Artificial Intelligence Technical Lead

Sev1Tech is seeking an experienced AI Technical Lead to spearhead a dynamic team of Twenty (20) AI professionals in advancing secure, resilient, and integrated AI systems. This role focuses on driving secure-by-design adoption, vulnerability management for intelligent systems, cross-sector AI integration, and the development of strategic AI roadmaps. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise in AI with strong leadership skills to deliver innovative solutions that enhance observability, reliability, and security across AI deployments. This position plays a critical role in ensuring our AI initiatives align with industry best practices and organizational goals, fostering a culture of innovation and proactive risk management.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 20 AI engineers, data scientists, and specialists, providing technical guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to ensure high team productivity and collaboration.
• Champion secure-by-design principles in AI development, embedding security considerations from the outset of system architecture and throughout the lifecycle.
• Develop and implement robust vulnerability management strategies for intelligent systems, including identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks in AI models and infrastructure.
• Drive cross-sector, industry, and systems AI integration efforts, collaborating with stakeholders to ensure seamless interoperability and scalability of AI solutions across diverse environments.
• Spearhead the creation and execution of comprehensive AI roadmaps, aligning them with business objectives, emerging technologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee the design and deployment of AI observability frameworks, tools, and processes to monitor model performance, detect anomalies, and maintain system integrity.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including security, operations, and product management, to integrate AI best practices and deliver high-impact outcomes.
• Stay abreast of advancements in AI, machine learning, observability tools, and security trends, applying insights to enhance team capabilities and project deliverables.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure on-time delivery of initiatives while maintaining quality standards.

Potential Deliverables

• AI observability reference architecture that incorporates secure-by-design principles, providing a blueprint for scalable and secure monitoring of AI systems.
• Custom dashboards and reporting mechanisms offering real-time and historical insights into model health, data drift, and AI-related logging to support proactive decision-making.
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for model retention, rollback processes, and root cause analysis to streamline operations and minimize downtime.
• Incident response procedures tailored for model failures and anomalies, including detection protocols, escalation paths, and recovery strategies.
• A comprehensive AI Roadmap outlining short- and long-term strategies, technology adoption plans, and milestones for AI maturation within the organization.
• Comparative analysis and recommendations on open-source and commercial AI observability tools, evaluating factors such as features, cost, integration ease, and security to inform procurement decisions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• At least 5-8 years of experience in AI/ML engineering or related roles, with a minimum of 3-5 years in a leadership or technical lead position managing teams of 10+ members.
• Proven track record in secure AI system design, vulnerability management, and integration across multiple sectors or systems.
• Strong expertise in AI observability, including tools for monitoring model performance, data drift detection, and logging.
• Experience developing AI roadmaps and strategic plans in complex, enterprise-level environments.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks and standards related to AI security (e.g., NIST AI Risk Management Framework, ISO/IEC standards).

Required Skills

• Technical Proficiency: Deep knowledge of AI/ML frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch), cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP), and observability tools (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK Stack).
• Leadership: Excellent team management, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and guide diverse technical teams.
• Security Expertise: Hands-on experience with secure-by-design methodologies, vulnerability scanning, threat modeling, and incident response in AI contexts.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong problem-solving abilities, with experience in root cause analysis, data analysis, and comparative tool evaluations.
• Project Management: Proficiency in agile methodologies, resource allocation, and delivering projects on time and within scope.
• Communication: Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders and produce clear documentation.

Government Clearance:

• Must be eligible to obtain a Department of Homeland Security EOD clearance Requirements 1. US Citizenship, 2. Favorable Background Investigation) 

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified AI Ethics Professional, or AWS Certified Machine Learning Specialist.
• Experience in cross-industry AI applications, such as healthcare, finance, or manufacturing.
• Publications or contributions to open-source AI projects related to observability or security.
• Familiarity with advanced topics like federated learning, explainable AI, or AI ethics.