Applied AI, Technical Lead - Forward Deployed AI Engineer

About the Role

Mistral AI is seeking a Technical Lead, Applied AI to drive technical strategy and execution of complex AI solutions for enterprise customers. You will lead teams of Applied AI Engineers, serve as the primary technical contact for strategic customers across the full project lifecycle, and bridge cutting-edge AI research with real-world enterprise deployment.

Responsibilities

• Contribute hands-on code to de-risk critical components of complex AI projects, staying deeply involved in development, code review, and optimization
• Lead and mentor teams of Applied AI Engineers, providing technical guidance and best practices for deploying generative AI applications across industries
• Lead technical discussions during pre-sales, translating customer requirements into actionable solutions and communicating Mistral's technical advantages
• Design and oversee implementation of complex AI systems, including fine-tuning, RAG, agentic workflows, and custom LLM applications
• Identify emerging AI trends, evaluate new tools and methodologies, and champion best practices for fine-tuning, inference, and deployment
• Partner with product managers, researchers, and engineers to integrate customer feedback into product development

Requirements

• PhD or Master's degree in AI, Machine Learning, Computer Science, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in AI/ML, with at least 2+ years in a technical leadership role (Tech Lead, Engineering Manager, or Solutions Architect) focused on AI products or enterprise solutions
• Proven track record leading teams to deliver complex AI projects from prototyping to production in industries such as tech, finance, healthcare, or industrial automation
• Deep expertise in fine-tuning LLMs, advanced RAG, agentic systems, and deploying NLP applications at scale
• Proficiency in Python and PyTorch with experience in modern AI frameworks (LangChain, Hugging Face)
• Strong software engineering skills including API design, backend/full-stack development, and system architecture
• Excellent technical communication skills with ability to articulate complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences, including executives
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced, collaborative environments with passion for mentoring technical talent

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and MLOps tools
• Contributions to open-source projects in LLM or AI space
• Customer-facing experience (Solutions Architect, Customer Engineer, or Technical Product Manager) focused on enterprise AI adoption
• Track record of driving technical strategy and influencing product direction based on customer needs and market opportunities

Benefits

Mistral AI offers a comprehensive benefits package that varies by location and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks. Refer to the Benefits page for location-specific details.