Senior AI Engineer

Reporting to the Director of IT – Application Development, this Senior AI Engineer role supports enterprise analytics and business decision-making by building and sustaining scalable data pipelines, cloud-based data platforms, and AI/ML solutions. The position focuses on taking models from research through deployment and ongoing monitoring, while also ensuring data governance, information security, and responsible AI practices.

In this onsite role with the Georgia Ports Authority, you will collaborate with business and technical stakeholders to define analytical objectives, conduct data discovery, and translate complex findings into actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences. You will also provide technical guidance and mentorship across the data and AI solution lifecycle.

What You’ll Do

• Define optimal AI/ML, predictive, and statistical models and research methodologies to address business problems.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis and preprocessing for structured and unstructured data to support data quality and modeling readiness.
• Design, develop, and maintain scalable data pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, cloud-based data platforms, and model monitoring procedures to support long-term model performance.
• Select model features, parameters, and training strategies, and train, validate, evaluate, and optimize AI/ML and statistical models.
• Deploy, monitor, and optimize production AI/ML solutions and data pipelines to maintain reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Communicate analytical findings through written reports, dashboards, and oral presentations for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Evaluate data engineering, AI/ML, cloud, and analytics technologies, recommending improvements and selecting tools and platforms.
• Conduct stakeholder interviews and data discovery activities to define analytical objectives and identify relevant data sources.
• Prepare project scoping documents, including feasibility assessments, data requirements, and resource estimates for management review.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Analysts, Operations specialists, software engineers, and other technical staff.
• Ensure compliance with data governance, information security, privacy requirements, and responsible AI practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with applicable policies and standards.

Required Qualifications

• Python expertise, including experience with data science and machine learning libraries such as Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical modeling, predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI techniques, including regression, classification, time series analysis, tree-based methods, and deep learning.
• Advanced SQL proficiency, including experience designing, developing, and maintaining ETL/ELT processes and scalable data pipelines.
• Experience building, deploying, monitoring, and maintaining AI/ML models in production environments, including familiarity with MLOps, CI/CD, and model lifecycle management.
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms and services, including AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform; familiarity with cloud data warehouses such as BigQuery and data engineering technologies such as Databricks or Apache Spark is preferred.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and data visualization skills, including experience with Tableau, Power BI, or comparable tools.
• Experience using AI-assisted development and agentic coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot) to improve software development and data science productivity is desired.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts and analytical findings for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Experience & Education

• Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible experience designing, developing, and deploying enterprise data engineering and AI/ML solutions, including data pipelines, cloud-based data platforms, predictive modeling, and production AI/ML systems (required).
• Experience working in cloud environments supporting enterprise analytics and data-driven decision-making (required).
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Information Systems, or a closely related quantitative field (required).
• Master’s degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Statistics, or a related field (preferred).

Technology Focus

• Python, Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, PyTorch, SQL
• MLOps, CI/CD
• AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, BigQuery
• Databricks, Apache Spark
• Tableau, Power BI
• Claude Code, Cursor, GitHub Copilot
• ETL, ELT, AI, ML

Location & Employment Details

• Location: Savannah, GA (onsite)
• Site: Garden City Terminal
• Department: 5072 - Information Technology
• FLSA Status: Exempt

Licenses & Certifications

• TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) (required)
• Valid state driver’s license (required)

Georgia Ports Authority emphasizes its mission to empower entrepreneurs, strengthen industries, sustain communities, and fortify families by accelerating global commerce, and it upholds GPA values including Safety, Integrity, Respect, Community, Creativity, and Opportunity. The role also supports a safe work environment through participation in safety initiatives and reporting unsafe conditions and behaviors.