AI Solutions Engineer

CSUN strives to be a destination workplace, where everyone understands that they belong to a community that is vital in advancing student success and providing exemplary service to all stakeholders. We foster an environment of success, both for our students and our employees. We have a relentless passion for celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as being an employer of choice. You will also have the opportunity to realize your own personal goals and be recognized for the work you do, and enjoy the unique value the CSUN community can offer. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place. Learn more: https://www.csun.edu/about-csun.

Major Duties

Under the general supervision of the Assistant Vice President (AVP) of IT and Technology Strategy Officer (TSO), the AI Solutions Engineer serves as a key technical enabler for driving the design, development, and deployment of agentic solutions and AI-integrated workflows across the university community. The incumbent consults independently with campus stakeholders to evaluate opportunities and architect cost-effective, scalable solutions; engineers, configures, tests, and deploys context-grounded agentic solutions and AI-integrated workflow solutions.

• Consults independently with campus stakeholders to evaluate opportunities and architect cost-effective, scalable solutions; discerning when to deploy agentic, AI-enabled, or AI-integrated workflow automations (such as support agents, research accelerators, or complex administrative process automations) to streamline university activities.
• Authors clear technical design write-ups, architectural specifications, integration blueprints, and cost models to secure stakeholder buy-in and funding prior to building proposed solutions.
• Engineers, configures, tests, and deploys context-grounded agentic solutions and AI-integrated workflow solutions.
• Configures robust defense mechanisms, including prompt injection mitigations, abuse guardrails, evaluation frameworks, and human-in-the-loop escalation paths to ensure agentic actions operate safely within institutional boundaries.
• Empowers student team members to participate in stakeholder requirements gathering, rapid proof of concept (POC) builds, and pilot testing.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

*NOTE: To view the full position description, including all of the required qualifications, copy and paste this link into your browser:  https://mycsun.box.com/s/hvsmk6ncirsdf1yloprxwane03yvjsge

Qualifications

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field and four years of relevant experience.
• Additional experience which demonstrates acquired and successfully applied knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.
• An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline.
• Four (4) years of relevant experience, which includes 2 to 3 years of progressive, hands-on professional experience working with AI, developing software, scripting, API engineering, or systems integration
• Industry Certifications: Active industry certifications in AI or cloud engineering (e.g., Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate, Azure Fundamentals).
• Higher Ed & Student Leadership: Prior experience leading agile software sprint cycles within higher education IT or supervising student developer teams in an academic setting.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to assess business requirements, evaluate AI-enabled technologies, and design cost-effective, scalable solutions while communicating technical recommendations, architectural trade-offs, and security considerations to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience designing, developing, testing, and deploying secure AI-powered solutions using enterprise platforms such as Azure AI Foundry and ServiceNow, including Python, REST APIs, and Model Context Protocol (MCP), with knowledge of AI security frameworks, risk mitigation, and enterprise integration standards.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor student developers, coordinate agile sprint activities, translate complex project requirements into actionable tasks, and provide technical guidance, code reviews, and quality assurance to ensure solutions meet institutional security, accessibility, and governance standards.
• Knowledge of emerging AI frameworks, agentic technologies, vector databases, and developer platforms, with the ability to research, evaluate, and recommend innovative solutions, collaborate across technical working groups, and contribute to IT planning and continuous technology improvement initiatives.

Pay, Benefits, & Work Schedule

• The university offers an excellent benefits package, including but not limited to: medical, dental, vision, retirement & savings, tuition waiver, and more.
• Classification: 0472 / Software Developer III / 1
• The anticipated HIRING RANGE is $7284 – $9237 per month, dependent on qualifications and experience. The salary range for this classification is: $7284 - $10611 per month.
• HOURS: Full Time; 40 hours per week; Monday through Friday. May include evenings and weekends. 
• This is a Regular position with a one-year probationary period. 
• The position is currently hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote); however, this is subject to change based on student and/or operational needs.

General Information

• Applications received through October 28, 2026 will be considered in the initial review and review of applications will continue until the position is filled.
• This position is sensitive as designated by the CSU.  
• A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or the continued employment of current CSU employees who apply for the position.
• The person holding this position may be considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements outlined in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
• Per the California State University (CSU) Out-of-State Employment Policy, the CSU is a state entity whose business operations reside within the State of California and prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside of California.
• Please note: California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is not currently sponsoring staff or management positions for H-1B employment visas. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.
• Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
• Candidates should apply by completing the CSUN online application. To apply and for more detailed information on the application and hiring process, please visit this link: www.csun.edu/careers
• The CSU recommends that faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities at any university location be immunized against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CSUN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination based on Age, Disability (physical or mental), Gender, Gender Identity (including Nonbinary or Transgender), Gender Expression, Genetic Information, Marital Status, Medical Condition, Nationality, Pregnancy or related conditions, Race or Ethnicity (including color, caste, or ancestry), Religion or Religious Creed, Sex (including Sex Stereotyping or Sex Characteristics), Sexual Orientation, and Veteran or Military Status. Our nondiscrimination policy is outlined in the Interim CSU Nondiscrimination Policy. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose by contacting Talent Acquisition at 818-677-2101.

Work with purpose at the CSU.
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