Development Lead - AI

Overview

This is a permanent full-time role based in Christchurch, New Zealand, leading the development and delivery of AI-driven enterprise applications, APIs, and intelligent services. The position offers an opportunity to spearhead AI initiatives within a well-established organisation heavily investing in AI capabilities. The role combines technical leadership with active hands-on development using modern technologies within a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, create, test, and sustain AI-powered applications, APIs, integration services, and orchestration layers.
• Develop reusable AI -centric capabilities and microservices platforms (MCP) for enterprise use.
• Integrate AI solutions seamlessly with existing enterprise systems, data sources, and platforms.
• Provide expert technical direction across multiple AI projects and support development teams in best practices.
• Assure the security, scalability, maintainability, and readiness for production deployment of all AI solutions.
• Collaborate closely with Architecture, Data, DevOps, and delivery teams to implement approved system designs.
• Engage in project planning, estimations, conducting code reviews, testing, and preparing technical documentation.
• Champion continuous enhancements to AI development methodologies and standards.
• Assess and communicate technical risks, dependencies, and challenges impacting delivery timelines.
• Advocate for high standards in development quality, testing rigor, and deployment processes across AI programs.

Required Skills and Experience

• Proven software development expertise working with contemporary application platforms.
• Hands-on commercial experience with AI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs), AI APIs, orchestration frameworks, or AI integration patterns.
• Skilled in building APIs, integration services, and reusable software components.
• Experienced in cloud development, preferably in Microsoft Azure environments.
• Familiarity with Microservice Container Platform (MCP) concepts and AI integration strategies is advantageous.
• Experience working in Agile development environments.
• Strong knowledge of software testing procedures, code reviews, deployment best practices, documentation standards, and software delivery life cycles.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and guidance on development without direct people management responsibility.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills to liaise across technical teams and non-technical stakeholders.

Additional Information

The organisation welcomes applications from Kiwi professionals relocating back to New Zealand and encourages connections from specialists in IT disciplines. This hiring is managed by a specialist IT recruitment agency dedicated to New Zealand's technology sector, focusing on permanent and contractual roles but here for a permanent opening.