Job Title: AI \ ML Engineer R&D Company Name: Cengage Group Job Details: $102k-$163k/yrRemoteAll,Commitments,Available Job Url: https://hiring.cafe/viewjob/xrkhbb6yh26mna1v Job Description: Posted 1d agoAI \ ML Engineer R&D@ Cengage GroupView All JobsWebsiteUnited States$102k-$163k/yrRemoteAll Commitments AvailableResponsibilities:Prototype development, Cloud deployment, AI integrationRequirements Summary:5+ years of professional software engineering; strong Python and JavaScript/TypeScript; extensive AWS and Azure experience; AI/ML with LLMs; AI/ML tooling and AI-assisted development; containerization and IaC; fast-shipping, independent work; portfolio of rapid prototypes.Technical Tools Mentioned:Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, Rust, Java, C#, PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, LlamaIndex, Hugging Face Transformers, SQL, pandas, Apache Spark, vector databases, Pinecone, Weaviate, pgvector, AWS, Azure, Terraform, CloudFormation, Bicep, Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Vertex AI, VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Jupyter notebooks, Git We believe in the power and joy of learningAt Cengage, our employees have a direct impact in helping students around the world discover the power and joy of learning. We are bonded by our shared purpose – driving innovation that helps millions of learners improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education.   Cengage's portfolio of businesses supports student choice by providing a range of pathways that help learners achieve their goals and lead a choice-filled life.  Our culture values inclusion, engagement, and discoveryOur business is driven by our strong culture, and we know that creating an inclusive workplace is absolutely essential to the success of our company and our learners, as well as our individual well-being. We recognize the value of diverse perspectives in everything we do, and strive to ensure employees of all levels and backgrounds feel empowered to voice their ideas and bring their authentic selves to work. We achieve these priorities through programs, benefits, and initiatives that are integrated into the fabric of how we work every day. To learn more, please see https://www.cengagegroup.com/about/inclusion-and-belonging/ Position OverviewThe AI/ML Engineer for R&D is a high-output, full-stack engineering role aimed at quickly producing fully functional AI-powered application prototypes. This is a hands-on position for a versatile engineer who acts swiftly, codes in multiple languages, and uses AI-assisted development tools to considerably accelerate delivery.  Your role involves turning concepts into functional applications, not simply mock-ups or wireframes. You will build prototypes that prove business value and technical feasibility. The ideal applicant is proficient in modern programming languages and has strong experience working with AWS and Azure clouds. You adopt AI-forward development techniques using tools like GitHub Copilot, Claude, and other AI coding assistants. You have engineering-level knowledge of LLMs and core AI/ML concepts and can integrate these technologies into production-ready software.  Key ResponsibilitiesRapid Prototype DevelopmentProduce fully working AI-enhanced application prototypes swiftly—from initial concept to working demonstration in just daysDevelop end-to-end solutions including backend services, APIs, data pipelines, and frontend interfacesTransform business requirements and technical concepts into tangible, demonstrable applicationsIterate rapidly based on feedback, adjusting quickly to refine or redirect prototypesCreate reusable code libraries, templates, and scaffolding to accelerate future developmentEnsure prototypes are sufficiently robust to support collaborator demos and user testing  AI-Assisted & AI-Forward DevelopmentLeverage AI coding assistants (GitHub Copilot, Claude, Cursor, Codex) to improve development speed and qualityKeep up to date with new AI development tools and incorporate them into everyday workflowsUse LLMs for code generation, debugging, refactoring, documentation, and test creationDevelop prompt engineering techniques to optimize AI-assisted coding outputContribute to team guidelines for AI-augmented software developmentAssess and suggest new AI development tools and methodologies  Cloud Engineering & InfrastructureDevelop and launch applications on AWS and Azure cloud platforms with deep fluency in bothLeverage managed AI/ML services including AWS Bedrock, SageMaker, Azure OpenAI, and Azure MLImplement serverless architectures (Lambda, Azure Functions) for rapid, scalable deploymentsDesign and build containerized applications using Docker and KubernetesConfigure cloud infrastructure using IaC tools (Terraform, CloudFormation, Bicep)Optimize for cost, performance, and security in cloud environments  AI/ML Integration & EngineeringIntegrate LLMs and foundation models into applications with deep understanding of their capabilities and limitationsImplement RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) architectures, vector databases, and embedding pipelinesBuild prompt engineering solutions, fine-tuning workflows, and model orchestration patternsBuild agentic AI systems and multi-step reasoning workflowsApply core ML principles including model evaluation, inference optimization, and responsible AI practicesConnect AI capabilities to enterprise data sources, APIs, and existing systems  Technical