About this role
ABOUT AI CENTRAL
AI Central (AIC) is NCS's enterprise AI capability spine — the group responsible for building, productising, and deploying NCS's AI platforms and reusable assets across regulated and mission-critical sectors. AIC works at the intersection of deep AI engineering and high-stakes client environments in aviation, land transport, public safety, telecommunications, and government.
AIC is not an internal support function. It is where NCS's most differentiated AI capabilities are built, validated, and scaled — and where solutions developed in Singapore are prepared for regional deployment across Asia Pacific.
THE ROLE
Lead teams that build what matters, fast.
Join a startup-style team embedded within one of Singapore's leading technology services firms, working directly with senior leaders to transform client opportunities into AI-powered products, MVPs, and new ventures.
This is a high-impact technical leadership role for experienced builders who thrive in ambiguity, can lead multidisciplinary teams, and know how to move from problem framing to production-ready solutions. You will use AI and AI engineers as a force multiplier across research, design, engineering, and delivery, while staying accountable for real client outcomes and team development.
We are looking for technical leaders who can demonstrate that they have:
Led the design and deployment of consequential AI/ agentic systems in production environmentsBuilt and mentored high-performing engineering teamsExercised independent business acumen, critical thinking, and technical judgement under real constraintsCreated technical foundations and architectures that others build onDelivered measurable business value through AI innovationYou will not be working in a sandbox or building theoretical demos. You will be leading teams to deliver in live client contexts, shaping solutions that can be tested, adopted, and scaled across the region.
WHAT YOU WILL OWN
Strategic Technical Leadership
The end-to-end AI delivery methodology and technical standards for your assigned projectsTechnical architecture decisions that balance innovation, scalability, security, and business valueThe engineering roadmap and capability development strategy for your teamTeam Development & Mentorship
Building, leading, and growing a team of AI engineers and buildersTechnical onboarding, capability development, and career progression of team membersFostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learningReusable Asset & Knowledge Management
The reusable asset library emerging from your team's client engagements are documented, abstracted, and ready for regional adaptationTechnical playbooks, design patterns, and best practices that enable NCS to scale AI-native deliveryKnowledge transfer mechanisms that build organizational capabilityClient & Stakeholder Engagement
Technical advisory to C-suite and senior client stakeholders on AI strategy, investment priorities, and architecture decisionsCross-functional collaboration with sales, delivery, and product teams to shape winning propositionsRepresenting NCS's AI capabilities in client engagements and industry forumsKEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Technical Leadership & Delivery
Lead multidisciplinary teams from client problem statement to working prototype, MVP, or production-ready solutionDefine technical architecture, technology stack, and delivery approach for complex AI initiativesTranslate ambiguous business challenges into clear product hypotheses, technical strategies, and execution roadmapsOversee the building and shipping of AI-enabled solutions using the right combination of software engineering, model orchestration, automation, and design toolsMake sound architectural trade-offs across speed, quality, security, scalability, cost, and business valueEnsure solutions meet enterprise-grade standards for reliability, maintainability, security, and observabilityTeam Management & Development
Build, mentor, and grow a high-performing team of AI engineers and buildersConduct technical reviews, code reviews, and architecture reviews to maintain quality standardsProvide coaching, feedback, and career development guidance to team membersFoster a collaborative, innovative, and psychologically safe team cultureIdentify skill gaps and drive upskilling initiatives within your teamStrategic Advisory & Thought Leadership
Advise client technology and business leaders on AI investment priorities, architecture decisions, and build-versus-buy choices — drawing on NCS's cross-sector experience and AIC's capability baseShape AI strategy and roadmaps in collaboration with the Chief AI Officer, sector leads and other NCS leadershipContribute to NCS's AI thought leadership through whitepapers, case studies, and industry presentationsStay current with emerging AI tools, methods, and frameworks, and evaluate their strategic fit for NCS and our clientsProcess & Methodology Innovation
Drive fast experiments and iterative delivery cycles to validate desirability, feasibility, and valueEstablish and continuously improve engineering practices, delivery methodologies, and quality standardsContribute reusable patterns, playbooks, and working practices that help NCS scale AI-native delivery across sectors and geographiesChampion responsible AI principles, including fairness, transparency, privacy, and governanceCross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with sales and account teams to shape technical proposals and win strategiesCollaborate with product managers to define product vision, roadmap, and feature prioritizationPartner with infrastructure and security teams to ensure solutions meet enterprise standardsEngage with regional teams to enable knowledge transfer and solution adaptationTHIS ROLE IS FOR YOU IF…
