Lead AI Python Developer

We are seeking a Lead AI Python Developer to serve as a technical anchor and people leader for a high-performing AI team. This role combines deep technical contribution with hands-on leadership — setting technical direction, establishing engineering standards, mentoring developers, and personally driving the most complex aspects of AI SDLC and building complex Gen AI solutions. The ideal candidate brings a rigorous Computer Science foundation, mastery-level Python expertise, proven LLM expertise, and command of AI-augmented development practices at scale.

Responsibilities

• Define the technical direction, architecture, and engineering standards for AI-enabled SDLC in collaboration with the Solution Architect and CTO
• Lead the design and implementation of AI systems, including RAG pipelines, multi-agent platforms, and full-stack AI applications
• Contribute hands-on to development by building complex components and conducting code reviews
• Evaluate and select technologies, frameworks, models, and cloud services with a focus on reliability, security, and cost efficiency
• Establish and enforce coding, testing, documentation, and AI tool usage standards across the engineering team
• Mentor and support developers through feedback, guidance, and career development
• Drive project planning, technical estimation, and risk management
• Communicate technical solutions and trade-offs clearly to stakeholders

Requirements

• 8+ years of software development experience, including 2+ years in a leadership role
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or a related field; a Master’s or PhD is a strong advantage
• Strong foundation in computer science fundamentals such as data structures, algorithms, distributed systems, and system design
• Advanced Python proficiency with deep knowledge of the language ecosystem, libraries, ML/AI tooling, and testing frameworks
• Experience with software architecture and design principles, including microservices, event-driven architecture, CQRS, SOLID, and domain-driven design
• Experience designing APIs (REST, GraphQL, gRPC) and building full-stack applications using Python frameworks such as FastAPI, Django, or Flask
• Experience with relational, non-relational, and vector databases
• Hands-on experience with AI systems, including RAG architectures, LLM frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex), and agent-based platforms
• Experience with Python ML/AI libraries and frameworks such as PyTorch, scikit-learn, Hugging Face Transformers, or similar
• Self-starter with ability to drive initiatives independently and elevate team performance

Nice to have

• Experience with LLM fine-tuning and open-source ecosystems (Hugging Face, vLLM, Ollama)
• Familiarity with LLM evaluation and observability tools (RAGAS, LangSmith, Weights & Biases)
• Experience with event-driven systems, Kafka, RabbitMQ, or graph databases
• Exposure to multimodal AI applications (vision, audio, document processing)
• Open-source contributions, SDK/platform development, or familiarity with AI governance frameworks

We offer

• Opportunity to Engineer your Future and to drive the world’s digital transformation with top industry clients
• Personal development program that will allow you to be valued for your strengths
• Wide range of professional trainings and workshops
• Being part of a collaborative, fast-growing, and innovative design team
• Established and accelerated growth toward different career paths, competencies, and roles
• Broad projects variety and possible mobility between projects over the time
• Collaboration in a multicultural environment and exchange of best practices with colleagues around the world
• Varied social benefits, Sports, Transportation and Health programs
• Work-life balance and flexible schedule, team buildings and sport opportunities
• Modern office/collaboration spaces (incl. new Infinity Tower business center, Sofia)
• Hybrid By Design - we provide you with the best productivity options from the 2 worlds. Meet, socialize and enjoy F2F time with your colleagues, while working from the modern EPAM's office for a few days per week and benefit from the EPAM's virtual working environment - making you able to be productive and work from remote for the rest of the week