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MEST AI Startup Program – Technical Fellow In-Residence

MEST AI Startup Program – Technical Fellow In-Residence

MeltwaterCape Town, ZA
21 days ago
Job description

Job title : MEST AI Startup Program – Technical Fellow In-Residence

Job Location : Western Cape, Cape Town

Deadline : October 09, 2025

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  • The MEST AI Startup Program is an up to 12-month immersive experience designed to equip Africa’s most promising AI entrepreneurs with the technical, business, and leadership skills needed to build and scale globally competitive AI startups.

The seven-month startup program is a hands-on, activity-based experience where participants :

  • Explore and refine AI business ideas
  • Develop and deploy an AI MVP
  • Gain deep expertise in AI software development and business fundamentals
  • Engage with world-class AI practitioners from institutions like Google, Meta, and OpenAI
  • The five-month incubation program supports selected ventures to scale AI products, secure customers, and prepare for investment, culminating in deployable AI products, an established user base, and a roadmap for funding and growth.

    • Technical Fellow In-Residence Role Overview

  • The AI Technical Fellow In-Residence is the technical backbone of the MEST AI Startup Program each year. During this one-year contract, you will work directly with entrepreneurs-in-training (EITs) to ensure they can apply the technical concepts taught in the curriculum — from AI model development to deployment. This is a highly hands-on, highly interactive role that includes regular meetings with EITs, experts, partners, facilitators, and program staff to collaborate, troubleshoot, and accelerate learning.
  • You should have deep technical expertise, a passion for AI, and an excitement for learning alongside entrepreneurs. This is a role for a doer — someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-energy environment and is ready to dig in.

    • Key Responsibilities

    Technical Training & Support

  • Deliver interactive tutorials and workshops on AI / ML, software engineering, and MLOps topics from the curriculum (e.g., Python, APIs, LLMs, RAG, LangChain, vector databases, multi-agent systems, Docker, CI / CD)
  • Provide 1 : 1 and group technical coaching, ensuring entrepreneurs can implement concepts in their MVPs
  • Conduct code reviews and guide participants in adopting best practices

    • Curriculum Integration

  • Work with expert facilitators to align technical sessions with business and product milestones
  • Adapt and create technical content based on evolving AI tools and participant needs

    • Problem-Solving & Mentorship

  • Support entrepreneurs in debugging and overcoming technical challenges
  • Learn and experiment with new AI tools alongside participants, sharing insights rapidly
  • Promote responsible AI use, including bias mitigation, privacy by design, and ethical considerations

    • Collaboration & Program Support

  • Partner with program staff to ensure participants have the technical resources they need
  • Contribute to creating a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative learning environment
  • Actively engage in scheduled check-ins, collaborative planning meetings, and review sessions with EITs and program stakeholders

    • Required Qualifications & Skills

    Technical Expertise

  • Advanced proficiency in Python, Git / GitHub, and API development

    • Hands-on experience with :

  • LLMs, prompt engineering, and fine-tuning
  • RAG pipelines, embeddings, vector databases, LangChain
  • Multi-agent systems (e.g., CrewAI) and memory management
  • MLOps, CI / CD, Docker, cloud deployment, and API security
  • Strong grasp of software engineering fundamentals : testing, EDA, model evaluation

    • Experience

  • 2 - 4+ years in software engineering and AI / ML product development
  • Track record of taking AI products from concept to deployment
  • Experience in startup or fast-paced, project-based environments

    • Soft Skills & Mindset

  • Excellent communicator and collaborator, with cross-cultural sensitivity
  • Proactive problem solver with a hands-on “doer” mentality
  • Adaptable, curious, and eager to learn alongside entrepreneurs
  • Passionate about excellence, creativity, and innovation
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    Mest Startup Program • Cape Town, ZA