Lead AI Software Engineer

Lead AI Software Engineer / Architect (m/f/d) In Germany - Berlin | Bonn | Cologne | Frankfurt/Main | Hamburg | MunichWe are seeking an experienced Lead AI Software Engineer/Architect to design and build scalable AI and GenAI products to transform our clients’ business models and enable their growth. In this role, you’ll combine deep technical expertise with strategic vision to build AI-powered solutions that are scalable, impactful, and business-driven.Simon-Kucher is at the forefront of innovation in our space, inventing business models, algorithms, solutions, and methodologies for unlocking better growth of our clients. And Simon-Kucher Engine’s digital end-to-end solutions deliver sustained top-line impact for our clients. Are you interested in working in a team of digital evangelists with a can-do attitude? Want to experience the dynamics of agile processes in open-minded teams? How about getting creative in a startup atmosphere with a steep development curve and flat hierarchies? And most importantly, do you want to make a difference? Then you've come to the right place. What makes us special: Advance your career with exciting professional opportunities in our thriving company with a startup feelInnovate by transforming ideas into cutting-edge AI products, championing Generative AI through creative experimentation to push boundaries and deliver transformative solutionsAdd to your experience with our projects that focus on growth, have a positive impact, and truly matterVoice your unique ideas in a corporate culture defined by our entrepreneurial spirit, openness, and integrityFeel at home working with our helpful, enthusiastic colleagues who have great team spiritBroaden your perspective with our extensive training curriculum and learning programs (e.g. LinkedIn Learning)Speak your mind in our holistic feedback and development processes (e.g. 360-degree feedback)Satisfy your need for adventure with our opportunities to live and work abroad in one of our many international officesEnjoy our benefits, such as hybrid working, daycare allowance, corporate discounts, and wellbeing support (e.g. Headspace)Unwind in our break areas where you can help yourself to the healthy snacks and beverages providedSee another side of your coworkers at our frequent employee events and highly anticipated World Meeting and Holiday Party How you will create an impact:  AI Solution Engineering LeadDesign and lead development of AI products for business-specific use cases.Mentor and guide the software engineering team, setting clear technical directions and providing architectural oversight. Lead development of RAG and/or fine-tuning for LLMs and data pipelines for internal and external data sources (e.g., pricing databases, market benchmarks, CRM exports).Set engineering standards and code quality guidelines for the AI team.Work with MLOps engineers to deploy and maintain models.Optimize performance, latency, and cost of AI/GenAI solutions.Architecture & InfrastructureDesign scalable architectures for AI/GenAI products.Evaluate, select, and integrate third-party libraries and open-source frameworks. Set up databases and LLM frameworks Work with cloud platform (AWS) to deploy and manage services securely.MVP Delivery & ExperimentationRapidly prototype new ideas and iterate based on user feedback (consultants or clients).Lead technical PoCs and MVP development and evaluate build-vs-buy decisions for GenAI components.Stay ahead of AI/GenAI developments and assess new models/tools for adoption. About you: You have 8+ years in software engineering, with at least 2 years focused on AI/ML.A standout university degree in a relevant field, with fluency in business English.Proven leadership in managing teams through complex infrastructure and data-centric projects, encouraging collaboration and innovation.Proven experience in designing and building applications using GenAI models, including opensource ad code generating models.Strong Python skills and experience with AI frameworks like Hugging Face Transformers, LangChain, and PyTorch.Experience with building and querying vector stores and knowledge retrieval systems.Working experience with cloud platforms Working knowledge of MLOps, CI/CD for ML, and model monitoring.Familiarity with data privacy, model safety, and responsible AI practices.Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts clearly to diverse audiences.