Principal AI & Machine Learning Engineer - U.S. Based Hybrid Opportunity

ABOUT US

Do you have a passion for higher education? Do you want to make a positive impact on the college admissions process? Our staff help to remove barriers and encourage students to forge their path to a better future. Common App is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of access, equity, and integrity in the college admission process.

Each year we support more than 1 million students, one-third of whom are first-generation, as they apply to our more than 1100 diverse member colleges & universities using the Common App's free online application.

If you are an experienced Artificial Intelligence professional and want to be part of a mission-driven non-profit that uses innovative technology to advance the college admission process, Common App may be a great match for you. Common App is currently searching for a Principal AI & Machine Learning Engineer.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Principal Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) Engineer is the technical leader responsible for embedding artificial intelligence into enterprise workflows and analytic processes to drive measurable gains in productivity, insight generation, and decision support within the Data Analytics & Research (DAR) division. Highly regarded for exceptional performance and deep technical expertise, this role focuses on applied, production-ready AI/ML, driving groundbreaking initiatives that embed artificial intelligence into enterprise workflows
• Reporting to the Senior Director, Analytics Engineering, the Principal AI/ML Engineer partners closely with Data Engineering, Data Governance, and cross-functional business stakeholders to ensure that AI solutions are scalable, secure, compliant, and aligned with enterprise data strategy. This role operates as a senior individual contributor and technical authority, setting standards for AI development practice, mentoring teammates on applied AI techniques, and translating complex machine learning capabilities into enterprise-grade systems that deliver lasting organizational value. The Principal AI/ML Engineer is a recognized expert in the field, frequently sought out for technical guidance, mentorship, and thought leadership both within the organization and across the broader AI and higher education data community.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• This role requires: Candidates must live in the United States.
• Hybrid Work & Travel: Employees can live anywhere in the US or its territories, with the willingness and ability to travel for periodic in-person events—including semi-annual Common App retreats, department retreats, and strategic leadership sessions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a closely related quantitative or technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 8–10 years of progressive experience in machine learning, AI engineering, or data science, with at least 3 years focused on applied AI and production ML systems.
• Demonstrated experience integrating LLMs and generative AI into enterprise analytic or operational workflows.
• Demonstrated experience working within enterprise data governance and compliance frameworks.
• Expertise in applied machine learning and AI, including supervised and unsupervised learning, natural language processing, and large language model integration (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source LLMs via Hugging Face).
• Demonstrated experience designing and deploying production-grade AI/ML systems, including end-to-end ML pipelines covering training, evaluation, versioning, deployment, and monitoring.
• Proficiency in R and Python for machine learning and AI development; familiarity with ML frameworks such as scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or equivalent.
• Experience building and operationalizing LLM-powered applications, including prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and tool/agent orchestration frameworks.
• Strong SQL skills and experience working with large-scale cloud data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery); ability to design AI-ready data pipelines within enterprise warehouse environments.
• Knowledge of AI governance, responsible AI principles, and compliance considerations for AI systems handling sensitive or personally identifiable data.
• Proven ability to serve as a senior technical individual contributor, setting standards, making architectural decisions, and mentoring peers without formal management authority.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex AI/ML concepts into accessible language for non-technical stakeholders and executive audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deliver high-quality AI solutions in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• The ideal candidate will possess: Master’s or doctoral degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, or a related field.
• Relevant AI/ML or cloud certifications (e.g., Databricks Certified Machine Learning Professional, AWS Machine Learning Specialty, or equivalent).
• Experience working with Agile frameworks for cross-functional, product-minded collaboration.
• Experience with agentic AI frameworks.
• Familiarity with Databricks AI features, including MLflow, Model Serving, and Genie or semantic layer integrations.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or mission-driven technology contexts.
• Advanced training in statistics, causal inference, or program evaluation methods.
• A passion for higher education is a plus.

PAY RANGE

$144,160 - $162,180