AI Team Leader

We're looking for a strategic and hands on AI Technical Leader to drive the design, development, and deployment of advanced AI and machine learning solutions across our organisation. This role is central to shaping our AI strategy, setting technical direction, and leading a team of engineers and data scientists in delivering scalable, production grade solutions.

You'll play a pivotal role in guiding the implementation of Azure AI services, Databricks, and modern MLOps practices to support high-impact use cases across the business. This is a leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of AI innovation, engineering excellence, and practical business outcomes.'

Day to day: 

• Lead the end-to-end design and delivery of AI/ML solutions using Azure AI ecosystem (e.g. Azure Machine Learning, Azure OpenAI, Azure Functions, AI Foundry) and Databricks
• Act as the technical SME across AI initiatives, ensuring best practices in architecture, code quality, scalability, and performance
• Define and drive the roadmap for AI use cases in alignment with business strategy and stakeholder needs.
• Manage and mentor a team of AI engineers, ML ops specialists, and data scientists
• Establish robust MLOps pipelines, data versioning, model deployment strategies, and governance frameworks using tools such as Azure DevOps
• Collaborate closely with data platform, BI, and automation teams to integrate AI seamlessly into broader business solutions
• Ensure solutions comply with data privacy, ethical AI, and enterprise security standards
• Provide architectural oversight and review of AI workloads running on Azure Databricks, Spark, and Delta Lake.
• Evaluate and experiment with emerging LLMs, embeddings, and generative AI capabilities, and lead their application in production use cases

You'll be perfect for the role if you have: 

• 5+ years of experience in software engineering, data science, or AI-focused roles, with at least 2 years in a technical leadership or architect capacity
• Proven track record delivering AI/ML solutions in a cloud-native Azure environment
• Deep experience with Databricks, Spark, Delta Lake, and MLflow
• Strong programming skills in Python
• Hands-on knowledge of Azure tools such as:
  • Azure Machine Learning
  • Azure OpenAI Service
  • Cognitive Services
  • Azure Databricks
  • AI Foundry
  • Azure DevOps
• Experience with LLMs, embedding models, prompt engineering, vector search and integrating AI into apps via APIs or copilots
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills – ability to translate business needs into AI solutions with measurable outcomes
• Familiarity with data governance, privacy (e.g. GDPR), and responsible AI frameworks

What you'll Enjoy:

Culture: you will be employed by an inclusive company that offers a team culture like no other in the industry - Flight Centre Travel Group Australia is proud to be a certified Great Place To Work Australia New Zealand Pty Lt

Our People: FCTG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage all suitably qualified applicants to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and people from racial, ethnic, or ethno-religious minority groups and people with disability 

Development: Individualised Learning & Development pathway options

Exclusive Staff Discounts: Accessible via our employee-only portal with 350+ of Australia's leading retailers, health and wellness discounts, financial planning advice, employee share plan and more

Travel Discounts: Including family and friends - flights, hotels, tours, cruises, travel insurance and more

Brightness of Future: Career opportunities in a network of brands and businesses across the globe - we promote from within  

Corporate Health Discounts: Access exclusive discounts on health insurance plans for you and your family with our partner, BUPA, access to internal gym

Mental Health: Support and Employee Assistance Program for staff and family

Social: Regular awards nights, social team-building and industry events, with the opportunity to attend global conferences (Bangkok in

 Giving Back: Corporate Social Responsibility program supporting nominated charities through Workplace Giving, volunteering and fundraising; paid parental and volunteer leave

Sustainability: The protection of our environment is essential to the future of tourism, as a leading travel group, we have made efforts to affect positive change to the environment

Our Talent Acquisition Team kindly requests no unsolicited resumes or approaches from Recruitment Agencies. Flight Centre Travel Group is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

#LI-LH2#LI-Onsite