Senior AI Engineer

Job Title: Senior AI EngineerLocation: Cape Town (In-Office)Department: AI & AutomationReports to: Head of AI AutomationEmployment Type: Full-time (Contract-to-hire available)Working Hours: 10am - 7pm (with flexibility for critical deliverables)Start Date: ImmediateAbout Digital Authority PartnersDigital Authority Partners is transforming into an AI-native organization, building the PerformanceX platform to revolutionize marketing automation and performance analytics. We're a fast-moving team that values technical excellence, strategic thinking, and the courage to build things right the first time.Role SummaryWe need a Senior AI Engineer who thinks like a technical leader. Someone who will partner closely with our Head of AI Automation as their technical right-hand - proactively identifying risks, validating approaches through rigorous technical spikes, and ensuring we build scalable solutions from day one.This isn't about writing more code faster – it's about ensuring we write the right code once. We need someone with the technical courage to say "this won't scale" or "we're solving the wrong problem," backed by data and alternatives. You'll be the technical conscience of our AI initiatives, preventing disasters before they happen and influencing architecture decisions across the organization.While the Head of AI Automation drives strategic vision, you'll ensure successful technical execution by validating approaches, preventing technical pitfalls, and building robust solutions that can handle our aggressive growth plans.What We're Really Looking ForTechnical Leadership & Strategic ImpactChallenge the status quo - Be the voice that says "this won't scale" or "we're solving the wrong problem"Drive technical strategy - Look 6-12 months ahead and architect solutions that won't need rebuildingOwn technical decisions - Run proper technical spikes, build POCs, and present data-driven recommendationsPrevent technical debt - Push back on quick fixes and advocate for sustainable solutionsLead by influence - Shape technical direction across teams through expertise, not authorityAct as technical conscience - Flag risks early, propose alternatives, and ensure we build things rightPartnership with Head of AI AutomationServe as the Head of AI Automation's technical sounding board for strategic decisionsTranslate vision into validated technical architecturesProactively surface technical risks and opportunitiesRun technical spikes to inform roadmap decisionsProvide clear technical assessments for informed decision-makingEnable confident technical communication to stakeholdersKey ResponsibilitiesAI System Development & ArchitectureDesign and implement production-grade AI solutions using LLMs and custom modelsBuild intelligent data processing pipelines with <10% error ratesDevelop AI agents for automated analysis, report generation, and decision supportConduct technical spikes before major implementationsValidate architectural decisions with POCs and dataWorkflow Automation & IntegrationCreate end-to-end automation workflows for internal and client useIntegrate multiple data sources and systems through APIs and webhooksEnsure 95%+ reliability and on-time delivery for automated processesIdentify integration risks before they become blockersDesign for scale from day one, not as an afterthoughtPlatform DevelopmentBuild core features for the PerformanceX platform, including multi-tenant architectureImplement white-label capabilities and partner-specific configurationsDevelop monitoring, logging, and alerting systems for production stabilityAnticipate scaling challenges and address them proactivelyEstablish technical standards that prevent future reworkTechnical Excellence & LeadershipWrite clean, maintainable, and well-documented codeImplement comprehensive testing strategies (unit, integration, end-to-end)Lead technical reviews with constructive challengesMentor team members while maintaining high standardsDocument technical decisions and their rationalesRequired Skills & ExperienceTechnical Expertise6+ years of hands-on experience in AI/ML systemsExpert-level Python programming and software engineering best practicesHands-on production experience with LLM APIs (OpenAI, Claude, or similar)Strong expertise in API development, integration, and webhook implementationExperience with workflow automation platforms (n8n, Zapier, Apache Airflow)Proficiency in database design and optimization (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, vector databases)Solid understanding of cloud infrastructure and deployment (AWS, GCP, or Azure)Experience with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practicesTechnical Leadership ExperienceProven track record of preventing major technical failures through proactive interventionExperience conducting technical spikes and translating findings into actionable roadmapsHistory of influencing architecture decisions across multiple teamsDemonstrated ability to say no to stakeholder requests when technically inappropriateExperience mentoring senior engineers and establishing technical standardsPreferred QualificationsExperience building multi-tenant SaaS applicationsBackground in data engineering and ETL/ELT pipeline developmentFamiliarity with marketing technology stacks (HubSpot, Salesforce, Google Analytics)Knowledge of prompt engineering and RAG implementationsExperience with monitoring tools (Datadog, New Relic, or similar)Full-stack capabilities with TypeScript/ReactContributions to open-source projectsCritical Leadership AttributesConstructive confrontation - Challenge ideas while maintaining relationshipsTechnical courage - Willing to be unpopular when advocating for the right solutionStrategic patience - Know when to push hard and when to compromiseProactive communication - Raise issues early with solutions, not just problemsUpward management - Keep leadership informed without overwhelmingTechnical intuition - Can smell problems before they manifestWhat Success Looks LikeKey Performance IndicatorsTechnical debt prevented - Issues identified and addressed before implementationArchitecture decisions influenced - Design reviews that changed course based on your inputTechnical spikes completed - Quality and actionability of technical investigationsSystem reliability - Maintaining <10% error rates for AI pipelines, 95%+ uptimeCrisis prevention rate - Problems identified and solved proactively vs. reactivelyTeam velocity improvement - Impact on overall productivity through better technical decisionsYou'll Know You're Succeeding When:Leadership says "I'm glad you caught that" at least once a weekTechnical decisions are made based on your spike investigationsThe team implements your recommendations before problems occurOther teams seek your input on architectural decisionsYou've prevented at least 3 major technical issues in your first quarterFirst 90 Days ExpectationsWeek 1: Align with Head of AI Automation on technical priorities and communication styleDays 1-30: Complete system audit and provide risk assessment with mitigation strategiesDays 31-60: Run technical spike on most critical platform decision with go/no-go recommendationDays 61-90: Establish rhythm as technical validator and trusted advisory to leadershipBy Day 90: Have influenced at least 2 major architecture decisions with data-driven insightsWhat We're NOT Looking For"Yes" people who implement without questioningEngineers who wait for permission to raise concernsThose who prioritize being liked over being rightPeople who see problems but don't propose solutionsEngineers who work in isolation without influencing othersTeam & CultureYou'll join a lean, high-impact team reporting to our Head of AI Automation, who brings strategic vision and business acumen to our AI transformation. We value intellectual honesty, technical excellence, and the courage to speak up. Our culture rewards those who prevent problems, not just those who fix them.How To ApplyEmail your resume, cover letter, and relevant work samples to jason.greer@digitalauthority.me. In your cover letter, describe how your strategic approach and client partnership experience will help DAP achieve measurable growth for its clients.Digital Authority Partners is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.