Machine Learning Engineer

Are you a driven Machine Learning Engineer with a passion for intelligent systems, strong software engineering skills, and a good understanding of data infrastructure? In the nascent data, AI, and innovation team at the VU, you will have the unique opportunity to make an impact on research and education as both an architect and builder. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of machine learning models and systems, from conceptual design to successful implementation, and will play a crucial role in designing, setting up, and optimizing the necessary infrastructure and data pipelines.

In this collaborative role, you will work closely with data engineers, data scientists, software developers, and experts from education and research. As a member of a new team, you will have the unique opportunity to help shape the VU's data and AI strategy, with ample room for personal and professional growth.

Your tasks include:

• Understanding and translating business and functional needs into concrete machine learning problem statements and results.
• Designing and developing scalable machine learning and deep learning solutions that meet the organization's needs.
• Performing data processing tasks such as normalization, feature selection, dimensionality reduction, and handling missing or outlier data.
• Working closely with data scientists, data engineers, and development teams to improve, develop, and implement machine learning algorithms.
• Translating machine learning algorithms into production-ready code.
• Evaluating model performance using cross-validation and relevant metrics.
• Monitoring implemented models, detecting data or concept drift, and updating or retraining models as needed.
• Ensuring compliance with performance standards and data security requirements.
• Continuously staying informed about new developments in machine learning and implementing them within the organization.

Personal Skills:

• You have the ability to experiment and analyze results. You are curious and eager to learn, think analytically, and work methodically. You are also enterprising and enjoy taking initiative.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts and results in an understandable way to both technical and business stakeholders.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple teams and stakeholders, including analytics teams, development teams, product management, and operations. You have a constructive attitude and can connect interests.
• Experimental and entrepreneurial mindset.
• You are eager to learn and enjoy staying up-to-date with the latest (technical) developments.

Technical Skills:

• Expert knowledge of PyTorch, cloud services (AWS, Azure, GCP), and Python.
• Proficiency in machine learning algorithms such as multi-class classification, decision trees, support vector machines, and deep learning.
• Understanding of probability and statistical models (generative and descriptive models).
• Advanced programming experience with C/C++, Java, R, Python.
• You have experience with version control systems.

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 4.537,00 (Scale 11) and maximum € 6.209,00 (Scale 11) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Engineering and Application Manager 3. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 0.8 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 1 year. Afterwards, there is a prospect of a permanent contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• space for personal development
• hybrid working enables a good work-life balance
• a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge

Over het team

The VU has established the AI Competence Network (AICN) to stimulate and facilitate active, cross-domain, and multidisciplinary collaboration. The primary goal is to jointly develop and apply responsible AI solutions that add concrete value and create a positive impact in education, research, and operations. From the new data, AI, and innovation team, you will contribute to this on behalf of IT.

Information Technology
We at Information Technology (IT) have the responsibility of ensuring a worry-free digital environment for researchers, students and staff. We facilitate teaching and research with IT resources, advise on IT products and services, and keep the application landscape for work and study up-to-date. We ensure that the university’s IT facilities are up and running 24/7.

At the same time, we focus on the future of digital – everything from the smart campus and cyber security to open science and artificial intelligence. Along with the faculties and service departments, we look ahead to ask: how can we prepare now for tomorrow’s questions? Together we look for better and better ways to support the university’s ambitions in the areas of education, research and valorisation.

Are you interested in joining IT? Working in IT means operating on a complex, often hectic and challenging playing field, where both development and management demand your attention. We give you plenty of scope to show initiative and take responsibility. Learning from one another is key, while remaining focused on results. In Information Technology, you will join over 200 colleagues spread over 4 departments.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam stands for values-driven education and research. We are open-minded experts with the ability to think freely - a broader mind. Maintaining an entrepreneurial perspective and concentrating on diversity, significance and humanity, we work on sustainable solutions with social impact. By joining forces, across the boundaries of disciplines, we work towards a better world for people and planet. Together we create a safe and respectful working and study climate, and an inspiring environment for education and research. Learn more about our codes of conduct

We are located on one physical campus, in the heart of Amsterdam's Zuidas business district, with excellent location and accessibility. Over 6,150 staff work at the VU and over 31,000 students attend academic education.

Diversity
Diversity is the driving force of VU Amsterdam. VU wants to be accessible and receptive to diversity in disciplines, cultures, ideas, nationalities, beliefs, preferences and worldviews. We believe that trust, respect, interest and differences lead to new insights and innovation, to sharpness and clarity, to excellence and a broader understanding.

We stand for an inclusive community and believe that diversity and internationalisation contribute to the quality of education, research and our services.

Therefore, we are always searching for people whose backgrounds and experience contribute to the diversity of the VU community.

Are you interested in this position and do you believe that your experience will contribute to the excellence of our services? In that case, we encourage you to submit your application, even if you don't meet all requirements.

Submitting a diploma is part of the application process.

Applications received by e-mail will not be considered.

Acquisition in response to this advertisement is not appreciated.