Staff AI Engineer

About the Role

Salient Group is collaborating with a leading Applied AI company to recruit experienced Staff AI Engineers in Sydney or Melbourne, working in a hybrid setting. This role involves spearheading advanced Generative AI initiatives from conceptualization and architectural design through to full production deployment. Unlike research-focused positions or those limited to API integration around ChatGPT, this role requires hands-on technical leadership and direct engagement with major enterprise clients. You will translate ambiguous business requirements into feasible AI solutions, maintain end-to-end ownership of projects, and steer your team toward successful delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct GenAI projects through discovery, architectural planning, and deployment phases.
• Assume complete responsibility for system design and make pivotal technical decisions.
• Develop production-grade agentic AI and large language model (LLM) applications.
• Create workflows involving tool calling, structured outputs, and evaluations integrated within enterprise environments.
• Set engineering standards and provide guidance to fellow engineers.
• Collaborate closely with senior customer stakeholders.
• Write high-quality, maintainable Python code and tackle complex technical challenges.
• Engage with cutting-edge AI technologies, some ahead of public availability.

Candidate Requirements

• Strong proficiency in Python coupled with solid software engineering fundamentals.
• Extensive experience in system architecture and design.
• Proven background in production deployment of Generative AI, LLM, or agentic AI systems.
• Track record of ownership over technical direction or leadership within engineering projects.
• Deep understanding of tool calling mechanisms, structured output handling, evaluation processes, and modern LLM ecosystems.
• Well-rounded production mindset emphasizing testing, system reliability, and observability.
• Comfort and confidence in interfacing directly with customers and senior leaders.

Additional Details

This role is not an Engineering Manager position; it is intended for engineers seeking to expand their technical impact while continuing hands-on development. The employer values high engineering quality, recognizing that AI tools can assist coding but cannot replace critical engineering judgment. Successful candidates will join a team of outstanding engineers working on projects that can transition from conception to production rapidly, leveraging the newest OpenAI models and capabilities.

Eligibility

Applicants must be Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Why Join?

• Opportunity to work with advanced Applied AI technologies.
• Full ownership over system architecture rather than routine task assignments.
• Access to the most recent OpenAI models and cutting-edge AI tools.
• Rapid project timelines enabling quick transitions to production.
• Collaborate with highly skilled engineers.
• Defined career path for Staff or Lead Individual Contributor roles.