Lead AI/ML Ops Engineer, Foundry RnD

Lead AI/ML Ops Engineer, Foundry RnD Job Description Summary
Overview We are seeking a highly skilled Lead MLOps Engineer to join the Mastercard Foundry RD DevOps team. The preferred candidate will have a strong DevOps/ML background, as well as significant experience in automation, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), operational efficiency, and self-service platform automation. As a Lead MLOps Engineer, you will be responsible for building and scaling AI/ML infrastructure (platform, config and workflow) to support research and development efforts with a focus on Developer Ex. You will also collaborate closely with ML engineers, software teams, and platform engineers to design and deliver high-impact solutions that enhance automation, observability, and security in ML workflows. Must have Cloud Expertise - Strong understanding of cloud platforms (Azure/AWS) and AI/ML components such as Databricks, Azure Cognitive Services, and MLflow. Infrastructure as Code (IaC) - Hands-on experience with Terraform, and IaC orchestration tools like Terragrunt. Scripting Automation - Strong command-line proficiency with Bash/Python, or equivalent scripting languages. Containerisation Orchestration - Expertise in Kubernetes/Docker and how they optimise ML development workflows. Monitoring Observability - Experience with monitoring for ML-specific use cases. Collaboration Communication - Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work in collaborative, multi-cultural teams. Nice to have ML Workflow Automation - Experience in ML pipeline orchestration, using tools such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or dedicated compute environments. Model Data Management - Familiarity with model registries, AI Agents, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques, and frameworks like LangChain/LlamaIndex. Hands-on experience with Databricks, Azure ML, or SageMaker. Understanding of security best practices for MLOps, including data privacy compliance in cloud platforms. Knowledge of ML frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn. Experience working in complex enterprise environments with strict security and compliance requirements. Strong networking fundamentals, including configuring and maintaining secure mTLS-based communication between services. Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail. Exposure to Java or R (optional but beneficial for enterprise AI environments). Hands-on experience with stacks such as Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk, ELK and tuning observability for ML-specific use cases. Role Responsibilities: Automate Optimise AI/ML Infrastructure - Enable scalable, repeatable, and secure AI/ML services for research and development (RD). Collaborate Across Teams - Work with ML Engineers, DevOps, and Software teams to design robust ML infrastructure and deployment strategies. Evaluate Integrate Emerging Technologies - Continuously assess and integrate MLOps best practices to enhance automation, efficiency, and security. Monitor Improve ML Operations - Implement proactive monitoring alerting solutions to improve system performance, reliability, and operational insights. Perform Research Proof-of-Concepts (PoCs) - Conduct research and evaluate new technologies to drive innovation and improve AI/ML development and integration cycles. Contribute to Internal External Knowledge Sharing - Document findings, best practices, and PoCs to support broader engineering teams. The Team The Foundry DevOps is a multidisciplinary global team that unites Platform, Software, Infrastrucutre, ML, Security, and other engineers under a single umbrella. Our mission is to drive automation, rapid iteration, and an exceptional developer experience while also researching and delivering innovations in the DevOps space.

• Abide by Mastercard s security policies and practices;
• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;
• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and
• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard s guidelines.