Principal AI Engineer

Description

Shape the future of our franchisees’ tech ecosystem through innovative AI solutions. In this dynamic role, you’ll craft a bold AI strategy, develop transformative use cases, and lead the creation of a comprehensive AI roadmap that redefines how our franchisees operate.

Partnering with business teams, you’ll architect scalable, production-ready AI systems that empower our tech stack and deliver measurable business impact. Your expertise in data science and creative, outside-the-box thinking will fuel innovation, ensuring our AI vision aligns with our mission to revolutionize franchisee success.

If you’re a visionary leader with a passion for AI, a knack for strategic execution, and the ability to inspire cross-functional collaboration, this is your chance to make a game-changing impact.

This role offers flexibility to work either onsite from our Oklahoma City based headquarters or remotely. Regardless of location, candidates should expect up to 25% travel for field assignments and client engagements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• AI Solution Development: Design and architect innovative AI and machine learning solutions, generating creative use cases and project plans that align with franchisee business objectives and integrate seamlessly into core platforms
• Architecture & Strategy: Architect the vision for AI/ML initiatives, developing a comprehensive AI roadmap and collaborating with leadership to define strategic priorities, KPIs, and milestones for Generative AI adoption in franchisee operations.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with data engineering, MLOps, software development, and product teams to ideate and refine cohesive AI solutions, ensuring collaborative implementation.
• Platform Integration: Architect and plan custom AI-driven features and integrations using Avionté’s open API and other platform tools, creating innovative enhancements to system functionality and user experience for franchisee efficiency
• Data Pipeline Integration: Orchestrate projects for scalable data flows between the data lake and AI/ML models, leveraging data science expertise to collaborate with data engineering on robust pipelines that power franchisee AI applications
• Model Lifecycle Ownership: Manage the end-to-end project lifecycle of AI model development—from ideation, research, and prototyping and collaborate on deployment—ensuring alignment with business use cases
• Innovation & Continuous Learning: Proactively scout and integrate emerging AI trends, research, and best practices, applying creative, outside-the-box thinking to develop novel ideas and plans that advance the company's digital transformation
• External Collaboration: Collaborate with technology vendors, platform providers (e.g., Avionté), and external consultants to co-ideate AI solutions, architect integration strategies, and manage joint projects for successful deployment across franchisee systems
• Mentorship & Leadership: Serve as a strategic advisor on AI initiatives, contributing innovative ideas and project plans to foster a culture of continuous improvement through knowledge sharing and roadmap evolution

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• Graduate degree strongly preferred
• 5 years in AI/ML engineering roles, with at least 2 years in a senior or lead capacity

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, OR ABILITIES

• Technical Expertise:

• Programming: Python (preferred), R, Java, or C
• Frameworks: TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras
• Tools: Databricks, MLflow, Spark, Azure ML

• Strong Knowledge of:

• ML algorithms, data preprocessing, and model evaluation techniques
• Generative AI, LLM applications, and MLOps practices

• Certifications Preferred: Azure AI Engineer, Databricks GenAI/ML Engineer, Azure Solutions Architect
• Excellent ability to explain technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience developing production-grade LLM or GenAI applications
• Familiarity with AI/ML governance, model monitoring, and responsible AI principles
• Prior experience working with ATS platforms or recruiting technologies preferred

Not sure you meet every requirement? Apply anyway! At Express, we celebrate what makes you, you. We value diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and talents—because we know that’s what makes us stronger together. If you're excited about the role, we’re excited to hear from you.

Express Employment International supports Express Employment Professionals franchises and related brands. The Express franchise brand is an industry-leading, international staffing company with more than 870 franchise locations in the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Headquartered in Oklahoma City, our corporate team is committed to empowering franchisees by providing world-class support, training, and strategic guidance through a unified global network.

Our mission is to professionally market and provide quality human resource solutions through an international franchising network—benefiting our associates, clients, franchisees, corporate staff, shareholders, and the communities we serve.

Our vision is simple yet powerful: To help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.

Qualifications