Principal AI/ML Ops Engineer

Rapid7 is making significant investments in our Belfast office with the formation of our new AI Centre of Excellence, encompassing the full range of AI, ML and data science.  As a leader in cybersecurity, we’re on a new mission to use AI to accelerate threat investigation, detection and response (D&R) capabilities of our Security Operations Centre (SOC) for both conventional networks and cloud environments.  The AI race to stay ahead of attackers is on and needs more than speed.  Attack surfaces are getting broader every day and it’s important to optimise D&R with AI that can identify signals in a sea of noise.  Further, we’re embracing generative AI and researching novel ways LLMs can add value for our customers in D&R.  

We’re seeking the best AI, ML and data science talent to build systems for detecting patterns and anomalies humans can't, and which rule-based detections miss.  In this Principal AI/ML Ops Engineer role you will help define and deliver an MLOps strategy for our growing AI team.  There’s a ton of work to do and we would love you to join us!

Role

Rapid7 is seeking a Principal AI Engineer to join our team as we expand and evolve our growing AI and MLOps efforts. You should have a strong foundation in applied AI R&D, software engineering, as well asand MLOps and DevOps systems and tools. Further, you’ll have a demonstrable track record of taking models created in the AI R&D process to production with repeatable deployment, monitoring and observability patterns. In this intersectional role, you will deftly combine your expertise in AI/ML deployments, cloud systems and software engineering to enhance our product offerings and streamline our platform's functionalities.

You may be a good fit if you

• Have expertise in both ML deployment (especially in AWS) and software engineering.

• Have experience as a software engineer, notably in building APIs and/or interfaces, paired with adept coding skills in Python and TypeScript.

• Possess adeptness in containerization and DevOps.

• Demonstrate exemplary problem-solving capabilities, particularly in decomposing complex problems into manageable parts and devising innovative solutions.

• Are proficient with CI/CD tooling, Docker, Kubernetes, and have prior experience developing APIs with Flask or FastAPI.

• Have experience deploying LLMs, managing advanced compute resources like GPUs, and navigating data collection for metrics and fine-tuning from LLM-based systems.

• Showcase robust analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the capacity to convey intricate ideas effectively.

• Maintain high standards of engineering hygiene, embracing best practices and an agile development mindset.

Strong candidates may also 

• Have previous experience with NLP and ML models, understanding their operational frameworks and limitations.

• Are versed with frontend frameworks like React. 

• Possess adeptness in containerization and DevOps.

• Possess proficiency in implementing model risk management strategies, including model registries, concept/covariate drift monitoring, and hyperparameter tuning.

• Experience in designing and integrating scalable AI/ML systems into production environments.

• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex AI/ML concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

And you as a person:

• Bring a positive, can-do, solution-oriented mindset, welcoming the challenge of tackling the biggest problems.

• Are persistent and consistent, being able to systematically tackle complex use cases head-on.

• Enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, sometimes with multiple projects to juggle simultaneously.

• Understand the highly iterative nature of AI development and the need for rigour.

• Appreciate the importance of thorough testing and evaluation to avoid silent failures.

• Are a great teammate to help peers become stronger problem solvers, communicators, and collaborators.

• Have a curiosity and passion for continuous learning and self-development.

• Stay receptive to new ideas, listen to suggestions from colleagues, carefully considering and sometimes adopting them.

• Realise the importance of wider ethical and risk considerations with AI.

• Possess strong interpersonal and communication abilities, explaining hard-to-understand topics to different audiences, working to build consensus, and writing up work clearly.

• Exhibit a bias for action, without being careless.

We know that the best ideas and solutions come from multi-dimensional teams. That’s because these teams reflect a variety of backgrounds and professional experiences. If you are excited about this role and feel your experience can make an impact on our AI mission, please don’t be shy - apply today.