You are a proven technical leader
You have successfully led engineering teams to deliver complex AI/ML solutions in productionYou balance hands-on technical contribution with strategic leadership and team developmentYou can inspire, mentor, and grow engineering talentYou thrive in ambiguity and create clarity
You are energised by ambiguity and know how to create clarity through action and leadershipYou are comfortable defining scope, shaping approach, and driving execution across multiple workstreamsYou make sound decisions with incomplete information and adapt as context evolvesYou combine technical depth with business acumen
You combine deep technical expertise with product instinct, business understanding, and strong judgementYou can translate between technical complexity and business valueYou understand how to prioritize based on client impact and strategic valueYou are an effective communicator and influencer
You work well with senior stakeholders and can challenge assumptions constructivelyYou can articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical audiencesYou build trust and credibility through transparency and deliveryYou are AI-fluent and forward-thinking
You use AI fluently in your day-to-day workflow as a practical multiplier across design, code, research, and deliveryYou stay current with AI innovation and can separate hype from practical valueYou understand the limitations and risks of AI systems, not just their capabilitiesYou are outcome-focused
You care about shipping real solutions that solve meaningful client problemsYou move quickly, but you also know where quality, trust, and maintainability matter mostYou measure success by client impact and team growth, not just technical sophistication Required
Education: Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent practical experience is also valuedLeadership Experience: 2+ years of experience leading engineering teams (3+ engineers) in delivering complex software or AI/ML solutions; 5+ years of overall AI/ technical experienceTechnical Expertise:Strong hands-on engineering ability in Python, JavaScript, or similar languagesDeep experience building and integrating production-grade AI/ML applicationsProven track record architecting scalable, secure, and maintainable systemsAI/ML Delivery: Demonstrated experience delivering AI, machine learning, or generative AI solutions in real-world, production settings with measurable business impactModern AI Tooling: Strong understanding of modern AI tooling, including:LLM application patterns and orchestration frameworks (e.g., LangChain, LlamaIndex)Model deployment, monitoring, and evaluation approachesAutomation platforms and MLOps practicesModel limitations, risks, and responsible AI considerationsEngineering Discipline: Ability to balance experimentation with sound engineering discipline, including security, reliability, observability, and maintainabilityCommunication & Stakeholder Management:Strong communication and stakeholder management skillsAbility to translate business needs into technical executionExperience advising at the executive levelAutonomy & Delivery: Proven ability to work independently, navigate ambiguity, lead through uncertainty, and deliver outcomes at paceGood to Have
Industry Experience:Experience in consulting, venture building, startup environments, or innovation teamsExperience deploying AI solutions in enterprise or regulated environments — aviation, land transport, public safety, telecommunications, or governmentUnderstanding of compliance requirements in regulated sectorsTechnical Breadth:Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), APIs, CI/CD, analytics, and observability toolsExperience with infrastructure-as-code, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and cloud-native architecturesKnowledge of data engineering, data governance, and data quality practices WHY JOIN NCS
Lead high-impact AI transformation programmes for major enterprises and public-sector organisationsMove beyond traditional advisory work to help turn AI strategies into working solutions and measurable outcomesWork alongside multidisciplinary teams spanning consulting, AI, engineering, data science, product, and designHelp build reusable AI capabilities that can scale across NCS and Asia PacificWHY SINGAPORE
Asia’s innovation hub: Build your career in a leading global technology and AI ecosystem.Regional exposure: Work on impactful projects with opportunities spanning Asia Pacific.Global & multicultural: English-speaking, internationally connected, and home to talent from around the world.Exceptional quality of life: Enjoy a safe, clean and well-connected city with excellent public transport, healthcare and infrastructure.Gateway to Asia: Exceptional connectivity makes travelling across Asia and beyond easy.Work, live & explore: A vibrant city with world-class food, culture, nature and experiences.
We are driven by our AEIOU beliefs—Adventure, Excellence, Integrity, Ownership, and Unity—and we seek individuals who embody these values in both their professional and personal lives. We are committed to our Impact: Valuing our clients, Growing our people, and Creating our future.
Together, we make the extraordinary happen.
Learn more about us at ncs.co and visit our LinkedIn career site.
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