Sr AI Engineer - Advanced AI (applied ML, Gen AI, ML ops)
About The Position
Target’s Advanced AI team builds end-to-end AI/ML systems that create business value across the enterprise. These systems may use LLMs, classical machine learning, or deep learning models and are developed as scalable, reliable, production-grade applications, including agentic architectures when appropriate. The Senior AI Engineer helps build, deploy, and maintain AI/ML applications that support automation, insight, and action across business workflows. The role works with Data Scientists, engineers, product partners, platform and security teams, and business stakeholders to translate defined and moderately ambiguous business problems into practical technical solutions. The engineer contributes hands-on to production-grade AI applications by writing maintainable, well-tested code; integrating models and frameworks; building APIs and services; developing data and application workflows; and supporting deployment, monitoring, documentation, and production operations. The role helps ensure applications are secure, reliable, maintainable, and aligned with Target’s enterprise standards for infrastructure, platform architecture, data handling, and operational readiness. In partnership with Lead and Principal Engineers, the role evaluates technical options, identifies implementation risks, resolves engineering roadblocks, and improves reusable AI engineering patterns. Continuous learning about AI, machine learning, LLMs, agentic systems, and modern software engineering practices is expected. The position is hybrid/flex, with work performed both onsite at the assigned Target HQ Minnesota location and virtually, depending on role, team, and task needs. Work duties must be performed within the country of the primary work location unless otherwise prescribed by Target.
Requirements
- A four-year degree or equivalent experience.
- At least 3 years of hands-on software engineering experience, including building or supporting production systems.
- Experience developing AI/ML applications, such as LLM-powered applications, applied machine learning solutions, data-intensive applications, intelligent automation capabilities, or agentic systems.
- Strong proficiency with Python.
- Experience with AI/ML or deep learning frameworks, such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, LangChain, LlamaIndex, Semantic Kernel, or similar tools.
- Experience working with model APIs, prompt orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, evaluation approaches, observability tools, cloud platforms, containers, or orchestration technologies.
- Understanding of system design, application architecture, model and framework tradeoffs, experimentation, evaluation, performance optimization, and production deployment considerations for AI systems.
- Experience building maintainable and well-tested services, APIs, data pipelines, applications, or platforms.
- Experience with version control, CI/CD, code review practices, documentation, operational monitoring, and production support.
- Ability to translate business and technical requirements into clear engineering tasks and deliver practical solutions with cross-functional partners.
- Strong communication skills and ability to explain technical concepts clearly to engineers, Data Scientists, product partners, and business stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently on defined workstreams, collaborate with senior technical partners, and contribute to strong engineering practices.
- Self-driven and results-oriented, with ownership, sound judgment, and ability to move quickly while maintaining high technical standards.
- Collaborative approach, commitment to continuous learning and knowledge sharing, and focus on building reliable AI systems that create business value.
Responsibilities
- Build, deploy, and maintain AI/ML applications supporting automation, insight, and action across core business workflows.
- Develop production-grade AI applications, including writing maintainable, well-tested code and integrating models and frameworks.
- Build APIs and services and develop data and application workflows.
- Contribute to deployment, monitoring, documentation, and production support.
- Help ensure AI applications are secure, reliable, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise standards for infrastructure, platform architecture, data handling, and operational readiness.
- Collaborate with Data Scientists, engineers, product partners, platform teams, security teams, and business stakeholders to turn business problems into technical solutions.
- Partner with Lead and Principal Engineers to evaluate technical options, identify implementation risks, resolve engineering roadblocks, and improve reusable AI engineering patterns.
- Stay current with developments in AI, machine learning, LLMs, agentic systems, and modern software engineering practices.
Benefits
- Eligible team members and dependents may receive medical, vision, dental, and life insurance, among other health benefits and programs.
- 401(k)
- Employee discount
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- Paid sick leave
- Paid national holidays
- Paid vacation
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
