AI/ML Engineer - Engineering Excellence (Full Stack Developer)

The Digital S/W Engineer Sr Analyst is a seasoned professional role. Applies in-depth disciplinary knowledge, contributing to the development of new techniques and the improvement of processes and work-flow for the area or function. Integrates subject matter and industry expertise within a defined area. Requires in-depth understanding of how areas collectively integrate within the sub-function as well as coordinate and contribute to the objectives of the function and overall business. Evaluates moderately complex and variable issues with substantial potential impact, where development of an approach/taking of an action involves weighing various alternatives and balancing potentially conflicting situations using multiple sources of information. Requires good analytical skills in order to filter, prioritize and validate potentially complex and dynamic material from multiple sources. Strong communication and diplomacy skills are required. Regularly assumes informal/formal leadership role within teams. Involved in coaching and training of new recruits Significant impact in terms of project size, geography, etc. by influencing decisions through advice, counsel and/or facilitating services to others in area of specialization. Work and performance of all teams in the area are directly affected by the performance of the individual.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior AI/ML & Agentic AI Engineer with a robust background in Python, Java, database technologies, cloud platforms, and CI/CD DevOps practices to join our Engineering Excellence and Transformation organization. In this critical role, you will be at the forefront of designing, developing, and integrating cutting-edge AI/ML and Agentic AI solutions, including advanced AI assistant tools, to revolutionize engineering processes and drive significant operational improvements across our enterprise. You will leverage your comprehensive technical expertise to build scalable, resilient, and high-performance AI systems from conception to deployment, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous delivery.

Responsibilities:

• Accountable for executing and driving mid-size feature application design and development efforts to completion, serving as a development lead on medium-scale projects and supporting the execution of larger efforts.
• Proficient at operating with considerable autonomy and discretion as you will significantly influence the way an application is designed and developed by providing subject specific expertise and an advanced level of understanding of application programming principles.

• Manage one or more Applications Development teams in an effort to accomplish established goals as well as conduct personnel duties for team (e.g. performance evaluations, hiring and disciplinary actions)

• Utilize in-depth knowledge and skills across multiple Applications Development areas to provide technical oversight across systems and applications

• Review and analyze proposed technical solutions for projects

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of sophisticated AI/ML, Generative AI, and Agentic AI solutions, including AI assistant tools, in close collaboration with AI architects, product owners, and cross-functional engineering teams within the Engineering Excellence framework.

• Architect and develop end-to-end AI systems, leveraging both Python for machine learning workflows and Java for scalable enterprise-grade backend services, ensuring seamless integration with existing and new applications.

• Design and implement intelligent agentic systems that exhibit autonomous decision-making capabilities, enabling advanced automation and self-optimizing processes.

• Develop, fine-tune, and optimize Large Language Models (LLMs) using both parameter-efficient techniques and full fine-tuning, focusing on their integration into robust, production-ready systems supported by both Python and Java components.

• Drive the implementation and experimentation with advanced generative AI methods such as prompt engineering and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), ensuring their effective deployment and performance in enterprise environments.

• Own the deployment pipeline for AI models and associated services, leveraging CI/CD methodologies, containerization (Docker), and orchestration (Kubernetes) on leading cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) to ensure secure, scalable, and automated releases.

• Apply deep knowledge of database technologies (SQL and NoSQL) to design efficient data storage, retrieval, and management strategies for AI applications, ensuring data integrity and performance.

• Contribute to the establishment and enforcement of engineering best practices, architectural patterns, and tooling standards for full-stack AI development, advocating for maintainability, observability, and cost-efficiency.

• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI/ML, Agentic AI, cloud technologies, and DevOps trends, proactively sharing knowledge and driving adoption of innovative solutions.

• Ensure strict adherence to ethical AI guidelines, data privacy regulations, and compliance standards throughout the entire AI solution lifecycle.

Required Technical Skills:

• Polyglot Programming Expertise:

  • Python: Expert proficiency in Python for AI/ML development, including data manipulation (Pandas), scientific computing (NumPy), and machine learning frameworks.

  • Java: Strong proficiency in Java (e.g., Spring Boot, Microservices, Enterprise Integration Patterns, RESTful APIs) for building scalable, high-performance, and resilient enterprise applications.

• AI/ML & Agentic AI:

  • Experience with Generative AI, Agentic AI principles, and the development of AI assistant tools.

  • Hands-on experience with LLMs and fine-tuning methods (e.g., LoRA, QLoRA, Adapter/Prefix Tuning, instruction tuning).

  • Practical knowledge of model optimization techniques (e.g., compression, quantization) and familiarity with tools such as DeepSpeed, vLLM, GPTQ, or similar.

  • Proficient in prompt engineering, prompt design tools/frameworks, and building robust RAG systems (hybrid search, multi-vector retrieval).

  • Proficient with machine learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Keras) and distributed training.

  • Strong skills in Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques (NER, Dependency Parsing, Text Classification, Topic Modeling), transfer learning, and advanced learning paradigms.

  • Familiarity with generative AI tools and libraries like LangChain, LlamaIndex, Hugging Face, and major GenAI APIs (e.g., OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, AWS Bedrock).

• Database Technologies:

  • Solid experience with both SQL (e.g., PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL) and NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra, DynamoDB) databases, including schema design, query optimization, and integration with applications.

• Cloud Platforms:

  • Extensive hands-on experience with at least one major cloud provider (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including services for compute, storage, networking, AI/ML, and data.

• CI/CD & DevOps:

  • Strong understanding and practical experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, infrastructure as code (IaC), and configuration management.

  • Expertise with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes, OpenShift).

  • Familiarity with monitoring, logging, and alerting tools for production systems.

• Security & Compliance:

  • Solid understanding of AI compliance, guardrails, Responsible AI practices, and enterprise security standards within a highly regulated environment.

Recommended Qualifications:

• 5-8 years in a product development/product management environment

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; Data driven and results-oriented

• Experience delivering with an agile methodology

• Experience in affecting large culture change

• Experience leading infrastructure programs

• Skilled at working with third party service providers

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Education:

• Bachelor’s/University degree or equivalent experience

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In addition to salary, Citi’s offerings may also include, for eligible employees, discretionary and formulaic incentive and retention awards. Citi offers competitive employee benefits, including: medical, dental & vision coverage; 401(k); life, accident, and disability insurance; and wellness programs. Citi also offers paid time off packages, including planned time off (vacation), unplanned time off (sick leave), and paid holidays. For additional information regarding Citi employee benefits, please visit citibenefits.com. Available offerings may vary by jurisdiction, job level, and date of hire.

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Automated Processing and AI

We use automated processing, including artificial intelligence, for our legitimate business interests (or our reasonable and appropriate business purposes) to identify and align the candidate's skills and abilities with a specific job opening. Additionally, if you so choose, or consent, we can match your skills and abilities to other suitable roles at Citi.

Importantly, all our hiring processes and decisions, including determining your suitability for a role, are conducted, checked, and decided by individuals. Our automated processing and AI do not involve relying on automatic or autonomous decision-making. Please refer to any Jurisdictional Considerations, with specific provisions for your country (where relevant) for further details.

Illinois residents - AI Notice and Right

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