We're Hiring!

Title: FXD AI Engineer (Level 1)

VP Area: Inst for Informatics & Applied Tech

Department: Inst for Informatics & Applied Tech

Work Schedule: Fixed daytime hours Monday-Friday

Telework Availability: Hybrid Available

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Employee Classification: Regular part-time (staff <29 hours)

Hours per week: 20

Months per year: 12

Fixed Term End Date (if applicable): 2026-06-30

This vacancy is advertised at multiple classification levels; however, only one position is available. Please apply to the level that best matches your qualifications and experience.

Job Purpose:

The Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology (IIAT) aims to drive faculty, students, and community innovations via responsible artificial intelligence and data science practices. Through rigorous academic offerings, collaboration with industry and interdisciplinary research, IIAT prepares students and professionals across disciplines for leadership with technical expertise in informatics while critically examining the ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies. The Institute provides opportunities for collaborative, experiential learning through ideation, problem solving and entrepreneurial exploration, supporting student-led innovation and industry and community partnerships to drive AI-enabled advances for the benefit of humanity.
 
This position will responsibly explore, develop, and use technology advances in AI and machine learning, to help elevate the GU and partners' knowledge and competency in these technological areas and consequently innovate for responsible learning, teaching, and business operations. This position will work closely with the IIAT Director and other staff members to continue advance their own knowledge and skillset in these areas and how they connect to humanity and society for responsible technology innovation.

Essential Functions:

• 35% - Investigate and Develop AI and ML software stack for partners - Actively work with GU faculty, students, staff, and external partners to investigate and develop specialized AI/ML systems, including generative AI technologies, for teaching, research, and business operations. - In collaboration with the IIAT team to develop custom AI technology prototypes that fit partner's needs. - Assist partners to acquire necessary knowledge and skills to use and expand upon the prototypes. - (Essential)
• 30% - Research and report AI/ML technology advances - Proactively explore and attain specialized AI advances and technologies, including but not limited to LLM architecture, prompt engineering, fine-tuning/alignment, and guard rails, from a variety of sources. - Independently apply attained technology advances to support partners' teaching, research, and business operation needs. - Independently and regularly investigate advances in generative AI, and report and discuss such advances with the Director and the other IIAT staff. - Work closely with the Director and partners to disseminate findings through paper writing, blog posting, git release, and assess commercialization viability to prepare IP documentation if deemed viable. - (Essential)
• 15% - Develop training and learning material - In collaboration with the IIAT team to design AI/ML exercises that will provide experiential learning experience for the learners who might have diverse background in different instances. - Collaborate with the Director and other IIAT staff to develop training exercises and material for faculty, students, staff, and extended partners. - Assist in delivery and assessment of the training and learning sessions. - (Essential)
• 10% - Assist the IIAT Director and collaborate with IIAT staff/engineers to manage the Human-AI Collaboratory (HAC-Lab) - Investigate, assess, and provide information to the IIAT Director, curate computing resources for the HAC-Lab. - Assist to maintain and secure the virtualized environment with best practices in using AI technologies. - (Essential)
• 10% - Supervise student assistants for IIAT affiliated research and development - Supervise student(s) to support the research and development of AI technology uses and advances. - Support student learning through mentorship in their research endeavors. - (Essential)

• Additional Duties as Assigned by the Department

Educational Requirement:

Bachelor's Degree or Equivalent Experience

Years of Related Experience Requirement:

1 year

In lieu of the educational qualifications, candidates may qualify with equivalent professional experience at a ratio of one year of experience for each year of required education. 

Skills & Abilities:

• In the final year of undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent experience in related fields.
• One (1) year of software development experiences in AI technologies.
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity for continual learning, discovery, and creation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with internal and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate in higher-ed environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Graduate degree in computer science, software engineering, or equivalent experience in related fields.
• Demonstrated ability for data curation/collection or data cleaning.
• Demonstrated ability for working with people across disciplines.
• Demonstrated ability to be creative in problem solving.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities with frequent interruptions.
• Demonstrated ability for excellent customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with a high level of confidence and discretion.

Physical & On-Campus Requirements:

In-Office Presence - Ability to work on-site in typical office setting and participate in in-person meetings with colleagues: N/A - Remote

Standing/Sitting - Ability to remain in a stationary position for a prolonged period: Daily (>75% of time)

Walking - Ability to move about on foot to accomplish tasks: Daily (>75% of time)

Lifting/Carrying - Ability to move or transport objects up to a specified weight (e.g., 50 pounds): Rarely (1%-49% of time)

Attention to Detail - Ability to focus on detailed tasks for extended periods: Daily (>75% of time)

Problem-Solving - Ability to identify and resolve issues effectively: Daily (>75% of time)

The budgeted salary range that the University reasonably expects to offer for this position: $42.31 - $50.00/hour

Pay Range:

Minimum Salary (Non-Exempt): 33.92

Midpoint Salary (Non-Exempt): 42.40

Maximum Salary (Non-Exempt): 50.88

Is this position eligible for relocation reimbursement or a signing bonus?: False

Required Application Materials: - CV/Resume: detailed experiences and skillsets directly relevant to this AI Engineer position.
- Cover Letter: describing personal and professional interests for this AI Engineer position and be part of the Institute for Informatics and Applied Technology at Gonzaga University.