Salary Range: $70,000.00 To $80,000.00 Annually
We are currently looking for a Junior AI/Automation Developer (Local AI Systems) to join our Oakville team. This is a full-time, permanent opportunity that will develop and implement practical AI and automation solutions that improve our vinyl record manufacturing operations through computer vision and locally hosted AI technologies. We are looking for a positive, energetic person who is highly motivated and wants to work in a team environment!
Responsibilities
- Develop, test, deploy, and maintain AI and computer vision applications that support manufacturing operations.
- Develop and deploy image recognition models to compare artworks, labels, and printed materials against reference images.
- Integrate AI vision models with existing camera-based inspection systems on the production line to automate quality checks.
- Build internal AI assistants that answer operational questions, including production status, job due dates, and work order delays.
- Extract, clean, and structure data from ERP, MES, and SQL databases, and develop reliable data pipelines to support AI applications.
- Create Python services, scripts, and APIs that connect production data to local AI models and deliver AI tools through dashboards and existing interfaces.
- Collaborate with production, quality, engineering, and IT teams to identify and implement AI-driven process improvements.
- Test, troubleshoot, optimize, and continuously improve AI models, applications, and data pipelines to ensure reliable production performance.
- Document technical solutions, system configurations, and development processes to support ongoing maintenance and knowledge sharing.
- Stay current with advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision, and recommend practical applications for the business.
- Provide technical support during the implementation and deployment of AI solutions within the production environment.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Requirements/Qualifications
Required:
- Basic to intermediate proficiency in Python programming.
- Working knowledge of SQL and relational databases (MariaDB/MySQL preferred).
- Experience working with REST APIs and JSON data.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.
- Demonstrated interest in applying AI and automation to real-world manufacturing challenges.
- Ability to learn new technologies quickly and work independently as well as collaboratively.
Preferred:
- Experience with computer vision or image processing tools such as OpenCV or Pillow.
- Exposure to image classification, similarity comparison, or object detection models.
- Familiarity with local large language models (LLMs), particularly Ollama.
- Knowledge of LangChain, LlamaIndex, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), or similar AI frameworks.
- Experience working with Linux environments and basic Docker containers.
- Familiarity with manufacturing systems such as ERP, MES, SCADA, or industrial automation environments.
- Post-secondary education in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, or a related field is preferred.
- Equivalent combination of education, technical training, and relevant experience will also be considered.
- Practical experience building software solutions or AI applications is valued more than advanced research or academic credentials.
What we offer:
- Bonus structure based on Company and Individual performance
- 100% Employer paid company sponsored benefits program: this means you don’t pay any premiums!
- Retirement savings match program
- Casual dress
- Employee Assistance Program
- Safety footwear allowance program
- Referral rewards
- Music Program Benefits
- Paid time off program
As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to submit a clear Criminal Record Check, at their own expense, prior to start date.