Head of the AI Deployment Laboratory

The Italian Institute of Artificial Intelligence for Industry (AI4I) is seeking an experienced and mission-driven
Head of the AI Deployment Lab
to lead the large-scale adoption of advanced AI solutions across Italy's industrial ecosystem.

This call aims to appoint the
founding Head
of a mission-critical unit responsible for bringing AI technologies out of the lab and into real-world production environments.

Location
: AI4I, OGR, Turin, Italy

Hybrid work
: Flexible arrangements can be negotiated.

Deadline
: March 31, 2026, 11:59 PM CEST

About The AI Deployment Lab
The AI Deployment Lab is a core operational entity within AI4I, focused exclusively on the deployment, integration, and scaling of high-TRL AI systems within partner companies and production environments. Unlike research-oriented labs, the Unit works on mature technologies, close to or beyond validation stages, and is responsible for ensuring real-world impact through robust engineering, solution customization, and reliable delivery.

The Lab will act as a bridge between R&D and industry, turning scientific advancements into usable tools, software systems, and platforms, and adapting them to client needs across domains such as manufacturing, logistics, energy, and smart infrastructure.

It Will Operate In Close Collaboration With

• AI4I's R&D Labs, which generate and validate cutting-edge AI technologies, and will provide your Lab with leads for deployment of AI solutions developed by the Institute.
• The Engineering Unit managing the AI Foundry, the Institute's infrastructure for model training, optimization, and deployment (with over 140 NVIDIA H100/B200 GPUs).
• The Business Development Team, to align your Lab with client needs and to support it in activities of analytics translation, that is analysing needs' business and recover potential use cases for AI deployment or R&D.

The Deployment Lab plays a central role in AI4I's contribution to the national AI Factory, ensuring that research and technology can be rapidly transferred and adopted by industrial ecosystems at scale.

Your Role: Head of the AI Deployment Lab
As Head of the AI Deployment Lab, you will design, structure, and lead a team of senior engineers, AI developers, solution architects, and deployment specialists. Your mission will be to translate proven AI technologies into high-impact, field-ready solutions and to drive adoption within industrial ecosystems.

You will work closely with AI4I's strategic partners, national industrial champions, and SMEs, ensuring that every deployment aligns with operational needs, regulatory frameworks, and long-term performance goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Deployment Strategy & Execution: Design and implement scalable deployment pipelines for AI solutions, ensuring performance, robustness, and usability in production contexts.
• Client Engagement: Work directly with partner companies to assess needs, co-design deployment strategies, and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Team Leadership: Recruit, manage, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of deployment professionals, fostering a culture of accountability and technical excellence.
• Technology Transfer: Translate AI research outputs (from AI4I or external sources) into industrial-grade software and systems, customizing them for specific domains and use cases.
• Cross-Unit Coordination: Collaborate closely with R&D Labs, the Engineering Unit (AI Foundry), and Business Development to align strategic priorities and technical roadmaps.
• Quality & Reliability: Ensure high standards of reliability, compliance (e.g., AI Act), and documentation across all deployments.
• Business Development: Support business development efforts, including scoping new opportunities, preparing technical offers, and contributing to strategic partnerships.
• KPIs and Reporting: Monitor and report on deployment outcomes, adoption rates, and client impact, aligned with the Institute's overall performance indicators.

What We Offer

• A 4-year appointment, renewable or convertible into a permanent position upon achievement of pre-negotiated performance targets, with a clear leadership mandate and visibility at national level.
• A competitive salary and benefits package, including up to 90% tax exemption for international candidates relocating to Italy.
• Access to a full-stack AI engineering pipeline via the AI Foundry (over 140 NVIDIA H100/B200 GPUs and 6 PB storage).
• Direct collaboration with leading industrial players and public institutions.
• Integration into a national and European network of applied AI programs, consortia, and funding opportunities.

What We Are Looking For
We seek a mission-driven technical leader with a strong track record in AI system deployment, software engineering, and operational delivery.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience deploying AI or data-driven systems in production environments (e.g., factories, logistics, infrastructure, etc.).
• Deep understanding of the AI engineering lifecycle, from system design and integration to testing, deployment, and monitoring.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and scale large multidisciplinary teams, and to manage complex, multi-stakeholder industrial projects.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills in industrial settings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, or a related field; PhD welcome but not required.
• Experience with edge AI, model optimization, AI safety, or regulatory compliance (e.g., CE marking, AI Act).
• Background in industrial automation, cyber-physical systems, or cloud/edge deployment.
• Participation in public-private R&D or technology transfer programs.

Key Success Metrics
Your Performance Will Be Assessed Based On

• Deployment Impact: Number and quality of AI deployments, including client satisfaction and measurable value delivered.
• Operational Excellence: On-time, on-budget execution of complex deployment projects.
• Adoption & Scale: Extent of adoption of AI solutions within partner organizations or sectors.
• Collaboration: Effective coordination with internal (Labs, Engineering, SUK) and external stakeholders.
• Revenue & Growth: Contribution to project acquisition, industry partnerships, and scaling of the unit.

How To Apply
Submit your application by March 31, 2026, 11:59 PM CEST, including:

• CV
• Motivation letter (max. 800 words)
• Contact information for 3 professional references
• Optional: Portfolio of past deployments, Git repositories, or relevant documentation

About Us
The Italian Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI4I) was founded as a research institute to perform transformative, application-oriented research in Artificial Intelligence, driving innovation and industrial progress. The Institute is designed to engage and empower gifted, entrepreneurial, and ambitious researchers who are committed to generating real-world impact at the intersection of science, technology, and industrial transformation.

Competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, access to dedicated high-performance computing resources, state-of-the-art laboratories, and strong industrial collaborations are among the distinctive features that define AI4I. The Institute fosters a dynamic international environment and an ecosystem that supports the creation and growth of innovative startups.

AI4I's mission is to advance scientific research, technology transfer, and, more broadly, Italy's innovation capacity, promoting positive impact across industry, services, and public administration. To achieve this, the Institute contributes to building a research and innovation infrastructure that leverages AI methods, with a special focus on manufacturing processes and the broader Industry 4.0 value chain.

AI4I also maintains strategic relationships with leading organizations in Italy and abroad, including Competence Centers and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), positioning itself as an attractive destination for researchers, companies, and startups seeking collaboration and impact.