Lead AI Engineer

*This position is open only to candidates currently residing in Kazakhstan or those willing to relocate to Kazakhstan. Remote work from other countries is not possible.*

We are looking for a Lead AI Engineer to design and deliver AI solutions, including chatbots, Q&A systems, and workflow systems for agents.

This position requires staying informed about LLM advancements and driving innovation in AI projects. Join us to expand your expertise in AI engineering and create impactful solutions tailored to client needs.

This position offers remote setup with the flexibility to work from any location in Kazakhstan, whether it's your home or well-equipped offices in Astana, Almaty or Karaganda.

Responsibilities

• Design AI applications such as chatbots, Q&A platforms, and agent workflows
• Collaborate with clients to identify needs, opportunities, and recommend LLM-based solutions
• Develop data pipelines, prompt strategies, and datasets to support effective AI models
• Evaluate AI systems to ensure accuracy, security, scalability, and compliance with industry standards
• Research and validate technical feasibility while demonstrating business value
• Stay informed about LLM technologies, frameworks, and methodologies to improve solutions

Requirements

• Proficiency in Python and experience with web frameworks like FastAPI
• Background in leading and mentoring engineering teams
• Understanding of AI development lifecycles
• Flexibility to use rapid UI prototyping tools like Streamlit or Gradio
• Familiarity with LLM platforms and APIs such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon Bedrock, and Gemini, along with frameworks like LangGraph and LlamaIndex
• Knowledge of advanced AI integration patterns like RAG and Agents
• Skills in deploying AI solutions at scale with a focus on performance and cost-efficiency
• Experience assessing generative AI quality using retrieval, classification, or LLM-based metrics
• Proven background in AI engineering and delivering machine learning-based solutions
• Competency in problem-solving with strong attention to detail
• Strong written and verbal English communication skills (B2+)

Nice to have

• Background in designing experiments and conducting A/B testing for model optimization
• Understanding of retrieval systems, vector search, and ranking algorithms
• Familiarity with protocols like MCP, A2A, and ACP
• Experience deploying AI solutions to cloud platforms such as Azure OpenAI, Amazon Bedrock, or GCP Vertex AI; flexibility to leverage on-premise options like vLLM
• Background in enterprise AI platforms such as AWS AgentCore, Databricks AgentBricks, or Azure AI Foundry
• Skills in using observability and monitoring frameworks and tools

We offer

• We connect like-minded people: :
  • Delivering innovative solutions to industry leaders, making a global impact
  • Enjoyable working environment, whether it is the vibrant office or the comfort of your own home
  • Opportunity to work abroad for up to two months per year
  • Relocation opportunities within our offices in 55+ countries
  • Corporate and social events
• We invest in your growth:  :
  • Leadership development, career advising, soft skills and well-being programs
  • Certifications, including GCP, Azure and AWS
  • Unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning and Get Abstract
  • Free English classes with certified teachers
  • Discounts in local language schools, including online courses for the Kazakh language
• We cover it all: :
  • Participation in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Monetary bonuses for engaging in the referral program
  • Medical & family care package
  • Six trust days per year (sick leave without a medical certificate)
  • Coverage of psychology sessions of your choice
  • Benefits package (sports activities, a variety of stores and services)

EPAM is a team of technologists and innovators united by a passion for technology. In Kazakhstan, we operate across all cities with offices in Astana, Almaty, and Karaganda and work with the world's leading companies from different industries. In 2023, EPAM received the Export Excellence Award at the esteemed Digital Bridge Awards, showcasing our commitment to excellence and innovation.