AI Engineer

About MSF USA | Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an independent international organization that provides medical care to the people who need it most. The organization cares for people affected by conflict, disease outbreaks, disasters, and social exclusion in more than 70 countries. MSF offers medical humanitarian assistance solely based on need, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, or politics. Our international project teams include medical, logistical, and administrative staff, most of them hired locally and working with their own communities. Our actions are guided by medical ethics and the principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality. We also bear witness and speak out about the experiences of our colleagues and patients. 

MSF USA is one of 24 sections supporting the global movement, primarily through staff recruitment, fundraising, advocacy, and communications. We welcome candidates who bring a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us in working toward MSF’s social mission.  

Role Overview 

The AI Engineer will lead artificial intelligence projects from discovery through implementation and evaluation. As part of the Systems Innovation, AI and Data team, the role will build and maintain secure, production-ready AI workflows that support organizational priorities and strengthen MSF USA’s operational capabilities.  

In collaboration with leadership and other stakeholders, the AI Engineer will provide technical recommendations on AI priorities, risks, architecture, and implementation options. The role will assess models, vendors, data integration, interoperability, governance, evaluation, and maintainability and recommend appropriate approaches for adoption and use in alignment with approved organizational priorities and governance.  

The role will initially focus on high-value opportunities at MSF USA, with projects selected from an evolving pipeline based on organizational priorities, feasibility, expected value, data readiness, and risk. 

Department Accountabilities  

Systems Innovation, AI, and Data 

Develop and improve AI-enabled solutions by analyzing organizational needs and identifying opportunities for responsible innovation. Design, implement, and evaluate solutions that improve existing processes, create new capabilities, and support MSF-USA’s strategic priorities. 

Establish reusable technical patterns and standards for AI workflows, data integration, interoperability, evaluation, monitoring, and maintenance. Assess emerging technologies, models, platforms, and vendors and recommend whether and how they should be adopted by MSF-USA. 

Support Users and Business Units 

Provide support, advice, training, and assistance to users to resolve queries and ensure that application, website, data, and AI capabilities are well understood and appropriately used by MSF-USA. 

Information Security 

Develop specifications for, advise on and implement information and security solutions and tools to protect and monitor security incidents and prevent unauthorized access or damage. Ensure AI solutions incorporate appropriate permissions, logging, monitoring, guardrails, data protections, and safe defaults. 

Support MSF Movement 

Support technology operations on behalf of the movement in the US home society. Share expertise with the rest of the movement by participating in Communities of Practice, and other collaborating initiatives.

Application Management 

Implement and manage applications and AI-enabled capabilities, including data migration and systems integration, to support MSF Strategy. Provide governance designed to ensure applications and AI workflows operate securely, reliably, efficiently, and at an appropriate level of performance, from the end-user experience to underlying integrations. 

Implement and support new features as needed. Ensure appropriate access administration, monitoring, documentation, maintenance, and end-user support. 

Roles Specific Outcomes 

Solution Development  

Lead AI projects from discovery through implementation and evaluation. Build secure, reliable, and production-ready AI workflows. Deliver high-value AI capabilities for Development, with priorities adapting as MSF-USA’s organizational pipeline evolves. 

AI Architecture and Integration.

Design maintainable AI solutions that integrate with existing data, applications, systems, and access controls. 

AI Evaluation and Monitoring.

Implement methods to evaluate and monitor AI solutions for accuracy, quality, usefulness, ethical use, security, and risk. 

Governance and Standards.

Contribute to the development and application of technical standards for AI security, permissions, guardrails, documentation, evaluation, and lifecycle management. 

Technology Recommendations.

Assess emerging models, platforms, vendors, and integration approaches and advise leadership on adoption, replacement, investment, and risk. 

Organizational Enablement.

Provide technical guidance, documentation, and knowledge sharing to support the responsible and effective use of AI across MSF-USA.  

These core accountabilities should not be construed to contain every function/responsibility that may be required to be performed by an incumbent in this job.  Incumbents are required to perform other functions as assigned. 

Complexity and Problem-Solving Skills 

• Works without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on developing appropriate plans or performing necessary actions based on recommendations and requirements.
• Works without supervision and provides technical guidance when required on analyzing data from multiple sources to draw appropriate conclusions and make suitable recommendations. 

Behavioral Competencies  

THOUGHT: How MSF USA staff understand the organization, manage complexity, and contribute by creating the new and different. 

People Focus 

Builds strong relationships and delivers solutions geared to aiding others. Solicits feedback and data; conveys a clear understanding of the level of service the team is providing; takes action when standards are not met by team; aligns processes with organizational needs. 

Manages Complexity 

Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Consistently looks at complex issues from many angles; obtains a rich and deep understanding; swiftly cuts to the core issue; skillfully separates root causes from symptoms. 

Global Perspective 

Takes a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens. Shows global thinking at work; adjusts organizational practices to meet the unique needs of different regions or countries. Uses a broad perspective when addressing issues and challenges. 

