POSITION TITLE: Azure Cloud AI Engineer (Chatbot)

LOCATION: Any location; fully remote

REPORTS TO: VP of Technology and Product Design

Role- Part Time up to 20 hours per week for 6 months.

WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Per Scholas, a pioneering provider of technology education and training, is embarking on an exciting project to develop and implement an AI-powered chatbot to enhance our internal services. This initiative aims to automate routine inquiries, improve operational efficiency, and support our training department's scalability. We are seeking an experienced AI Engineer to lead the technical aspects of this project, from design and development through to deployment and evaluation. This role is pivotal in transforming our internal service delivery through innovative AI solutions.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Chatbot Development: Lead the design, development, and implementation of an AI-powered chatbot tailored to support internal services at Per Scholas.
• AI and Machine Learning: Utilize state-of-the-art AI and machine learning techniques, including natural language processing (NLP), to train the chatbot for accurate and effective communication.
• Data Management: Oversee the collection, processing, and utilization of data for training the chatbot, ensuring sensitivity and compliance with data protection regulations.
• Integration: Collaborate with the delivery and technology departments and other stakeholders to ensure seamless integration of the chatbot with existing internal systems and workflows.
• Testing and Deployment: Coordinate testing phases, including unit tests, integration tests, and user acceptance testing, leading up to a successful deployment.
• Performance Monitoring and Optimization: Post-deployment, monitor chatbot performance, user feedback, and data analytics to continuously improve functionality and user experience.
• Project Collaboration: Work closely with the project manager, UI/UX designers, and other team members, contributing to project planning, reporting, and stakeholder communications.
• Create and Provide comprehensive training to technical staff on managing and utilizing the new cloud infrastructure. 
• Create supporting documentation for the cloud infrastructure, Chatbot and related projects. 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO US

Required Skill Sets

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, or a related field.
• Proven experience (3 years) in AI and machine learning projects, with a strong portfolio showcasing chatbot or similar AI-driven applications.
• Knowledge and 5-years of experience with Azure AI Services and Cloud technologies
• Expertise in NLP and machine learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Strong programming skills in Python and familiarity with API integrations.
• Experience with implementing integration solutions with Microservices, RESTful Web Services, and Web APIs
• Must have a current Microsoft Azure certification
• Experience in systems architecture, design, development, and programming in object-oriented and relational databases and client-server platforms
• Experience working with various tech stacks and Cloud (Azure, ServiceNow, etc.)
• Experience in working with IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
• Knowledge of Agile engineering practices
• Hands-on coding/scripting experience (Python / Powershell) 
• Experience working with SQL and/or NoSQL data sources (MongoDB, etc.)
• Git/GitHub experience, including merging, rebasing, and pull requests
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team and in a self-directed independent capacity with excellent planning and time management skills 
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to coordinate and prioritize effectively

Preferred Skill Sets

• Experience with continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• knowledge of Git Hub, Docker, Azure
• Experience as a technical lead on projects
• Ability to lead in an Agile environment
• Loves to learn, collaborates efficiently, shares knowledge, and is happy to cover new and temporary projects when needed

Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field. Advanced degrees or certifications in cloud computing, especially Azure, are highly desirable.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in cloud infrastructure design and management, with a strong focus on Microsoft Azure.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale technology projects from conception to completion.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to train and work effectively with non-technical staff.
• Strong technical aptitude (Google Sheets/Excel, Slides/PowerPoint, Salesforce, Slack, Zoom, etc.), project management, and organizational skills with detailed follow-through abilities. 
• Excellent written communication, presentation, and customer service skills.
• Solid understanding of business needs.
• Strong evaluation and data management skills.

Personal Characteristics

• You thrive in a creative, inventive, fast-paced startup environment with people who are passionate about their work and mission.
• You are data-driven, result-oriented, and a forward-looking catalyst for social change.
• You have a collaborative and flexible work style. You’re excited to work cross-functionally with other departments and independently.
• You are a life-long learner.
• You are an effective communicator with strong oral and written skills. 
• You are tech-savvy and learn new tools quickly. 
• You are detail-oriented, with exceptional organizational management skills.
• You have strong public speaking and interpersonal skills. You are a motivator who is personable, approachable, and socially engaging. You can cultivate relationships and build rapport quickly and authentically with people from various professional and cultural backgrounds.
• You are adept at managing your time and balancing multiple projects and tasks.
• You stand behind our mission, believing that individuals from any community should have access to well-paying career positions and that talent should be recognized and recruited from diverse sources.

For this role specifically,we are targeting a range between $70/hour to $85/hour, where the difference in salary is typically determined by several factors, including geography in which the selected candidate resides, and alignment with qualifications and experience.

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