Lead AI Engineer

We are searching for a skilled, innovation-driven Lead AI Engineer to join our team and spearhead the development of cutting-edge Generative AI solutions. If you're passionate about artificial intelligence and adept at building systems that deliver measurable business impact, this opportunity is ideal for you. You will work with a dynamic group of professionals to create and deploy AI-driven technologies that tackle real-world challenges — all within a highly collaborative, supportive, and forward-focused environment. As a technical leader, you won't just write code; you will shape our AI technical roadmap, architect complex enterprise-grade systems, act as a trusted advisor to our clients, and mentor and grow a high-performing engineering team. If you love Python, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and driving innovation at the intersection of AI strategy and software craftsmanship, we want to hear from you! Experience the freedom of remote work from anywhere in Georgia, whether from the comfort of your home, our modern offices in Tbilisi and Batumi or a coworking space in Kutaisi. Responsibilities Drive technical vision and architecture by leading the design and implementation of highly scalable, robust enterprise AI applications, including complex multi-agent workflows, custom search engines, and end-to-end AI systems Partner closely with clients and business stakeholders to translate business goals into technical roadmaps and recommend high-impact, feasible LLM-driven solutions Establish engineering standards by setting the benchmark for code quality, architectural patterns, robust data pipelines, smart prompt management, and automated evaluation frameworks Foster a culture of learning and high performance through design reviews, development best practices, and active mentorship of junior and senior developers Direct R&D and innovation by guiding research on emerging models, framing prototyping strategies (PoCs), and standardizing the tools and frameworks used to stay on the bleeding edge of Generative AI Requirements 5+ years of experience in a Lead, Principal, or Senior AI/Software Engineering role, with a track record of architecting and shipping complex, production-grade AI or ML-based solutions At least 1 year of relevant leadership experience Master-level proficiency in Python (specifically FastAPI or equivalent web frameworks) and a strong foundation in core NLP concepts (semantic similarity, tokenization, NER, text classification) Expertise in modern Generative AI design patterns, particularly RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), autonomous multi-agent networks, and tool integration Production experience with major LLM APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Bedrock, Gemini) and framework orchestration tools such as LangGraph or LlamaIndex Background in optimizing AI applications for performance, security (prompt injection mitigation, data privacy), cloud costs, and system evaluation using programmatic or LLM-as-a-judge approaches Capability to quickly direct and build intuitive UI/UX prototypes using Streamlit, Gradio, or equivalent Outstanding leadership and communication skills to lead engineering discussions, bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences, and present technical architectures to executives and clients Strong English communication skills (B2 level or higher) Nice to have Full-stack capabilities with TypeScript Experience incorporating AI into the SDLC to boost team efficiency using tools like GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or specialized agents for automation Cloud architecture expertise in AWS or Azure (specifically Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, or cloud-native containerized deployments) Familiarity with Databricks (MLflow, Agent Bricks, Unity Catalog) for orchestrating data pipelines and model lifecycles Knowledge of advanced search/retrieval systems (hybrid search, vector databases, custom rerankers and ranking algorithms) Familiarity with emerging open-source protocols (like Model Context Protocol - MCP) and LLM monitoring tools (like LangSmith or Arize Phoenix) We offer We connect like-minded people Delivering innovative solutions to industry leaders, making a global impact Enjoyable working environment, whether it is the vibrant office or the comfort of your own home Opportunity to work abroad for up to two months per year Relocation opportunities within our offices in 55+ countries Corporate and social events We invest in your growth Leadership development, career advising, soft skills and well-being programs Certifications, including GCP, Azure and AWS Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning and Udemy Free English classes with certified teachers We cover it all Participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan Monetary bonuses for engaging in the referral program Comprehensive medical & family care package Five trust days per year (sick leave without a medical certificate) Benefits package (sports activities, a variety of stores and services) EPAM Georgia is a team of innovators united by a passion for technology. The dynamic and inclusive culture we embrace helps positively impact our communities, clients, and employees. Here you will collaborate with multi-national teams, contribute to numerous cutting-edge projects, deliver the most creative solutions, and have an opportunity to learn. Our people are at the heart of our success, and we are proud to provide talents with a solid ground to develop and grow.