Senior GCP Kubernetes Engineer

Role : Lead AI Engineer Location : Leawood, KS Duration : Long Term This is Lead AI position for a leading EDTECH Client in Leawood KS the position is onsite prefer candidates local but can consider relocation candidates (preferably for nearby Midwest - avoid coast to coast as they r always an issue) The client feedback is shared here Preferrable : No Data Scientists pls, mandate skills : AI, ML, Python / Java, Kafka, Data Engineering background with application development Led App Development teams and are aware of working with distributed systems Are well aware of architecture (backend) and integrations Taking Applications to production (so awareness of end to end working of systems) Preferably know Kafka Preferably worked as Data Engineering Leads Are tech savvy, have tried out building Gen AI apps.

Lead AI Engineer (Agentic AI Applications) Location : Leawood, KS Ideal Candidate Traits Owns outcomes - drives initiatives from concept to production with accountability and focus. Thinks like a product builder - connects engineering work to user and business value. Strong in distributed systems and applied AI - delivers scalable, production-ready solutions. Acts with curiosity and bias for action - proactive, self-directed, and solution-oriented. Clarifies ambiguity - asks the right questions and brings structure to complex problems. Communicates with clarity and influence across technical and product teams. Passionate about impact - builds intelligent, reliable systems that make a difference.

Role Overview Ascend Learning is seeking a Lead AI Engineer (Contract) who is a driver, not an order taker - someone who leads from the front, manages delivery across the AI team, and ensures successful execution of complex, high-impact AI initiatives. You will architect and deliver applied AI solutions powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and Small Language Models (SMLs) within a distributed, production-grade ecosystem . This is a hands-on technical leadership and delivery management role that combines engineering excellence, team guidance, and cross-functional collaboration. You will work closely with Technical Product Owners (TPOs) , Technical Program Managers (TPMs) , Platform Engineering , and Senior Managers to deliver scalable, reliable, and innovative AI applications that transform digital learning experiences.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Delivery Management & Leadership : Manage delivery of AI engineering initiatives, ensuring projects are executed on time, within scope, and to high quality standards. Coordinate engineers and workstreams, resolve dependencies, and drive accountability.
• Technical Leadership & Team Guidance : Lead and mentor AI engineers in architecture, design, and implementation of best practices. Set engineering standards for quality, reliability, and maintainability.
• AI Solution Design & Development : Architect and develop Agentic AI applications using LLMs and SMLs for automation, reasoning, and content generation. Build distributed backend systems with Python, Fast API, Azure, Kafka, and Kubernetes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration : Partner with Technical Product Owners, Technical Program Managers, and Platform Engineering to define scope, success metrics, and optimize infrastructure and performance.
• Innovation & Strategic Thinking : Stay current on advancements in LLMs, SMLs, RAG, and Agentic AI frameworks. Experiment with OpenAI and Azure AI tools and promote technical innovation balanced with predictable delivery.
• Productionization & Lifecycle Management : Lead productionization of AI application, ensuring reliability, observability, and lifecycle management of deployed solutions.

Qualifications