Manager I, Applied AI – Distilled Models

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential technology organization that is building production AI systems at scale. Our client sits at the intersection of research and product development, turning cutting-edge AI capabilities into production systems that deliver real customer value. They are focused on building specialized models that make AI faster, more cost-effective, and more secure.

As Manager I, Applied AI - Distilled Models, you will lead a team of engineers and applied scientists working on critical AI challenges. You will define technical direction, make strategic decisions about what to pursue or pivot away from, and collaborate closely with product managers and research teams to ship AI capabilities that matter. This role is based in Paris and operates in a hybrid work environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of engineers and applied scientists focused on cost-efficient specialized models and AI security capabilities
• Work closely with product managers, research teams, and cross-functional partners to shape the team's initiatives from initial framing through to broader adoption, with clear success criteria at each stage
• Own end-to-end delivery of high-quality AI systems, from early research exploration to production-grade reliability, maintaining high standards for operational excellence and technical quality
• Navigate the unique challenges of shipping AI-powered products, balancing quality, latency, cost, and safety considerations
• Drive evaluation and iteration practices for AI systems: define quality standards and guide the team in building offline and online evaluation pipelines to measure quality and detect drift
• Contribute to cross-team collaboration and knowledge sharing across the broader AI organization
• Support career growth for engineers through coaching, feedback, and fostering a culture of experimentation and innovation
• Participate in hiring and help shape the future team as the organization grows

What We're Looking For

• A people-focused manager with experience leading and mentoring engineers, able to develop strong engineering talent in a fast-moving domain
• A technical leader with deep expertise in one or more areas of AI or machine learning: large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, agentic systems, deep learning, or NLP
• Strong knowledge of evaluation methodologies for AI systems, both offline benchmarks and online metrics
• Strong product instinct: able to anchor early-stage work in concrete customer problems, define success criteria before writing code, and actively contribute to shaping product direction alongside product and research partners
• Experience taking AI products from 0 to 1 is strongly valued: able to bring structure to early-stage work by scoping clear hypotheses, moving quickly toward signal, and making deliberate decisions about what to pursue, pivot, or stop
• BS/MS/PhD in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent professional experience

How We Work with You

When you apply through Get A Job.ai, our talent team will review your profile and conduct an initial screening. If there's a strong match, we will submit your candidacy to our client for consideration. Please do not contact the client directly, as all communication should flow through our recruiting team to ensure the best experience for everyone involved.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process based on experience and qualifications.

Equal Opportunity

Get A Job.ai is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or veteran status.