Cultivates Innovation 

Creates new and better ways for the organization to be successful. Approaches professional work in unique or innovative ways. Offers original ideas. Appreciates others' creative ideas and solutions and provides helpful input to enhance them. 

RESULTS: MSF USA staff achieve results by cultivating a forward-thinking environment that produces solutions for changing stakeholder needs. 

Drives Results 

Consistently achieves results, even under tough circumstances. Regularly pushes self to achieve outstanding outcomes; consistently establishes bold goals for own performance; is passionate about excellent results and significant contributions. Shows great tenacity to complete goals/initiatives in a timely way. 

PEOPLE: MSF USA staff understand their impact on others through collaboration and inclusion of different perspectives to achieve common goals. 

Collaborates 

Builds partnerships and works collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives. Readily involves others to accomplish goals; stays in touch and shares information; discourages "us versus them" thinking; shows appreciation for others' ideas and input. 

Values Differences 

Recognizes the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization. Confronts stereotyping and offensive comments promptly. Consistently behaves with great sensitivity toward differences in cultural norms, expectations, and ways of communicating. 

Communicates Effectively 

Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Listens attentively and takes an interest. Keeps others well informed; conveys information clearly, concisely, and professionally when speaking or writing. 

SELF: MSF USA staff demonstrate self-awareness by having an open mindset and by continuously seeking opportunities to learn, grow, and improve.  

Instills Trust 

Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity. Models honesty and authenticity and encourages others to be up front with one another. Demonstrates reliability and places a strong emphasis on the team meeting its commitments. Fairly represents others' positions. 

Manages Ambiguity 

Operates effectively, even when things are not certain or the way forward is not clear. Responds effectively to unclear situations, seeks to resolve ambiguity and make progress. Seeks guidance on how to adapt to changes, responds with appropriate composure and effectiveness. 

Situational Adaptability 

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately. 

Technical Competencies 

Plans and Aligns 

Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with MSF-USA goals. 

Financial Acumen 

Interprets and applies understanding of key financial indicators to make better business decisions. 

Tech Savvy 

Anticipating and adopting innovations in organizational digital and technology applications. 

Data Collection and Analysis 

The ability and skill to determine and analyze trends from data that is collected to assist in compiling reports that will help in decision-making. 

Project Management Skills 

The ability and skill to plan and manage small project work assignments within desired cost, time and quality parameters. 

Presentation and Written Communication Skills 

Adapts approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations. Serves as an example of adaptability and provides guidance and support to help others adapt to new situations. Considers the needs of clients, constituents, and the organization; shifts priorities appropriately. 

Supervisory Responsibility 

• Mentor and train junior software engineers as required, ensuring they are knowledgeable in critical aspects of their roles  

Desired Qualifications & Experience

The Job Holder should possess most of these qualifications:  

• 5+ years of relevant experience in AI engineering, software engineering, data engineering, machine learning, or a related field, including strong programming experience in at least one programming language. 
• Experience building production-ready AI applications and workflows, such as chatbots, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge tools, or role-specific automations. 
• Experience integrating AI solutions with existing data, applications, APIs, document repositories, cloud platforms, and business systems. 
• Experience leading technical projects from discovery and design through implementation, evaluation, and maintenance. 
• Experience implementing permissions, logging, monitoring, guardrails, and safe defaults in production environments. 
• Knowledge of methods for evaluating AI systems for accuracy, quality, usefulness, ethical use, security, and risk. 
• Knowledge of responsible AI, data governance, privacy, information security, and vendor-risk practices, with the ability to apply established standards and policies in solution design and implementation. 
• Strong communication skills with technical and non-technical stakeholders, including the ability to provide clear technical guidance and recommendations to leadership. 
• Comfort working collaboratively in a culture that values consensus-building, inclusive decision-making, and responsible experimentation. 
• Experience with fundraising, donor engagement, nonprofit Development operations, or similar workflows is desirable but not required. 
• Passion for the humanitarian mission and values of MSF. 

Travel Requirements

Must be willing to travel for work as needed. 

Compensation

$101,769 to $152,653  In alignment with MSF USA’s compensation framework, new hires are offered between the minimum and midpoint of the range based on relevant experience, skills, and internal equity.

Equal Opportunity and Accommodations Statement:

MSF-USA is dedicated to creating a diverse, impartial, and inclusive workforce. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, pregnancy status, veteran status, genetic information, or any other differences as per applicable laws.

We seek a diversity of experience and skills for our workplace and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our openings.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities or religious beliefs and practices. If you require accommodations during the application process, please contact us at [email protected].

We strongly encourage individuals from underrepresented communities in the Humanitarian Aid sector to apply.

Safeguarding Statement:

All Employees and Representatives of MSF USA have a duty to treat the individuals, families, and communities with whom we interact and serve with dignity and respect, and to ensure their safety and protection. We are committed to fostering a workplace and organizational culture that is safe, inclusive, and free from harassment, abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. This commitment is supported by policies and procedures that promote an environment where misconduct and abuse are not tolerated.

Employment may be contingent upon satisfactory reference checks and/or background screening appropriate to the responsibilities of the role.