Senior AI Engineer

Georgia Ports Authority offers the chance to apply AI and data engineering to support enterprise analytics and business decision-making. In this onsite Senior AI Engineer role, you will design and maintain scalable data pipelines, cloud-based data platforms, and AI/ML solutions, while collaborating with technical and business stakeholders to turn complex data into clear, actionable insights. The organization’s values emphasize Safety, Integrity, Respect, Community, Creativity, and Opportunity, along with participation in safety initiatives.

What you’ll do

• Define optimal AI/ML, predictive, and statistical models and research methodologies to address business problems.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis and preprocessing for structured and unstructured data, focusing on data quality, completeness, and readiness for modeling.
• Design, build, and maintain scalable data pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, cloud-based data platforms, and model monitoring practices to support long-term performance.
• Determine model features, parameters, and training strategies; train, validate, evaluate, and optimize AI/ML and statistical models.
• Deploy, monitor, and optimize production AI/ML solutions and data pipelines to ensure reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Communicate complex findings using written reports, dashboards, and oral presentations for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Evaluate data engineering, AI/ML, cloud, and analytics technologies, recommending improvements and selecting appropriate tools and platforms.
• Run stakeholder interviews and data discovery activities to define analytical objectives and identify relevant data sources.
• Prepare project scoping documents including feasibility assessments, data requirements, and resource estimates for management review.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Analysts, Operations specialists, software engineers, and other technical staff across the data and AI solution lifecycle.
• Support compliance with data governance, information security, privacy requirements, and responsible AI practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned and comply with applicable policies and standards.

What you bring

• Python required, with experience using data science and machine learning libraries such as Pandas, Scikit-learn, TensorFlow, or PyTorch.
• Advanced knowledge of statistical modeling, predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI techniques, including regression, classification, time series analysis, tree-based methods, and deep learning.
• Advanced SQL proficiency and experience designing, developing, and maintaining ETL/ELT processes and scalable data pipelines required.
• Experience building, deploying, monitoring, and maintaining AI/ML models in production environments, including familiarity with MLOps, CI/CD, and model lifecycle management.
• Cloud experience with AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform; experience with BigQuery and technologies such as Databricks and Apache Spark preferred.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with data visualization experience using Tableau, Power BI, or comparable tools.
• Experience using AI-assisted development and agentic coding tools such as Claude Code, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot to improve productivity desired.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into recommendations for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Minimum qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience designing, developing, and deploying enterprise data engineering and AI/ML solutions required.
• Experience working in cloud environments supporting enterprise analytics and data-driven decision-making required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, Information Systems, or a closely related quantitative field required; a Master’s degree in a related field preferred.

Licenses and credentials

• TWIC (Transportation Worker Identification Credential) required.
• Valid state driver’s license required.

Role details

• Location: Savannah, GA (onsite)
• Department: 5072 - Information Technology
• FLSA status: Exempt
• Job location listed: Garden City Terminal

Mission: To empower entrepreneurs, strengthen industries, sustain communities, and fortify families by relentlessly striving to accelerate global commerce.