AI Engineer

Systems Engineering is building out its AI practice, and we’re looking for a talented, pragmatic AI Engineer to design and deploy real-world AI solutions for our clients. This isn’t a research role - it’s a builder role. You’ll be developing AI agents, integrating LLMs, architecting data strategies, and deploying cloud-based AI systems that solve actual business problems for actual clients. You’ll work hand-in-hand with our AI Solutions Consultant, taking business requirements and translating them into production-grade systems that people use every day. If you’re excited by the pace of AI development and want to do meaningful, applied work, this is the role.

What Will Make You Successful Here:

• You are a builder who takes pride in creating things that work in the real world, not just in demos.
• You can communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders - you don’t hide behind jargon.
• You approach problems with curiosity and entrepreneurial energy and proactively identify what’s possible and pursue it.
• You understand that the best solution is the one that the client can adopt, not just the most elegant one technically.
• You have strong ethical instincts around AI: you think about risk, bias, and responsible use as part of your standard engineering practice.
• You thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving environment and are comfortable working across multiple client contexts.
• You stay current - the AI landscape moves fast, and so do you.

What You’ll Do:

• Build and deploy AI agents, LLM-powered applications, and intelligent automation solutions, primarily in the Microsoft ecosystem.
• Integrate large language models (LLMs) into client workflows via prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and API integration.
• Design and implement data strategies, pipelines, and architectures that support AI use cases.
• Develop and maintain APIs and system integrations that connect AI solutions to existing infrastructure.
• Architect and deploy solutions on cloud platforms with a focus on reliability and scale.
• Collaborate with the AI Solutions Consultant and clients to ensure technical solutions are aligned to business goals.
• Apply responsible AI practices, including governance, bias evaluation, and explainability to every engagement.
• Stay ahead of emerging AI tools, frameworks, and platforms and bring that knowledge into our practice.

Our Culture & Benefits:

The employees of Systems Engineering are its most valuable resources who have collectively made Systems Engineering a Best Places to Work Company in Maine for over a decade. We pride ourselves on delivering great outcomes for our culture, clients, and our community by cultivating a high-performing culture focused on continuous learning, collaboration, and community impact. Our headquarters is in Portland, Maine, where we’re located in the heart of the Old Port in downtown Portland, positioned centrally to the waterfront, trails, parks, cultural events, and restaurants.

Do you have experience in Systems integration?, * Bachelor’s degree in business, Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Analytics, Engineering, or a related field; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of formal education.

• 3+ years of software or AI/ML engineering experience with real production deployments.
• Experience with Microsoft AI platforms, including Copilot for Microsoft 365, Azure OpenAI, or Azure AI Foundry, and their application in business environments.
• Proficiency in Python and API/systems integration development.
• Cloud platform experience.
• Strong grasp of data architecture and pipeline design (SQL experience is a plus).
• The ability to explain what you’re building and why you’re building it to technical teammates and client stakeholders alike.

Bonus points for:

• Experience with AI agent development and orchestration frameworks.
• Prior work in a consulting or professional services environment.
• Experience with the Microsoft AI ecosystem and how tools like Copilot and Azure AI can be applied to improve workflows and productivity.

What Sets You Apart:

You build things that work and you care about whether they actually help the people using them. You’re technically sharp but not siloed; you understand the business context behind your work and communicate with clarity across audiences. You move fast, operate ethically, and bring genuine enthusiasm for what’s possible with AI today. Due to the nature of our business and the requirements of ITAR regulations, this role may require access to controlled information and technology. Candidates must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and be willing to undergo a thorough background check as part of the employment process. Systems Engineering values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Pulled from the full job description

• Tuition reimbursement
• Paid parental leave
• Parental leave
• Health insurance
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance, Systems Engineering offers a competitive compensation package that reflects both the market and the experience you have. Base salary will be discussed during the interview process, and is complemented by a comprehensive benefits package, hybrid flexibility, and the opportunity to do high-impact work within a growing AI practice. Systems Engineering is committed to fair, equitable, and competitive pay, reviewed regularly to ensure internal alignment and market relevance.

In addition to base pay, Systems Engineering supports people through benefits designed to sustain both work and life:

• Health & Wellbeing - Competitive medical, dental, & vision, benefits, employer-paid life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance, 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (EAP), onsite fitness facilities, daily stretch breaks, and free health coaching programs.
• Financial Wellbeing - Employer 401k matching contributions, short-term incentive plans (STIP), and free financial advising.
• Time & Flexibility - Paid Time Off starting with 17 days PTO, nine paid holidays, and hybrid work arrangements.
• Family Support - Paid parental leave & dependent care FSA programs.
• Professional Development & Growth Opportunities - Career mobility and professional development, with employer-supported training, learning, and certification opportunities, including tuition reimbursement benefits.
• Community & Culture - Paid community volunteer time, employer-charitable match programs, corporate golf membership, company-provided season tickets to local sports teams, employer provided parking, and regular company gatherings.

Systems Engineering has spent years building the relationships, trust, and technical credibility that are the foundation of great technology & security partnerships. AI is now one of the most significant forces reshaping how our clients work and we’re uniquely positioned to guide them through it. The AI Engineer role is how we turn that positioning into a differentiated practice, amplifying the groundwork we’ve already laid with intentional, client-centered AI expertise.