University of Kentucky
AI Developer Lead
🇺🇸
Lexington, KY
🕑
Full-Time
💰
$82K - $139K
💻
Other
🗓️
April 16th, 2026
Edtech.com's Summary
University of Kentucky is hiring an AI Developer Lead. The AI Developer Lead designs, develops, and optimizes advanced AI-powered solutions, providing high-impact technical leadership and innovation. This role involves setting technical direction, solving complex AI engineering challenges, collaborating with cross-functional teams, mentoring developers, and deploying AI solutions using Microsoft Azure platforms.
Highlights
- Lead the design, development, deployment, and hosting of AI solutions on Microsoft Azure AI platforms.
- Provide technical leadership and innovation for complex AI systems, focusing on generative models, LLMs, or computer vision.
- Mentor and guide technical teams, supporting collaboration across cross-functional groups.
- Must have proficiency with Microsoft AI tools like Azure AI, Copilot Studio, and Power Platform AI Builder.
- Required experience: Minimum 7 years in AI/ML engineering, data science, or related fields.
- Preferred education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field; Master’s or PhD preferred.
- Salary range: $81,640 to $138,798 per year.
- No supervisory responsibilities; full-time staff position with standard Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm shift.
- Experience with enterprise-scale AI deployments and familiarity with manufacturing or supply chain industries is a plus.
- U.S. Citizenship or Green Card required for compliance reasons.
AI Developer Lead Full Description
AI Developer Lead
Posting Details
Job Title | AI Developer Lead
Requisition Number | RE54015
Working Title |
Department Name | 3L400:ITS Enterprise Systems
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 50
Salary Range | $81,640-138,798/year
Type of Position | Staff
Position Time Status | Full-Time
Required Education | BS
Click here for more information about equivalencies: | https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience | 7 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Lifting, pushing or pulling of objects up to 50 lbs, sitting for long period of time
Shift | Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm; possibility of excess of 40 hours per week or weekend hours, depending on workload
Job Summary
The AI Developer Lead is a senior technical expert responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing advanced AI-powered solutions. This role is focused on high-impact technical leadership, innovation, and hands-on development of complex AI systems. The AI Developer Lead sets technical direction, solves challenging problems, and drives excellence in AI engineering across projects. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and mentoring of other developers are key aspects, but the primary focus is on technical mastery and strategic innovation. This position includes, but is not limited to, the design, development, deployment, and hosting of AI solutions using Microsoft Azure–based AI platforms and services.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Proven track record of developing and deploying large-scale AI solutions in enterprise environments. Experience mentoring and guiding technical teams. Familiarity with manufacturing, supply chain, or similar industries is a plus. Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder (for ITAR compliance, if applicable).
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | No
Preferred Education/Experience | Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field (Master’s or PhD preferred). 7+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, data science, or related roles, with a focus on generative models, LLMs, or computer vision.
Deadline to Apply | 04/21/2026
Our University Community | We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Requisition Number | RE54015
Working Title |
Department Name | 3L400:ITS Enterprise Systems
Work Location | Lexington, KY
Grade Level | 50
Salary Range | $81,640-138,798/year
Type of Position | Staff
Position Time Status | Full-Time
Required Education | BS
Click here for more information about equivalencies: | https://hr.uky.edu/employment/working-uk/equivalencies
Required Related Experience | 7 yrs
Required License/Registration/Certification | None
Physical Requirements | Lifting, pushing or pulling of objects up to 50 lbs, sitting for long period of time
Shift | Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm; possibility of excess of 40 hours per week or weekend hours, depending on workload
Job Summary
The AI Developer Lead is a senior technical expert responsible for designing, developing, and optimizing advanced AI-powered solutions. This role is focused on high-impact technical leadership, innovation, and hands-on development of complex AI systems. The AI Developer Lead sets technical direction, solves challenging problems, and drives excellence in AI engineering across projects. Collaboration with cross-functional teams and mentoring of other developers are key aspects, but the primary focus is on technical mastery and strategic innovation. This position includes, but is not limited to, the design, development, deployment, and hosting of AI solutions using Microsoft Azure–based AI platforms and services.
Skills / Knowledge / Abilities
Proven track record of developing and deploying large-scale AI solutions in enterprise environments. Experience mentoring and guiding technical teams. Familiarity with manufacturing, supply chain, or similar industries is a plus. Must be a U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder (for ITAR compliance, if applicable).
Does this position have supervisory responsibilities? | No
Preferred Education/Experience | Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, AI, Data Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field (Master’s or PhD preferred). 7+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, data science, or related roles, with a focus on generative models, LLMs, or computer vision.
Deadline to Apply | 04/21/2026
Our University Community | We value the well-being of each of our employees and are dedicated to creating a healthy place for everyone to work, learn and live. In the interest of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees, patients and visitors, the University of Kentucky is a Tobacco & Drug Free campus.
The University follows both the federal and state Constitutions as well as all applicable federal and state laws on nondiscrimination. The University provides equal opportunities for qualified persons in all aspects of institutional operations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic origin, religion, creed, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, uniformed service, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, marital status, genetic information or social or economic status.
Any candidate offered a position may be required to pass pre-employment screenings as mandated by University of Kentucky Human Resources. These screenings may include a national background check and/or drug screen.
Posting Specific Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
- * Provide a brief example of your experience working with end users/customers on systems/applications that you have supported.
(Open Ended Question) - * Please indicate the number of years of paid work experience you have with software development in large/complex environments.
- None
- More than 0, up through 2 years.
- More than 2 years, up through 4 years.
- More than 4 years, up through 6 years.
- More than 6 years, up through 10 years.
- More than 10 years.
- * How much experience do you have with Microsoft AI tools such as Azure AI, Copilot Studio, or Power Platform AI Builder?
- None
- More than 0, up through 2 years.
- More than 2 years, up through 4 years.
- More than 4 years, up through 6 years.
- More than 6 years, up through 10 years.
- More than 10 years.
- * Please indicate the number of years of paid work experience you have with GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps or similar tools.
- None
- More than 0, up through 2 years.
- More than 2 years, up through 4 years.
- More than 4 years, up through 6 years.
- More than 6 years, up through 10 years.
- More than 10 years.
- * How do you handle authentication and security when building AI agents in Microsoft environments?
(Open Ended Question)
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Optional Documents
805 Las Cimas Parkway Suite 400 Austin, Texas, 78746
- © University of Kentucky
- Lexington, Kentucky 40506
- An Equal Opportunity University
- Accreditation
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