Build an Agricultural Enterprise's Automation Capability | AI & Automation Engineering Leadership | Hands-On Engineering + Business Partnership | Kenya-Based (Flexible for the Right Candidate)

Brief of the Role

Our client is seeking an exceptional AI and automation engineering leader to build their automation capability, lead high-impact solutions, and help scale farmer impact through hands-on engineering, business partnership, and technical leadership.

Our client is a social enterprise supporting millions of smallholder farmers through farm supplies, financing, and digital services, currently investing heavily in an internal AI and automation engineering capability to support its long-term strategic ambitions.

Qualities We Seek

Knowledge

Master's degree in a relevant technical field (Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, AI, Information Systems) or a Bachelor's degree with relevant certifications

Comprehensive understanding of how AI, automation, and software engineering drive organizational strategy and business performance

Expert knowledge of enterprise systems, automation platforms, digital transformation, and organizational change management

Deep understanding of the organization's operating model, customer journeys, and long-term strategic ambitions

Technical Skills

Demonstrated expertise building and deploying production-grade AI, automation, and software solutions, including complex enterprise system integrations (APIs, middleware, third-party platforms)

Strong solution architecture and systems-thinking, with the ability to translate strategic business priorities into scalable technical roadmaps and identify practical applications for emerging technologies

Proven ability to guide technical decision-making, evaluate complex trade-offs, and conduct rigorous architecture and code reviews

Robust portfolio management and prioritization capabilities to ensure sustained, high-impact delivery

Other

Proven track record in hands-on delivery of production-grade technology solutions, balancing deep engineering contribution with effective leadership and capability building

Strategic leader with strong commercial and operational acumen, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and driving organizational change amidst ambiguity

Ownership-driven mindset, accountable for delivering measurable business outcomes and passionate about leveraging technology to maximize farmer impact

Responsibilities & Expectations

Set and Drive AI Strategy, Automation, and Engineering: Partner with senior leadership to identify how automation, AI, engineering, and technology can accelerate strategic priorities and farmer impact; translate business needs into a clear engineering and automation roadmap; evaluate emerging technologies and recommend investments that improve customer experience, operational efficiency, scalability, and financial sustainability; act as a strategic thought partner to business leaders on opportunities, trade-offs, risks, and innovation priorities.

Lead the Design and Delivery of Scalable AI, Automation, and Business Solutions: Ensure automation, AI, enterprise systems, integrations, and software solutions are designed to solve real business problems and deliver measurable value; guide solution architecture and engineering decisions to balance speed, quality, sustainability, and scalability; personally contribute to the design, review, prototyping, and delivery of high-priority automation, AI, integration, and software initiatives; conduct architecture reviews, solution reviews, and technical quality assessments; establish and oversee integration standards across enterprise systems, AI platforms, automation solutions, middleware, APIs, and third-party technologies; ensure business systems exchange information reliably and efficiently; oversee the successful delivery, adoption, and performance of the automation and engineering portfolio.

Build and Strengthen AI & Automation Engineering Capability: Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing engineering team, fostering a culture of ownership, innovation, and disciplined execution; establish robust governance and performance standards (SOPs) to ensure consistent delivery excellence, reliability, and continuous improvement; build long-term technical leadership and succession pipelines by mentoring specialists in AI, automation, and integration aligned with strategic goals.