Principal AI & Machine Learning Engineer - U.S. Based Remote 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 StatesWilling to travel to attend twice annual Common App RetreatBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, or a closely related quantitative or technical field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience8-10 years of progressive experience in machine learning, AI engineering, or data science, with at least 3 years focused on applied AI and production ML systemsDemonstrated experience integrating LLMs and generative AI into enterprise analytic or operational workflowsDemonstrated experience working within enterprise data governance and compliance frameworksExpertise 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 monitoringProficiency in R and Python for machine learning and AI development; familiarity with ML frameworks such as scikit-learn, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or equivalentExperience building and operationalizing LLM-powered applications, including prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and tool/agent orchestration frameworksStrong 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 environmentsKnowledge of AI governance, responsible AI principles, and compliance considerations for AI systems handling sensitive or personally identifiable dataProven ability to serve as a senior technical individual contributor, setting standards, making architectural decisions, and mentoring peers without formal management authorityStrong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex AI/ML concepts into accessible language for non-technical stakeholders and executive audiencesProven 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 fieldRelevant 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 collaborationExperience with agentic AI frameworks. Familiarity w