Principal AI & Machine Learning Engineer

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Virginia.

📋 Description

• Act as the technical leader tasked with integrating AI into enterprise workflows and analytical processes.

• Propel measurable improvements in productivity, insight generation, and decision support within the Data Analytics & Research division.

• Oversee applied, production-ready AI/ML projects that incorporate artificial intelligence into enterprise workflows.

• Collaborate with Data Engineering, Data Governance, and cross-functional business partners.

• Ensure that AI solutions are scalable, secure, compliant, and aligned with the enterprise data strategy.

• Establish standards for AI development practices.

• Mentor colleagues on applied AI techniques.

• Convert complex machine learning capabilities into enterprise-grade systems.

• Provide technical guidance, mentorship, and thought leadership within the organization and the broader AI and higher education data community.

• Report to the Senior Director of Analytics Engineering.

⛳️ Requirements

• Candidates must reside in the United States.

• Willingness to travel to attend the semi-annual Common App Retreat.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a closely related quantitative or technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• 8–10 years of progressive experience in machine learning, AI engineering, or data science, with a minimum of 3 years focused on applied AI and production ML systems.

• Experience in integrating LLMs and generative AI into enterprise analytic or operational workflows.

• Familiarity with enterprise data governance and compliance frameworks.

• Proficiency in supervised and unsupervised learning, natural language processing, and large language model integration.

• Experience in designing and deploying production-grade AI/ML systems and end-to-end ML pipelines, including training, evaluation, versioning, deployment, and monitoring.

• Proficient in R and Python for machine learning and AI development.

• Knowledge of scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar technologies.

• Experience in building and operationalizing LLM-powered applications, including prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and tool/agent orchestration frameworks.

• Strong SQL capabilities.

• Familiarity with large-scale cloud data platforms such as Databricks, Snowflake, or BigQuery.

• Ability to design AI-ready data pipelines within enterprise warehouse environments.

• Understanding of AI governance, responsible AI principles, and compliance considerations for systems that manage sensitive or personally identifiable information.

• Capability to act as a senior technical individual contributor, setting standards, making architectural decisions, and mentoring peers without formal management authority.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to explain complex AI/ML concepts to non-technical stakeholders and executive audiences.

• Capacity to manage multiple competing priorities and deliver high-quality AI solutions in a dynamic, collaborative setting.

• Master’s or doctoral degree, relevant AI/ML or cloud certifications, Agile experience, agentic AI framework experience, familiarity with Databricks AI/MLflow/Model Serving/Genie, higher education/nonprofit experience, and advanced statistics or causal inference training are ideal-candidate qualifications but not mandatory.

🏝️ Benefits

• Work-Life balance.

• Virtual-first office.

• Paid Time Off (PTO).

• Seven company-wide holidays.

• Nine floating holidays.

• Sick leave.

• Monthly mental health day.

• Choice of PC or MAC laptop.

• External monitor, keyboard, mouse, and/or headset.

• One-time office set-up stipend.

• Monthly remote work stipend.

• Monthly mobile stipend.

• Market-based salaries.

• Performance-based bonus.

• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% company contribution.

• Additional 5% company match.

• 3-year vesting schedule.

• Participation may begin immediately.

• Choice of two health insurance plans.

• Health Savings Account, depending on health plan selection.

• Medical Flexible Savings Account, depending on health plan selection.

• Vision insurance.

• Dental insurance.

• Insurance coverage begins on the date of hire.

• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account.

• Maven virtual clinic for women’s and family health.

• Company-provided life and AD&D insurance.

• Opportunity to purchase additional life insurance for self, spouse, and dependents.

• Company-provided short and long-term disability insurance.

• Budgeted annual funds for professional development.

• Growth opportunities within the company.

• Mutual of Omaha Employee Assistance Program.

• Mutual of Omaha will preparation services.

• Mutual of Omaha travel assistance.

• Payroll deduction pet insurance through PinPaws.

• 1Password family account.

• Diverse, collaborative, team-oriented, and creative environment.