AI Engineer

Information Technology (IT) is a strategic enabler for many functions at Cornell University, with staff located across colleges, administrative units, and campuses throughout the institution. While comprised of many organizations, IT operates as one partnering closely with faculty, staff, and students to support teaching, research, and business operations. By being embedded where the Cornell community is, IT is well positioned to provide support ranging from day-to-day needs to large, complex initiatives that advance major academic, research, and operational objectives across the university. Check out this link to find out more about IT@Cornell

What will you do:

The AI Engineer is responsible for designing, developing, and deploying production-grade AI solutions that support administrative, academic, and research needs across the university. This role builds and maintains secure, scalable, and high-performing AI applications-primarily leveraging Generative AI, large language models (LLMs), and cloud-native technologies. The AI Engineer collaborates with project managers, business analysts, architects, developers, faculty, and IT teams to deliver innovative solutions aligned with institutional strategy and technology standards.

The position contributes to building reusable AI capabilities, integrating AI services with enterprise systems, ensuring strong security and identity controls, and implementing engineering best practices. The AI Engineer participates in the full software development lifecycle, supports production operations, and provides technical expertise to improve reliability, performance, and user experience.

While position responsibilities vary, every member of our community is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, information technology, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3-5+ years of professional software engineering experience.
• Demonstrated ability to design, build, test, and deploy Agentic AI applications.
• Experience developing cloud-native applications (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Experience integrating applications with enterprise identity systems using protocols such as OAuth 2.0, OIDC, SAML, JWT, LDAP, and Microsoft Identity.
• Strong experience with Python, Node.js, or comparable languages for AI application development.
• Strong debugging, problem-solving, and performance-optimization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in computer science, data science, AI/ML, or a related field.
• Experience delivering or supporting Generative AI / LLM-backed applications in production environments.
• Experience with vector databases, embedding pipelines, model orchestration frameworks, or agent frameworks.
• Familiarity with DevOps/MLOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, observability, monitoring, and reliability engineering.
• Experience with containerization/orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, ECS).
• Knowledge of responsible AI principles, model governance, data privacy, and AI risk management.
• Experience working in higher education, research computing, or similarly complex environments.

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability. Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits

  Working at Cornell

• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off

  Working at Cornell

• Cornell’s impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits

  Working at Cornell

• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards

  Working at Cornell, Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Current Employees:

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• This position is 100% on-premise and located on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York., Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “… any person … any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.