- Experience
- 8+ yrs
- Salary
- —
- Openings
- 1
- Posted
- 2 weeks ago
- Work mode
- Work from home
- Eligibility
- Only candidates currently residing in New Zealand with valid work visas are invited to apply.
- Resume
- Required to apply
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Job description
About the Role
Theta is a prestigious New Zealand-owned tech company fostering a creative and inclusive environment. This leadership position places you at the forefront of Theta's Generative AI Centre of Excellence, where you'll actively develop AI systems for some of NZ's top organizations, guiding both engineering practices and directly coding solutions. The role focuses on delivering production-ready AI projects that bridge the gap between impressive demos and reliable deployment.
Key Responsibilities
- Create and implement proofs of concept and early-stage agentic AI systems targeting real-world users and data, emphasizing fast feedback cycles.
- Design robust AI model frameworks, including tool definitions, context and permission management, routing, approval mechanisms, and observability features ensuring system reliability beyond just prompt engineering.
- Develop autonomous feedback loops enabling AI systems to plan, act, validate, and repair themselves with verifiable termination points.
- Serve as the lead technical advisor for clients adopting generative AI, providing honest guidance on feasibility, cost, and risk, while challenging assumptions.
- Foster capability growth within Theta's developer community through workshops, mentoring, and reference implementations to embed consistent AI practices.
- Establish standards, methodologies, and guardrails encompassing responsible AI, privacy, and security frameworks under the Centre of Excellence.
- Design and ship internal systems that enhance Theta’s own operations, transforming successful innovations into reusable tools and accelerators.
- Monitor industry trends vigilantly, discerning worthy technologies to adopt or observe, and filtering out transient noise.
Required Skills and Experience
- Over 8 years of comprehensive experience building and delivering production-grade software with demonstrated leadership on complex projects.
- A minimum of 12 months actively employing agentic coding tools—like Claude Code or GitHub Copilot—as integral to daily software development rather than experimental use.
- Proven expertise applying AI coding agents across the entire software lifecycle, including design, implementation, testing, deployment, and continuous evaluation with measurable "done" criteria and diagnostic capabilities.
- Experience delivering client-facing agentic AI systems as tangible products, not just process improvements.
- Proficient coding skills in Python, C#/.NET, or TypeScript with the versatility to operate across full technology stacks.
- Strong consulting and instructional aptitude, capable of leading discovery phases, managing senior stakeholders, providing candid feasibility assessments, and effectively transferring knowledge to diverse audiences.
Preferred Qualifications
- Hands-on experience with Microsoft Copilot Studio and Microsoft Foundry (Azure AI Foundry) for agent development and deployment.
- Working knowledge of Azure and its AI services or AWS, informed judgment regarding privacy, risk, and responsible AI practices.
- Familiarity with the Microsoft data ecosystem including Fabric, Synapse, Power BI, Power Platform, or Dynamics 365.
- Understanding of New Zealand-specific contexts such as the Privacy Act 2020, NZISM, public sector assurance, and Māori data sovereignty principles.
- Experience in founding or shaping a practice or Centre of Excellence from early stages.
About Theta
With 30 years as an established New Zealand technology consultancy, Theta boasts over 290 talented professionals across offices in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, and Christchurch. The company prioritizes multiculturalism, continuous learning, ethical practices, creativity, work-life balance, excellence, pragmatism, and environmental responsibility.
Employee Benefits
- Supportive, family-friendly work environment with flexible hours suited for caregivers.
- Commitment to gender equality and fostering an inclusive workplace.
- Active community involvement including fundraising for Cure Kids through various activities.
- Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.
- Competitive salary aligned with experience.
- Hybrid working model requiring at least two days in-office per week.
- Fully subsidized medical insurance for employees and significant discounts for immediate family members.
- Enhanced parental leave benefits including salary top-ups and return-to-work incentives.
- Volunteer days, internal referral incentives, staff assistance programs, annual flu vaccinations, and sick leave from day one.
- Remote work options available where mutually agreed upon.
- Complimentary fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and biscuits available in offices.
- Accredited employer status with Immigration New Zealand.
Additional Information
Potential candidates must consent to Ministry of Justice and credit checks. Applications are only accepted from individuals currently residing in New Zealand with valid visas.