Lead AI Engineer

Are you a builder at heart - someone who looks beyond the immediate task to see how an AI engine fits into the broader business product? At Enjins, we're looking for a Lead AI Engineer who combines technical mastery with product ownership, helping to shape the future of our Utrecht hub and the Climate Tech companies we partner with.

Since 2018, we've been engineering AI systems designed to deliver long-term, meaningful value. Operating from Utrecht and Berlin, we partner with innovative tech companies across Northwest Europe - including Crisp, PlanBlue, NextSense, and Groendus - and actively prioritise partnerships in Climate Tech where our technology delivers measurable positive impact.

We build data & AI solutions. At Enjins, we operate with a product mindset, meaning we take full ownership of the technical lifecycle - from initial discovery to a scaling, production-grade engine that lives within our partners' infrastructure.

At our core, we are engineers first: clean code, MLOps best practices, and system reliability over academic novelty. Our team is a growth-oriented group from diverse cultural, academic, and professional backgrounds.

As a Lead AI Engineer, you will work at the intersection of technical mastery and product ownership. You will act as the technical anchor for our AI solutions, embedded within partner teams to build robust systems that endure long after the initial deployment - and mentoring the next generation of Enjins engineers.

Key responsibilities:

• Partner with C-level stakeholders to design AI roadmaps that aren't just 'projects,' but scalable technical assets that drive core business value.
• Ensure the long-term health of deployed solutions by implementing rigorous MLOps standards, keeping our 'engines' high-performing and maintainable.
• Lead the AI Engineering team alongside other Leads, fostering a culture of technical excellence and pragmatic innovation.
• Involve yourself in business-critical decisions on team growth, innovation roadmaps, and account management.

A concrete example: you join a Climate Tech client developing grid-balancing software. Within months, you've architected a scalable ML pipeline for renewable energy forecasting, established MLOps standards that the client team can own independently, and mentored two junior engineers through their first production deployments. That's the kind of lasting impact a Lead creates at Enjins.

Within 1 Month

• Complete Enjins leadership onboarding and become a certified cloud practitioner (if not already).
• Start your first client project alongside an experienced Enjins engineer - your dedicated Coach and (Virtual) Buddy are with you from day one.
• Begin to understand the portfolio of accounts and the team you'll be leading.

Within 3 Months

• Own the technical roadmap for at least one client engagement, from architecture to production.
• Start mentoring engineers, sharing best practices in MLOps and system design.
• Contribute to hiring and team-building decisions.

Within 6 Months

• Drive meaningful client velocity and build relationships with C-level stakeholders.
• Have established or improved MLOps standards across your client portfolio, while improving our assets and shaping their roadmaps.
• Be a recognised technical voice within Enjins and external — shaping our AI strategy and engineering culture.

We're looking for leaders with a builder mentality. What matters most is your ability to think in systems, own outcomes end-to-end, and grow the people around you.

Expertise & Skills 🔧

• 3–5+ years of experience building and scaling AI solutions in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. You understand that a model is only as good as the product it powers.
• Deep expertise in Python, SQL, and Git; hands-on experience with containerisation (Docker, Kubernetes) and ETL/ELT orchestration.
• Mastery of at least one major cloud platform (AWS, Azure, GCP) and experience leading MLOps/LLMOps architectures.
• Proven experience leading the design and deployment of LLM-based or Agentic systems in production.
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring engineers, overseeing project delivery, and managing client accounts.

Mindset & Approach ✨

• You have a 'builder' mentality. You look beyond the immediate task to see how the AI engine fits into the broader business product, ensuring every line of code adds long-term value.
• You prioritise 'production-ready' over 'academic hype' and have a genuine passion for Climate Tech impact.
• Excellent ability to translate complex technical findings into clear, actionable insights for non-technical stakeholders.

Requirements 📍

• Fluent in English and eligible to work in the Netherlands.

We invest heavily in your leadership journey, ensuring you remain at the technical forefront while growing as a business leader.

Accelerate your Growth & Development 🧠

• A structured leadership learning journey (AI-Leap) with a dedicated budget for advanced certifications, plus a specialised programme for Leads.
• Regular 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with our founders and C-level to support your growth toward senior leadership.
• A 360-degree feedback process and project-based assessments for continuous professional evolution.

Innovation & Work Environment ⚡️

• Work from our modern office in Utrecht along the Oudegracht. (Note: not yet fully accessible for individuals with physical disabilities.)
• Receive an Apple MacBook Pro and the latest tools to do your best work.
• Competitive salary: €5,500 – €7,000 per month gross (excl. holiday allowance, pension, bonus, equity, and AI-Leap benefits).
• Annual Performance Bonus: 1.5 months' salary, recognising your individual contribution.
• Equity Incentive (VSOP): Share in the long-term financial growth of the company.

Work-life Balance & Culture 👐

• 28 vacation days — including flexibility for 3 national holidays.
• Monthly social events: themed parties, sports tournaments, pub quizzes, and more.
• Yearly Enjins Summer Summit: 2-day event deep diving into the intersection of AI x Climate
• OV-First (Public Transport) travel policy, fully covering your commute.
• Meat-free catering during lunch and events.