Technical Lead - Java or C# (AI-focused) in Reading

WELCOME TO At SITA, we keep airports moving, airlines flying smoothly, and borders open. Our technology and communication innovations power the success of the global air travel industry. Youll find us in 95% of international airports, working closely with over 2,500 transportation and government clients. Each partnership brings unique challenges, and we thrive on delivering fresh solutions and cutting-edge tech to keep operations running like clockwork. We dont just move the world forward - were proud to be recognized as a Great Place to Work® by our employees and certified in most of our growing locations. Here, we feel empowered, supported, and inspired to grow. Are you ready to love your job? The adventure begins right here, with you, at SITA.

ABOUT THE ROLE & TEAM We are looking for a Technical Lead - Java or C# to join our growing team and drive the design, development, and deployment of advanced AI solutions across our global portfolio. This role blends technical leadership, hands-on engineering, and strategic innovation, ensuring that AI technologies are built responsibly, efficiently, and at scale. You will lead a team of AI engineers, collaborate with product and architecture teams, and shape AI capabilities that power mission-critical systems in aviation and border management.

WHAT YOULL DO

• Lead the end-to-end design, development, and deployment of advanced AI and machine learning solutions.
• Write and deliver complex AI modules, troubleshoot system/model issues, and ensure high-quality, scalable code.
• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and guidance to a team of AI developers and engineers.
• Define and uphold coding standards, development guidelines, and best practices across AI workstreams.
• Participate in requirement gathering and translate business needs into robust AI application designs.
• Own technical estimations and ensure feasibility and quality of deliverables across the AI engineering team.
• Ensure all AI solutions adhere to ethical AI principles, data privacy regulations, and responsible AI practices.
• Lead root-cause analysis activities and allocate defects or performance issues to the appropriate team members.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with architecture, product, and DevOps teams to integrate AI capabilities into larger systems.
• Evaluate new AI technologies, frameworks, and tools to continuously drive innovation and improvement.

ABOUT YOUR SKILLS

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in software engineering using modern, object-oriented programming languages.
• Strong proficiency in Python and experience with at least one additional language (e.g., Java, C#, C++, JavaScript).
• 1+ years of hands-on experience building solutions with generative AI technologies.
• 2+ years of experience leading or mentoring engineering teams of 6+ people.
• Strong proficiency in OOP/OOD and the ability to guide junior team members.
• Solid knowledge of AI/ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and scikit-learn.
• Familiarity with model orchestration and integration frameworks (e.g., Semantic Kernel, LangChain).
• Deep understanding of ML concepts: supervised/unsupervised learning, model evaluation, CNNs, RNNs, transformers, etc.
• Strong experience with designing prompts, implementing RAG pipelines, and fine-tuning models.
• Proven ability to identify use cases suitable for AI automation and distinguish those that may not perform well.
• Understanding of ethical AI, data privacy, and responsible deployment practices.
• Experience deploying LLMs; prior exposure to Microsoft AI Foundry or Ollama is a plus.
• Knowledge of CI/CD, Git, testing, secure coding, debugging, and modern engineering workflows.
• Formal training in project management is preferred.

NICE-TO-HAVE

• Exposure to MLOps toolchains (e.g., MLflow, Kubeflow, Azure ML).
• Experience working in aviation, transportation, or other safety-critical environments.
• Professional programming certification in a mainstream language is a plus.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Flex Week: Work from home up to 2 days/week (depending on your teams needs).
• Flex Day: Make your workday suit your life and plans.
• Flex Location: Take up to 30 days a year to work from any location in the world.
• Employee Wellbeing: Weve got you covered with our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), for you and your dependents 24/7, 365 days/year. We also offer Champion Health, a personalized platform that supports a range of wellbeing needs.
• Professional Development: Level up your skills with our training platforms, including LinkedIn Learning!
• Competitive Benefits: Competitive benefits that make sense with both your local market and employment status.

SITA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce. In support of our Employment Equity Program, we encourage women, aboriginal people, members of visible minorities, and/or persons with disabilities to apply and self-identify in the application process.