployment across on-premises and hybrid environments, with a focus on validation, security, and MLOps maturity. You will lead technical delivery efforts, collaborate with engagement leads to define scope and value, and mentor mid-level and senior engineers to foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Additionally, you will develop reusable engineering frameworks, templates, and evaluation tools to enhance team productivity and impact.
Qualifications
- 10+ years of professional software engineering experience
- At least 5 years of experience building and operating AI/ML systems in production environments
- Deep understanding of distributed systems, APIs, data pipelines, and cloud-native architecture (Azure, AWS, GCP)
- Proficiency with containers, CI/CD pipelines, and MLOps practices
- Expertise in Python and modern AI frameworks such as PyTorch, LangChain/LangGraph, and vector stores
- Experience with evaluation frameworks and AI platforms like Azure AI Foundry
- Proven track record leading complex AI projects in client-facing or industrial contexts
- Pragmatic, code-first approach emphasizing quality, security, and operational maturity
- Fluent in English; working proficiency in German is advantageous
Responsibilities
- Architect and implement production-grade AI solutions tailored to industrial clients, including classical ML, GenAI, RAG, and agentic systems
- Ensure solutions adhere to OT/edge constraints, validation gates, and deployment models (on-premises, hybrid)
- Define and uphold engineering standards for code quality, design reviews, observability, security, and MLOps practices
- Lead technical delivery from architecture design through production hardening and client handover
- Collaborate closely with engagement leads to align scope, objectives, and client expectations
- Develop reusable engineering components such as templates, libraries, and evaluation frameworks to enhance team efficiency
- Mentor and guide mid-level and senior engineers, fostering knowledge sharing and continuous improvement
- Facilitate technical guilds and contribute to a culture of innovation and excellence within the team
Benefits
- Join a highly motivated team of approximately 90 professionals dedicated to shaping Europe's AI landscape
- Hybrid work model allowing flexibility to work from our offices in Heilbronn or Munich, as well as remotely
- Opportunity to influence a variety of innovative projects and develop new AI solutions based on the latest industry advancements
- Encouragement to experiment with new software, hardware, and processes in a supportive environment
- Access to an extensive network of startups, partners, and tech companies for professional growth
- Personal development opportunities through training, certifications, conferences, and new challenges
- Wellness benefits including sports memberships via Wellpass and access to thousands of sports facilities
- JobRad leasing program with coverage of bike insurance, promoting sustainable mobility
- Sabbatical options available after three years of employment for up to three months
- Support from PME Familienservice for work-life balance, including coaching and childcare resources
- Mobility budget contributions for public transportation and shared mobility options
- Workation program allowing remote work from anywhere for up to three months annually
Equal Opportunity
appliedAI is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse work environment. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status. We believe that diversity enhances innovation and creativity, and we strive to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.