Job Description

Location Johannesburg & Cape Town

REPORTS TO The Section Manager or other professional consultant or any other person appointed to supervise him/her from time to time.

PRIMARY POSITION PURPOSE

Responsible for designing and developing software applications as well as co-ordinating with the rest of the team on different layers of infrastructure.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Infrastructure & Deployment

• Set up and maintain AI development and production infrastructure

• Build data ingestion and transformation pipelines

• Deploy AI models to production environments

• Create APIs to make ML models accessible to other applications

• Automate infrastructure for Data Science team use

Model Development

• Build AI models from scratch aligned with business needs

• Optimize classifiers using advanced ML techniques

• Develop minimum viable products (MVPs) based on ML methods

• Create automated anomaly detection systems with performance monitoring

• Test models thoroughly before deployment

Data Management

• Process, cleanse and verify data integrity for analysis

• Enhance data collection procedures for building analytics systems

• Extend company data with third-party sources when needed

• Perform data mining using state-of-the-art methods

• Enable process automation through machine learning

Business Support, Growth & Innovation

• Help product managers and stakeholders understand AI capabilities and limitations

• Translate model results into actionable business insights

• Create visualizations and interactive reports using BI/analytics tools

• Perform ad-hoc analysis with clear result presentation

• Enable novel business capabilities through AI applications

• Work independently and self-motivated to deliver accurate models/drawings to a high standard within deadlines.

• Stay current with latest AI research relevant to business domain

• Identify opportunities to implement emerging AI technologies

• Develop innovative solutions that enhance business operations

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Work independently as well as part of a team

• Alignment with company vision, goals and values

• Proficient in Python, with a good knowledge of its ecosystems

• Demonstrated understanding of object-oriented programming

• Proficiency in database knowledge and understanding, including MSSQL and PostGIS

Education & Experience and Technical Skills

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field such as Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a related discipline.

• Minimum 3+ years of relevant professional experience

• Experience in engineering and geospatial domains (preferred)

• Proven track record implementing AI/ML solutions

• Strong foundation in object-oriented programming

• Proficiency in statistical programming languages (Python, R, SAS, or MATLAB)

• Experience building AI models using frameworks like PyTorch and Keras

• Knowledge of web services and API development

• Database expertise with Microsoft SQL Server and PostgreSQL

• Ability to write stored procedures, views, functions, and triggers

• Demonstrated commitment to AI learning through self-directed initiatives (courses, books, side projects)

• Evidence of staying current with emerging AI technologies and methodologies

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Motivated and highly driven

• Committed to collaborative problem solving, sophisticated design and quality product

delivery

• Visionary and self-starter with a view to seeing business process optimisation and development/streamlining.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Problem-solving mindset with attention to detail

• Capacity to translate technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders

• Strong analytical skills and the ability to think critically and solve complex problems using data-driven approaches. A keen eye for detail, curiosity, and a passion for finding insights and patterns in data

We are proud of the brilliant minds we have at SMEC and are committed to ensuring that our people have the best opportunities and resources to learn, grow and succeed. Our hiring decisions are guided by skills, qualifications and experience, ensuring fair and equitable access to opportunities for all. We are intentional about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, not as a requirement, but as a fundamental part of who we are. We strive to create a workplace where diverse backgrounds and perspectives are embraced, fresh ideas are encouraged, and everyone has the support they need to thrive. At SMEC, every individual has a voice, and through our commitment to engineering positive change, every contribution makes a difference.

At Surbana Jurong, we put talent, hard work, teamwork and a fun workplace together to approach problems and solve them creatively and collaboratively. Join us in making a positive impact on the world!