Job Description

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

A leading European outdoor retail group is looking for a Senior AI Developer to be the founding member of their AI & Automation practice. This is not a support role or a maintenance position — you'll be setting technical direction, mentoring others, and shaping how AI transforms the way a multi-brand, multi-country retail operation works. If you've built production AI systems (not just prototypes), have strong opinions about LLMs and agent frameworks, and want genuine ownership over a greenfield AI function, this is worth your attention.

Language: English B2 minimum | Level: Senior | Location: Porto, Portugal (on-site required) | Work model: Hybrid — 3 days in office, 2 days remote | Type: Direct hire, permanent contract

ABOUT THE COMPANY

A European group of premium outdoor brands operating 190+ shops across Belgium, Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands, and Great Britain. Their Porto office, located at a major business hub, serves as a key technology centre for the group's operations across all markets.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Lead the exploration and evaluation of LLM platforms, agent frameworks, and emerging AI tooling — deciding what's worth adopting and what isn't
• Design and architect AI-driven solutions that go from proof-of-concept to production-grade systems
• Mentor mid-level and junior developers, building a culture of experimentation and rigour around AI development
• Collaborate with leadership to identify where AI can genuinely transform business workflows — and push back when it can't
• Bridge the gap between experimental AI capabilities and practical, reliable business value
• Contribute to the team's technical roadmap and long-term strategic vision for AI and automation across the group

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• 5+ years of software development experience, with at least 2 years deeply focused on AI/LLM applications in production environments
• Proven programming skills in Python and comfort across multiple technology stacks
• Deep hands-on experience with LLMs, agent frameworks, and the broader AI ecosystem — not just experimentation, but complex systems built and shipped
• Strong grasp of prompt engineering, context management, reliability patterns, and the limitations of AI in production
• Solid system design skills — able to balance innovation with pragmatism and long-term maintainability
• Experience mentoring or technically leading other developers
• Ability to communicate complex AI concepts clearly to both technical teams and non-technical stakeholders
• Based in Porto or willing to relocate — this role requires regular in-office presence

NICE TO HAVE

• Deep understanding of transformer architectures, embeddings, vector databases, and RAG systems
• Experience with MLOps and monitoring AI systems in production, including cost management
• Hands-on experience building multi-agent systems or complex agentic workflows
• Familiarity with AI safety considerations: prompt injection, output validation, reliability engineering
• Background in machine learning or NLP (formal or self-taught)
• Experience leading technical initiatives from conception through to delivery

WHAT'S ON OFFER

• Permanent contract, full-time
• Salary up to €65,000 gross/year
• Health insurance
• 26 days annual leave
• Flexible schedule and hybrid model (3 days office / 2 days remote)
• Professional development budget and training opportunities
• Team events and a collaborative, inclusive work environment
• Office at a premium business hub in Porto