Senior AI Engineer

CLA is a top 10 national professional services firm where our purpose is to create opportunities every day, for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. Even with more than 8,500 people, 130 U.S. locations, and a global reach, we promise to know you and help you.CLA is dedicated to building a culture that invites different beliefs and perspectives to the table, so we can truly know and help our clients, communities, and each other.CLA is currently seeking a Senior AI Engineer to join our growing CLA Digital - Data and Automation Team. The Senior AI Engineer will lead the design and implementation of production-grade AI solutions across machine learning, optimization, and generative AI. This role is ideal for someone who can translate business problems into scalable, reliable technical solutions that perform in real-world environments.You will work closely with AI leadership while providing day-to-day technical guidance to junior team members. This position blends applied machine learning, software engineering, cloud architecture, and end-to-end solution delivery. Success in this role requires a strong understanding that production AI involves far more than model development—it includes evaluation, observability, integration, governance, and operational excellence.About The RoleAI Solution Development & ArchitectureLead the implementation of production-ready AI systems across predictive modeling, optimization, and LLM-powered applicationsDesign end-to-end architectures including data pipelines, APIs, model services, orchestration layers, and monitoring systemsBuild and deploy AI workflows within Azure and Databricks environmentsDevelop robust evaluation frameworks for both ML models and LLM-based systemsDesign and implement AI applications with strong grounding, safety, evaluation, and cost controlsBuild AI workflows including tool integration, memory systems, and orchestration logicImplement model routing, fallback strategies, and guardrailsDevelop context and memory systems (retrieval, summarization, session continuity)Evaluation, Safety & ReliabilityEstablish robust evaluation frameworks for ML and LLM systemsDefine and monitor:Task success metrics and regression testingHallucination and grounding performanceSafety risks (prompt injection, data leakage)Implement observability practices including logging, tracing, and monitoringEnsure system reliability through testing, deployment standards, and incident readinessTechnical LeadershipTranslate ambiguous business needs into clear technical designs and delivery plansProvide mentorship and technical oversight to junior engineersLead architecture reviews, code reviews, and technical design discussionsEstablish engineering standards across testing, CI/CD, deployment, and monitoringCross-Functional CollaborationPartner with product, engineering, security, and business stakeholdersSupport solution design, feasibility assessments, and delivery planningContribute to proposals, technical narratives, and client-facing engagementsCore ResponsibilitiesOwn major technical workstreams for AI delivery from design through deploymentBuild scalable data and model pipelines for batch and real-time use casesLead development of LLM-based applications with strong grounding, evaluation, safety, and cost controlsImplement classical AI and advanced analytics approaches including forecasting, anomaly detection, optimization, recommendation, and decision supportDefine and implement MLOps and LLMOps standards including versioning, deployment, monitoring, and rollback strategiesDesign secure and supportable integrations across enterprise systems, APIs, and data platformsEvaluate tradeoffs across tools, frameworks, and architecture choices in Azure and DatabricksTroubleshoot complex issues in production environments across data, infrastructure, and application layersDrive technical quality and ensure solutions are maintainable, scalable, and aligned to client needsSupport business development by contributing to solution framing, estimates, and technical narrativesWhat You Will Need2 years of relevant experience required5–7 years of experience in AI engineering, machine learning, or software engineering preferredStrong proficiency in Python and production-grade development practices preferredProven experience deploying ML/AI systems into production environments preferredExperience designing APIs, pipelines, and service-oriented architectures preferredStrong understanding of model evaluation, experimentation, and performance tradeoffs preferredAbility to work independently and mentor junior team membersStrong communication skills across technical and non-technical audiencesOur Perks Flexible PTO (designed to offer flexible time away for you!) Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave Paid Volunteer Time Off Mental health coverage Quarterly Wellness stipend Fertility benefits Complete list of benefits hereEqual Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with DisabilitiesClick here to learn about your hiring rights.Wellness at CLATo support our CLA family members, we focus on their physical, financial, social, and emotional well-being and offer comprehensive benefit options that include health, dental, vision, 401k and much more.To view a complete list of benefits click here.