Senior AI Engineer in Portland, Oregon - #69760 | VanderHouwen

Description

Job Id: 69760

Senior AI Engineer
Our client is seeking a Senior AI Engineer to lead the design, development, and deployment of end-to-end AI systems, with a focus on building solutions from the ground up and guiding the organization’s long-term AI strategy. This role requires a strong technical leader who can operate independently, manage multiple workstreams, and serve as an internal advisor on tools, frameworks, and best practices. The ideal candidate has deep hands-on experience training models, architecting retrieval and agentic workflows, and delivering production-grade intelligent systems in fast-moving environments.

This role is fully remote.

Senior AI Engineer Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deploy advanced AI solutions, including LLM-based applications, intelligent agents, and autonomous workflows.
• Architect retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems, vector databases, and knowledge-retrieval pipelines from scratch.
• Train, fine-tune, and evaluate models to support various business use cases and ensure high-quality performance.
• Lead the development of backend services, APIs, and infrastructure that power AI-driven applications at scale.
• Serve as an internal authority on AI technologies, providing guidance on tooling, architecture decisions, and best practices.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to define requirements, prioritize initiatives, and drive execution across multiple departments.
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building a high-performing AI engineering function.
• Utilize AWS and containerized environments for scalable, reliable deployment.

Senior AI Engineer Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience, with at least 2–3 years focused specifically on AI, machine learning, or LLM-based systems.
• Proven experience designing and delivering AI systems from scratch, including training models, building RAG pipelines, and deploying agent-based solutions.
• Strong proficiency in Python required; familiarity with Golang or willingness to learn it preferred.
• Deep understanding of LLM orchestration frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, or similar tools.
• Experience architecting agentic systems, integrating APIs, and building retrieval-based workflows.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently, manage multiple concurrent workstreams, and thrive in an agile, ambiguous environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to partner across engineering, product, and business teams.

Preferred:

• Start-up experience or experience in fast-paced, high-growth environments.
• Exposure to Genkit (Go version a plus).
• Experience with AWS infrastructure, microservices, and modern deployment practices.
• Contributions to open-source AI or developer tooling.

Compensation: (DOE)

VanderHouwen Contractors Enjoy Exceptional Benefit Perks! 
As an eligible contract employee with VanderHouwen, you'll have access to a full suite of benefits designed with your well-being in mind. Our comprehensive package includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, and a matching 401(k) to help secure your future.

Meet VanderHouwen
What kind of recruiter do you see yourself working with? One who prioritizes your best interest, no matter what? VanderHouwen does, and we're in it for the long game! Our recruiters focus on YOU, building meaningful, long-term relationships while developing a deep understanding of companies' staffing needs and workplace cultures. This approach helps us find an ideal job match that aligns with your unique career aspirations and goals.

VanderHouwen is an award-winning, Women & Diversity-Owned, WBENC certified professional staffing firm. Founded in 1987, VanderHouwen places experienced professionals across the nation! Our recruitment teams specialize in either Technology and IT, Engineering, Human Resources, or Accounting and Finance career markets. Partner with us to land your next exciting career!

VanderHouwen is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-Verify. VanderHouwen does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal civil rights laws.

#LI-Remote