AI Engineer

Texas Health and Human Services Commission

$101K — $140K *
Technical Services
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, data engineering, AI, or related field.
  • 4+ years of experience in data engineering or AI solutions.
  • Strong proficiency in Python and modern AI frameworks.
  • Experience with secure ETL/ELT pipelines and data management.
  • Understanding of AI platforms (Azure, AWS, Google) and relevant databases.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement AI agents and workflows using Python frameworks.
  • Create secure data ingestion structures for AI models.
  • Evaluate and optimize AI model performance and security.
  • Prepare technical documentation and architecture diagrams.
  • Provide technical guidance on AI integration and modernization.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work in a collaborative tech environment.
  • Access to continuous learning and professional development.
  • Engagement in enterprise-level AI solutions.
  • Support for responsible and ethical AI development.
  • Location in Austin, Texas, known for its tech culture.
Full Job Description
Functional Title: AI Engineer Job Title: Systems Analyst VII Agency: Health & Human Services Comm Department: Chief Technology Office EI 3b Posting Number: 19981 Closing Date: 10/10/2026 Posting Audience: Internal and External Occupational Category: Computer and Mathematical Salary Range: $8,488.33- $11,666.66 Pay Frequency: MonthlySalary Group: TEXAS-B-29 Shift: Day Additional Shift: Days (First) Telework: Travel: Regular/Temporary: Regular Full Time/Part Time: Full time FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt Facility Location:Job Location City: AUSTIN Job Location Address: 701 W 51ST ST Other Locations: MOS Codes: 0171,8848,8858,181X,182X,1D7X1,255A,255S,25B,25D,25H,26B,62E,681X,682X,781X,CTI,CTM,CTR,CYB10,CYB11
ISM,IT,Z Prefix

This position is open to U.S. Citizens and permanent residents.

This onsite role requires the selected candidate to work from an HHS office in Austin, Texas.

Performs highly complex computer systems analysis and AI engineering work for the CTO team. Work involves designing, engineering, configuring, and implementing data pipelines, AI agents, orchestration workflows, retrieval patterns, reusable AI services, secure integrations, and automation capabilities that support enterprise modernization and responsible AI innovation. The position helps translate business and technical needs into scalable AI-enabled solutions by preparing governed data sources, developing reusable components, evaluating model and prompt performance, supporting secure access controls, and documenting repeatable implementation patterns. The position also supports responsible AI practices, solution monitoring, technical standards alignment, and collaboration with architecture, cloud, data, security, privacy, and application teams to deliver reliable, maintainable, and agency-owned enterprise technology capabilities.

Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Percentage

Description

45%

Designs, develops, and implements AI agents, orchestration workflows, reusable AI services, prompt management solutions, API integrations, and automation components using approved cloud services, Python frameworks, and AI toolchains to support modernization, service delivery improvement, and responsible AI innovation.

30%

Designs and modifies secure data ingestion structures, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) vector stores, embeddings, semantic search patterns, metadata strategies, and automated processing pipelines to provide AI solutions with clean, structured, governed, and access-controlled agency data.

15%

Evaluates, tests, and tunes AI model performance, agent behavior constraints, prompt effectiveness, retrieval quality, guardrails, auditability, and solution reliability to support security, privacy, compliance, accessibility, and approved system requirements.

5%

Prepares technical documentation, implementation notes, architecture diagrams, data flow diagrams, operational runbooks, and decision support materials; provides technical guidance to staff and project teams on AI integration, reuse, supportability, and secure modernization practices.

5%

Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):
  • Knowledge:
    • Thorough knowledge of Python programming and object-oriented software patterns.
    • Thorough knowledge of modern AI frameworks, such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, and CrewAI, and cognitive orchestration architecture patterns.
    • Thorough knowledge of AI platforms and services offered by cloud service providers, such as Azure, AWS, and Google.
    • Thorough knowledge of vector and graph databases, such as Pinecone, Chroma, pgvector, and Neo4j, text embeddings, and semantic index optimization.
    • Thorough knowledge of enterprise data security regulations, data masking, and access management within state processing systems.
  • Skills:
    • Strong skill in configuring secure ETL/ELT pipelines to structure, clean, and securely ingest large sets of semi-structured and unstructured data.
    • Strong skill in building stateful, autonomous AI agents, establishing logic guardrails, and managing programmatic prompt lifecycles.
    • Strong skill in debugging asynchronous code flows, multi-threaded worker routines, and API call limits within complex codebases.
  • Abilities:
    • Ability to systematically benchmark AI systems for precision, context recall, safety, and toxicity using automated evaluation tools.
    • Ability to translate multi-agent AI patterns into clear technical flowcharts and data maps
    • Ability to provide technical guidance and support developers through complex pipeline refactoring assignments.


Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

None

Initial Screening Criteria:
  • Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in computer science, data engineering, artificial intelligence, or a related field. Experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
  • Minimum of 4 years of experience in data engineering, programming, or supporting AI or LLM-based solutions.
  • preferred to have experience with AI or ML

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor's Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

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