AI Engineer

The AI Engineer designs, develops, deploys, and maintains scalable AI-powered solutions that improve operational efficiency, business intelligence, customer engagement, and process automation across Fríant. This hands-on role combines software engineering, machine learning, large language models, AI automation, and enterprise system integration. The position works with business stakeholders, IT, Customer Success, Operations, Sales, and Product teams to translate complex requirements into secure, production-ready AI solutions and supports the full AI lifecycle from architecture and development through deployment, monitoring, governance, and continuous improvement., AI Solution Development

• Design, build, and deploy AI and machine learning solutions that address business challenges and improve operational efficiency.
• Develop and optimize machine learning and deep learning models for predictive analytics, classification, recommendation systems, and automation.
• Build applications using large language models, Generative AI, and intelligent agents.
• Design Retrieval-Augmented Generation architectures that securely connect enterprise knowledge bases and business systems.

AI Automation and Agents

• Develop and manage AI agents that automate workflows, support business operations, and improve employee productivity.
• Create intelligent document processing solutions for extracting, classifying, and analyzing structured and unstructured data.
• Implement conversational AI solutions, virtual assistants, copilots, and chatbot platforms.
• Design workflow automation using AI orchestration platforms, APIs, function calling, and tool-use architectures.

Data and Integration

• Build and maintain reliable data pipelines for model training, inference, evaluation, and analytics.
• Integrate AI solutions with CRM, ERP, customer support, eCommerce, knowledgebase, and other enterprise applications.
• Develop APIs, microservices, webhooks, middleware, and event-driven architectures that support AI deployment.
• Partner with data engineers, IT, and business teams to define practical and scalable AI architecture.

AI Operations and Governance

• Monitor model and application performance, reliability, quality, cost, and business impact.
• Implement MLOps and LLMOps practices for deployment, version control, automated evaluation, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Apply responsible AI, privacy, security, data governance, and access-control requirements.
• Establish guardrails and risk controls for AI applications, and continuously improve accuracy, latency, scalability, and efficiency.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, operating procedures, and user guidance., **Disclaimer: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned.

• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, troubleshooting, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to translate business challenges and user requirements into practical AI solutions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, stakeholder collaboration, and technical documentation skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced environment where technologies, priorities, and requirements evolve.
• Strong commitment to responsible AI, security, privacy, and data governance., * Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience developing and deploying AI or machine learning solutions in production environments.
• Strong proficiency in Python and practical experience with SQL, Git/GitHub, REST APIs, and at least one application framework such as FastAPI or Flask.
• Experience with machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn, or Hugging Face Transformers.
• Strong understanding of supervised and unsupervised learning, deep learning, neural networks, natural language processing, feature engineering, and model evaluation.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise Generative AI and LLM technologies such as OpenAI APIs, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic APIs, LangChain, LlamaIndex, Semantic Kernel, MCP, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, function calling, AI agents, and RAG.
• Experience with vector databases or search platforms such as Pinecone, Weaviate, FAISS, Chroma, or Azure AI Search.
• Experience with at least one major cloud platform, including Microsoft Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform.
• Knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code, MLflow, model versioning, observability, performance monitoring, or automated evaluation frameworks., * Experience implementing AI within CRM, ERP, customer service, eCommerce, or knowledge-management platforms.
• Experience with Zoho CRM, Salesforce, HubSpot, Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, or Power Platform.
• Knowledge of OCR, document intelligence, intelligent document processing, analytics, reporting, or forecasting solutions.
• Experience supporting Customer Success, Operations, Sales, manufacturing, or warehouse-distribution environments.
• Experience with JavaScript or TypeScript and AI observability or prompt-monitoring platforms.
• Relevant Azure AI, AWS AI/ML, Google Cloud, or other industry certifications are a plus., The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of the position. The employee is regularly required to communicate, use a computer and related equipment, and remain seated or stand for extended periods.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position working on a regular Monday-Friday schedule, with occasionally early morning, evening or weekend duties. All employees receive support from San Leandro. As there is a second plant located in Suffolk, VA, and as there are employees working remotely from other various U.S. cities, the occasional need may arise for working outside of San Leandro hours., * Bachelor’s (Required), * AI/ML development: 3 years (Required)

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Fríant is a leading manufacturer of innovative, accessible office furniture. Operating at the intersection of style and function, we’re passionate about upholding the ethos that quality craftsmanship and practicality aren’t mutually exclusive. From panel systems and seating to desks, storage, and more, our team is busy year-round creating everything needed for a total office solution. With headquarters and manufacturing in San Leandro, California and a plant in Suffolk, Virginia, our 630,000 square feet of facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and skilled fabric and woodworkers. We craft product that helps teams get things done while feeling good doing it, regardless of industry - because at Fríant, all work styles are welcome.