Cornell University - AI Engineer (Temporary)

AI Engineer is needed in Ithaca, United States.

Client: Cornell University

Location: Ithaca, NY

Contract: Temporary

Job Description

The AI Engineer (Temporary) will be an integral part of Cornell University’s AI Program, a pioneering initiative that harnesses the power of generative AI to address real-world challenges critical to the university’s mission. Reporting to the Program Manager, this position will work at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technologies and practical implementation, building bespoke solutions that empower university departments, faculty, and students to optimize their workflows, improve decision-making, and unlock new opportunities for innovation. The position combines technical excellence with user-focused development to ensure AI solutions enhance equity, accessibility, and transparency, reinforcing Cornell’s commitment to fostering inclusion and innovation across its campus. This role will involve collaboration on transformative projects and shape how higher education harnesses AI to do the greatest good.

This position is a hybrid position, with responsibilities performed both remotely and in person on the Cornell University Campus in Ithaca, New York. Note that no Visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, or related field, with at least 1 year of relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Proficiency in using Python, AI APIs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, etc.), machine learning algorithms, and software development frameworks.
• Familiarity with building agentic solutions using frameworks/tools such as workflow automation platforms, agentic coding tools (Claude Code), LangChain, LangGraph, Agents SDK, etc.
• Strong understanding of advanced AI models and architectures, including generative AI models (including LLMs).
• Practical experience in deploying AI apps to production, including containerization technologies such as Docker.
• Familiarity with modern cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), MLOps pipelines, and version control (Git) to support scalable AI workflows.
• Proven ability to distill complex organizational needs into robust AI solutions.
• Experience addressing real-world challenges using AI, ideally in academic, research, or collaborative environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Proactive stakeholder engagement skills to refine project goals and ensure user-focused solution development.
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical AI practices, ensuring that AI tools are implemented responsibly.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Sound judgment about data risk, permissions, and architectural constraints, with the ability to communicate tradeoffs clearly while aligning work with Cornell-approved platforms and responsible AI practices.
• A passion for translating cutting-edge AI into real-world solutions within a vibrant academic community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s Degree.
• Experience building conversational agents or other generative AI applications in higher education or similar environments.
• Proficiency in relational, non-relational, or graph databases.
• Familiarity using frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Hugging Face.
• Familiarity with academic workflows, from course management to research collaboration tools.
• Prior contributions to academic publications, open-source projects, or AI community initiatives.

Additional Information

This position is a one (1) year temporary position with benefits, which may be ended or extended based on organizational needs, funding availability, and performance.

University Job Title: Temporary Programmer/Analyst

Job Family: Temporary Information Technology

Level: No Grade - Annual

Pay Rate Type: Salary

Remote Option Availability: Hybrid

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university’s mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement. We offer a rich array of services, programs, and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including: employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, and flexible work options.