AI System Engineer

About Us

TiakiTech is a New Zealand-based health technology startup specializing in an AI-enhanced clinical analysis and reporting platform designed to integrate seamlessly within hospital processes. Our mission is to empower clinicians by simplifying the interpretation of complex medical data and generating diagnostic reports grounded on transparent and traceable evidence.

Role Overview

We seek an AI System Engineer to develop and maintain AI systems that enhance hospital workflows and support clinical diagnosis and reporting tasks. This role involves primary ownership of AI agents, orchestration, model integration, and MLOps, converting advanced research into dependable product features. You will collaborate closely with the Technical Lead, researchers, and the Founding Product Engineer. The role demands hands-on involvement across backend development, data pipeline creation, and operational maintenance. Both engineers share responsibilities for system deployment and ongoing production management.

Key Responsibilities

• Create AI agents and orchestration workflows connecting models, tools, and services to facilitate clinical analysis and generate reports.
• Collaborate with researchers to transform experimental algorithms and prototypes into well-maintained service components integrated into the product.
• Implement mechanisms for traceability and human review to enhance users' understanding and evaluation of AI outputs.
• Work with technical and clinical stakeholders to evaluate AI system performance, its constraints, and develop failure handling approaches.
• Develop backend APIs, services, and data pipelines ensuring secure, efficient processing and smooth product integration.
• Establish and maintain MLOps practices such as model version control, deployment workflows, system monitoring, and controlled release strategies.
• Take shared responsibility for production operations, including troubleshooting and enhancing system reliability, scalability, and maintainability.
• Participate in architectural decisions, conduct code reviews, author documentation, and contribute across shifting team priorities.

Required Qualifications

• At least 5 years of professional software engineering experience with demonstrated ownership in shipping and operating production software systems; equivalent experience considered.
• Proficient in Python programming with robust backend engineering capabilities including API development, data processing pipelines, automated testing, and designing maintainable services.
• Hands-on experience integrating machine learning models into applications and developing dynamic orchestration systems such as agents or tool-calling frameworks.
• Competent in designing and executing evaluation strategies for AI systems to identify limitations and diagnose failures via testing and monitoring.
• Familiar with deployment and operations environments including containerization, cloud platforms, CI/CD pipelines, observability tools, and version management systems; analogous tools/technologies are acceptable.
• Skilled at converting research prototypes into production-ready software components that maintain scientific integrity, validation standards, and data confidentiality constraints.
• Willing to work on-site in Newmarket, Auckland, and visit hospital collaborators as needed; comfortable with evolving job responsibilities.
• Strong abilities in communication and collaboration with diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Attributes

• Educational background in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field.
• Experience working in healthcare technology, familiar with clinical workflows or sensitive data handling.
• Knowledge of AI system explainability, audit trails, and incorporating human review procedures.
• Familiarity with large language model evaluation, agent frameworks, or AI application monitoring.
• Experience with model registries, reproducible inference pipelines or monitoring live machine learning systems.

Additional Information

This contract-based role offers an opportunity to influence core system architecture alongside an experienced Technical Lead and observe the direct impact of your technical decisions on clinical diagnostic workflows. Potential transition to a permanent position may be considered based on company milestones, mutual agreement, and performance. Equity participation in the company's ESOP could be available upon permanent appointment, subject to plan approval and terms.

Location and Legal Requirements

Applicants must hold valid New Zealand work authorization permitting employment; visa sponsorship is not provided. Candidates should reside in Auckland or be willing to relocate prior to starting, as the role requires on-site presence in Newmarket.