Junior AI Engineer (Entry-Level)
The Junior AI Engineer role at Confidential Client is an entry-level position focused on developing and improving AI-powered applications using Python and large language models. The engineer will collaborate with experienced teams to build features like chat assistants and document Q&A tools, assist in prompt development and retrieval techniques, and ensure responsible AI practices through testing and documentation. This role offers a valuable opportunity for candidates starting their AI engineering careers to gain hands-on experience in a collaborative environment.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, IT.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Position Overview
Confidential Client is seeking a motivated Junior AI Engineer (Entry-Level) to join an engineering team building AI-powered applications. This is an entry-level, full-time role for candidates with 0–1 year of professional experience. You will work with experienced engineers to implement features that use large language models (LLMs), Python, REST APIs, and retrieval workflows.
Key Responsibilities
- Help build and maintain applications that call LLM APIs (chat assistants, document Q&A, information extraction).
- Write Python code to validate inputs/outputs, call external APIs, and handle errors.
- Develop and test prompts for application tasks; iterate to improve results.
- Assist with document processing, embeddings, semantic search, and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
- Create test cases and evaluate model outputs for accuracy, relevance, and reliability.
- Help identify and document issues such as hallucinations, prompt injection risks, and data exposure.
- Participate in code reviews and collaborate with engineers, data teams, and product stakeholders.
- Maintain clear documentation for features, tests, and workflows.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Software Engineering, or related field — OR equivalent practical training and strong project experience.
- 0–1 year of full-time professional AI engineering or software development experience. Academic projects, internships, bootcamps, personal projects, GitHub portfolios, hackathons, and open-source contributions are valued.
- Working knowledge of Python (functions, data structures, packages, JSON).
- Basic understanding of REST APIs and how applications exchange data.
- Familiarity with LLMs, prompt design, tokens, and common model limitations.
- Introductory knowledge of embeddings, vector search, and RAG workflows.
- Familiarity with Git/GitHub and basic testing/debugging practices.
- Evidence of building an AI project (coursework, internship, or independent project).
Nice to Have
- Exposure to tool calling and AI agents.
- Experience with FastAPI or similar frameworks.
- Familiarity with vector databases (e.g., Pinecone, Milvus, Weaviate).
- Cloud platform experience (AWS, GCP, Azure) or application deployment experience.
What You’ll Bring (Soft Skills)
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Clear written and verbal communication; ability to explain technical ideas.
- Collaborative mindset and willingness to participate in team reviews.
- Curiosity and eagerness to learn new tools and techniques.
Compensation & Logistics
- Estimated salary (as published): $67,524 per year (estimated).
- Employment type: Full-time.
- Location: United States (remote or location policy to be confirmed by Confidential Client during screening).
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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