[Remote] Lead Search and AI Engineer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is seeking a Lead AI Engineer to design, implement, and support AI-driven document processing and search solutions. The role involves architecting AI systems, optimizing document retrieval, and collaborating with stakeholders to enhance AI-powered document solutions.ResponsibilitiesArchitect & Deploy AI Solutions: Build AI-driven search and document intelligence systems using Azure AI Search, Knowledge Graphs, and RAG techniquesQuery Orchestration: Develop strategies to route and structure user queries efficiently across multiple retrieval systemsRAG-Based Applications: Implement and fine-tune applications for intelligent knowledge retrieval from structured and unstructured documentsContainerized Deployments: Deploy and manage AI applications using Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) for scalabilityVector Search Optimization: Enhance document retrieval through optimized embeddings and hybrid search techniquesOpen-Source Integration: Utilize tools like Tesseract OCR, PyMuPDF, and Pillow for document processingAPI Integration: Connect with Profile APIs, Product Metadata, and Downloads to enrich indexing and search capabilitiesCompliance & Security: Ensure adherence to export control restrictions and secure document handling best practicesMonitoring & Optimization: Troubleshoot and optimize AI-based workflows for performance and reliabilityStakeholder Collaboration: Work closely with business and technical teams to refine AI-powered document solutionsSkillsBachelors or Masters Degree in Computer Science or related areas, applicable professional certification with 7+ years of progressive experience providing solutions to complex program/system problems in a business environment5+ years in AI/ML, cloud-based search, and document processingExpertise in Query Orchestration for complex AI pipelinesStrong knowledge of RAG architectures for AI-powered searchHands-on experience with Azure AI Search, Document Intelligence, and Cognitive ServicesProficiency in vector search, embeddings, and hybrid retrieval techniquesExperience with Kubernetes (AKS) and containerized deploymentsFamiliarity with Tesseract OCR, PyMuPDF, and PillowStrong Python development skills for AI pipelinesExperience with hybrid cloud AI solutions (on-prem + cloud)Familiarity with Azure OpenAI, LangChain, or AI FoundryDeep knowledge of multi-index query orchestrationExpertise in Azure AI search semantic and vector profilingExpertise in vector other databases such as (FAISS, Weaviate, Pinecone)Background in NLP, document classification, and entity extractionUnderstanding of export control compliance and secure document handlingBenefitsMedicalDentalVision401kSTD/LTDPaid family leaveLife and accident insurancePaid time off (flexible vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay)Company OverviewElectric Power Research Institute, or EPRI, conducts research on issues related to the electric power industry. It was founded in 1972, and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is http://www.epri.com.Company H1B SponsorshipEPRI has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 8 in 2026, 24 in 2025, 18 in 2024, 19 in 2023, 32 in 2022, 21 in 2021, 19 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.