SkillsLanguages & FrameworksPrimary: Python (FastAPI, Flask, Django), JavaScript/TypeScript (Node.js, React, Next.js)Secondary: Go, Rust, Java, or C# – ability to pick up new languages quicklyAI/ML: PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, LlamaIndex, Hugging Face TransformersData: SQL, pandas, Apache Spark; experience with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, pgvector)   Cloud PlatformsAWS: Lambda, Step Functions, Bedrock, SageMaker, S3, DynamoDB, API Gateway, ECS/EKS, EventBridgeAzure: Functions, OpenAI Service, ML Studio, Cosmos DB, Container Apps, API ManagementInfrastructure: Terraform, CloudFormation, Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI)  AI Creation ToolsAI Programming Helpers: GitHub Copilot, Claude, Cursor, Amazon CodeWhisperer, CodeiumLLM APIs: OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, AWS Bedrock, Azure OpenAI, Google Vertex AIDevelopment: VS Code, JetBrains IDEs, Jupyter notebooks, Git version control  Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or related field; or equivalent experience5+ years of professional software engineering experience building production applicationsSolid experience in Python and JavaScript/TypeScript; familiarity with at least one other programming languageExtensive practical experience working with both AWS and Azure cloud platformsDemonstrated experience building AI/ML-powered applications with LLMs and modern AI frameworksFamiliarity with LLM internals, prompt engineering, RAG architectures, and AI/ML principlesRegular user of AI coding assistants with proven methods for AI-enhanced developmentExperience with containerization, serverless architectures, and infrastructure-as-codeStrong problem-solving skills; ability to work independently and ship fast with minimal directionPortfolio or examples of rapidly built prototypes or applications  Preferred QualificationsExperience with fine-tuning LLMs and custom model trainingExperience in developing agentic AI systems and autonomous workflowsAWS and/or Azure certifications (Solutions Architect, Developer, AI/ML Specialty)Experience with real-time applications, WebSockets, and streaming architecturesContributions to open-source AI/ML projectsExperience in EdTech or learning technology industryFamiliarity with MLOps practices and model deployment pipelinesFull-stack development experience including modern frontend frameworks  Key CompetenciesVelocity – Ships working code fast; optimizes for speed without sacrificing core qualityPolyglot Approach – Comfortable across languages and platforms; picks up new tech quicklyAI-Native Thinking – Instinctively brings to bear AI tools to amplify productivity and capabilitiesFull-Stack Versatility – Builds complete applications from infrastructure to UIPragmatic Engineering – Makes smart tradeoffs; knows when "good enough" enables progressSelf-Direction – Thrives with autonomy; doesn't wait for detailed specifications  What We OfferHigh-impact R&D role building the future of AI at a leading learning companyFreedom to work with brand new AI technologies and development toolsFast-paced, innovation-focused environment that values speed and experimentationDirect visibility with AI Enablement leadershipCompetitive compensation and comprehensive benefitsProfessional development and continuous learning opportunitiesFlexible remote/hybrid work arrangements  Cengage is committed to working with broad talent pools to attract and hire strong and most qualified individuals. Our job applicants are considered regardless of race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, and any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, provincial or local laws.    .Cengage is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities including during our job application process. If you are an applicant with a disability and require reasonable accommodation in our job application process, please contact us at accommodations.ta@cengage.com.  About CengageCengage, a global education technology company serving millions of learners, provides affordable, quality digital products and services that equip students with the skills and competencies needed to be job ready. For more than 100 years, we have enabled the power and joy of learning with trusted, engaging content, and now, integrated digital platforms. We serve the higher education, workforce skills, secondary education, English language teaching and research markets worldwide. Through our scalable technology, including MindTap and Cengage Unlimited, we support all learners who seek to improve their lives and achieve their dreams through education. CompensationAt Cengage Group, we take great pride in our commitment to providing a comprehensive and rewarding Total Rewards package designed to support and empower our employees. Click here to learn more about our Total Rewards Philosophy.The full base pay range has been provided for this position. Individual base pay will vary based on work schedule, qualifications, experience, internal equity, and geographic location.  Sales roles often incorporate a significant incentive compensation program beyond this base pay range.In this position,  you will be eligible to participate in the company’s discretionary incentive bonus program.  This position's bonus target amount, which is not guaranteed and is dependent on individual performance and overall company results among other factors, is provided below.  10% Annual: Individual Target $101,900.00 - $163,000.00 USD