Artificial Intelligence Lead

About the role

Standard Bank Group is looking for an Artificial Intelligence Lead who will design, build, test and maintain software solutions while adding AI-enabled implementation capabilities that improve delivery speed, quality and operational reliability. The role provides executive leadership across AI strategy, innovation, delivery, architecture, engineering standards, governance, data enablement, adoption, benefits realisation and capability development.

Key responsibilities

• Support modern engineering practices through software development, automated testing, CI/CD enablement, workflow automation, API integration, AI-assisted implementation patterns and repeatable engineering assets.
• Operate within agreed engineering standards, architectural guardrails and documentation requirements.
• Lead AI strategy, architecture, governance, data enablement and adoption, and drive benefits realisation and capability development.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Statistics, Engineering, Mathematics, IT or a related field; a Master's degree in a related discipline is preferred.
• 8-10 years of experience, including proven delivery of large-scale AI and machine learning programs from strategy and design through production deployment and adoption.
• Experience in modern engineering practices such as DevOps and Agile across multiple disciplines, with depth in at least one.
• Knowledge of AI governance, model risk, cybersecurity, data governance, cloud AI platforms and emerging AI regulation.
• Experience in banking, financial services, fintech, telecommunications, consulting or another highly regulated industry.
• Ability to turn business and functional requirements into technical specifications and write the code for the solutions.

Required skills

• Generative AI, agentic AI and machine learning
• AI architecture, MLOps and LLMOps
• Responsible AI and model risk management
• Cloud AI platforms and reusable AI services
• Data governance, security and regulatory compliance
• Production monitoring and cost optimisation