Job Description

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About the Role
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is seeking a versatile, technically strong engineer to lead the rollout of Claude, ChatGPT, and other enterprise generative AI platforms as the Senior AI Engineer. This is a handson AI enablement role, not a deep machine learning or modelbuilding position: you'll configure and support these platforms and help agency staff turn real business needs into practical AIdriven solutions. Reporting to the Director of Data Engineering, this position is the agency's primary technical resource for applied AI adoption.

The Senior AI Engineer partners directly with business users to gather use cases and translate them into custom AI assistant configurations or comparable solutions, establishes and operates a managed lifecycle for AI tools from pilot through certification for enterprise use, and trains and supports staff on AI platform capabilities.

This role also applies handson software engineering skill to integrate advanced AI development tools, such as Claude Code, into the agency's development and SDLC processes as those capabilities mature, and may prototype lightweight custom solutions or integrations to meet emerging use cases. The role requires versatility and comfort operating in an evolving environment, since the agency's AI capabilities, tools, and processes are expected to grow and change significantly over time.
Partners closely with an AI/Data Product Owner and with systems administration and architecture staff to deliver AI capabilities and mature the agency's AI/ML capabilities over time.

This position works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, and serves as a senior technical authority and mentor without formal supervisory or people management responsibilities.

General Description:
Performs advanced software engineering and applied AI enablement work for the Information Technology Services department, within the agency's data engineering function. This position serves as the agency's primary technical resource for rolling out, configuring, and supporting enterprise generative AI platforms, such as Claude and ChatGPT, and for helping agency staff identify, develop, and adopt effective AIdriven use cases.

Work involves partnering directly with business users to gather use cases and translate them into custom AI assistant configurations or comparable solutions; establishing and operating a managed lifecycle for AI tools, from pilot through certification for enterprise use, and maintaining the agency's catalog of certified AI tools; and training and supporting staff on AI platform capabilities.

This role also applies handson software engineering skill to integrate advanced AI development tools, such as Claude Code, into the agency's development and SDLC processes as those capabilities mature, and may prototype lightweight custom solutions or integrations to meet emerging use cases. This position requires versatility and comfort operating in an evolving environment, since the agency's AI capabilities, tools, and processes are expected to grow and change significantly over time.

Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, and partners closely with an AI/Data Product Owner and with systems administration and architecture staff as needed. This position serves as a senior technical authority and mentor without formal supervisory or people management responsibilities. This position reports to the Director of Data Engineering. Performs other duties as assigned.

General Duties and Responsibilities:
AI Platform Enablement & Rollout ¿ Leads rollout of enterprise generative AI platforms such as Claude and ChatGPT, including configuration, integration, and deployment of chat and custom assistant capabilities across the agency; prototypes lightweight custom solutions or integrations where they meet a use case more effectively than platform configuration alone.
Use Case Discovery & Solution Design ¿ Works directly with business users and the AI/Data Product Owner to gather, evaluate, and design AI use cases; translates business needs into custom GPT/assistant configurations, prompts, or equivalent solutions.
AI Tool Lifecycle & Governance ¿ Establishes and operates a managed lifecycle process for AI tools, from pilot through certification for enterprise use, maintaining the agency's AI tool catalog and ensuring reliability and responsibleuse standards.
Automation & Developer Tooling Integration ¿ Configures and integrates advanced AI development tools, such as Claude Code, into engineering workflows and the SDLC to improve developer productivity; adapts tooling and integrations as the agency's technical environment matures.
Documentation, Standards & Responsible AI Compliance ¿ Establishes documentation, usage standards, and responsibleAI guardrails for published tools; ensures compliance with security and datahandling requirements.
User Training & Technical Enablement ¿ Trains and supports end users and technical staff on AI platform capabilities; serves as the agency's goto technical resource for applied AI adoption, without formal supervisory authority.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills or Abilities:
Knowledge of enterprise generative AI platforms, such as Claude, ChatGPT, or comparable solutions, including their capabilities, configuration options, and administrative controls.
Knowledge of prompt engineering, custom AI assistant or GPT configuration, and retrievalaugmented generation (RAG) concepts.
Knowledge of AI governance principles, including use case intake, risk classification, and lifecycle management from pilot through certification for enterprise use.
Knowledge of responsible AI practices, including data privacy, security, and appropriate use considerations for generative AI in an enterprise environment.
Knowledge of software engineering fundamentals and the software development life cycle (SDLC), including how AI development tools, such as Claude Code, integrate into existing workflows.
Knowledge of IT governance, security, and compliance practices related to enterprise technology adoption.
Skill in configuring and deploying enterprise generative AI platforms and custom AI assistants to meet specific business use cases.
Skill in eliciting and translating business use cases from nontechnical staff into practical AIdriven solutions.
Skill in prototyping lightweight custom tools or integrations to address use cases not met by standard platform configuration.
Skill in integrating AI development tools into engineering workflows and the SDLC to improve developer productivity.
Skill in developing clear documentation, usage guides, and training materials for technical and nontechnical audiences.
Skill in delivering handson training and technical support to end users adopting new AI capabilities.
Skill in collaborating effectively with an AI/Data Product Owner, systems administration, and architecture staff to deliver AI capabilities.
Ability to work directly and effectively with business customers to identify and validate AI use cases.
Ability to operate with versatility across a range of technical and enablement responsibilities in an evolving environment.
Ability to exercise sound independent judgment on AI tool adoption, configuration, and risk without formal supervisory authority.
Ability to balance platform configuration work with handson prototyping and development as needs require.
Ability to establish and apply consistent standards for AI tool review, certification, and ongoing governance.
Ability to communicate complex AI concepts clearly to both technical and nontechnical stakeholders.
Ability to foster a culture of responsible, effective AI adoption and continuous improvement.

Required InOffice Days:
This position is authorized for a hybrid telework schedule. Employees are required to work in the office two (2) days per week, with the remaining three (3) days eligible for telework. Specific inoffice days may be determined by the department to meet business needs.

Military Crosswalk: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_InformationTechnology.pdf

Required Minimum Education and Experience:
Bachelors degree from an accredited fouryear college or university with major coursework in computer science, information systems, data science, or a related field.
Six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in software engineering, applied artificial intelligence, or a related technical field, including experience deploying, configuring, or integrating AI or generative AI platforms into business workflows.
Additional related work experience may substitute for the required education on a yearforyear basis.

Preferred:
Extensive experience deploying, configuring, or administering enterprise generative AI platforms, such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Microsoft Copilot.
Experience designing and building custom GPTs, AI assistants, or comparable configured AI solutions for business use cases.
Demonstrated experience working directly with business customers to gather requirements and translate them into AIdriven solutions.
Experience establishing or supporting an AI governance, intake, or use case management process.
Experience integrating AI development tools, such as Claude Code or GitHub Copilot, into software development workflows.
Experience with software engineering practices sufficient to prototype or build lightweight custom integrations.
Experience delivering technical training or enablement programs to nontechnical staff.
Experience in public sector or government technology environments.

Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:
Work is performed in a standard office environment and requires:
Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance at work.
Frequent use of personal computers, copiers, printers, telephones, and other standard office equipment.
Frequent sitting, with occasional standing, walking, and movement throughout the office.
Frequent interaction with agency leadership, staff, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet established deadlines in a fastpaced environment.

Workforce:
Must be able to:
Demonstrate a strong commitment to customer service and the agency's mission.
Provide strategic leadership that promotes collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with agency leadership, staff, vendors, and external stakeholders.
Show flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities, assignments, and organizational needs, including working extended hours when necessa