AI Consultant (Senior) – AI Engineer PZA

Antwerp, Belgium (Hybrid)
Full-time Contract | Freelance / Consulting Assignment
Start Date: 1 June 2026
Contract Duration: Until 15 July 2027 (Extension Possible)
Application Deadline: 22 May 2026

We are looking for a Senior AI Consultant / AI Engineer to contribute to the development of advanced AI applications within the domains of Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing. The role focuses on building real-world AI solutions for operational use cases within a highly dynamic public safety environment.

You will join an agile AI & Innovation team working on locally hosted AI models and production-grade applications designed to support analysts, investigators, and operational teams in their daily work.

Role Focus

• Development of AI applications in Computer Vision (object detection, scene analysis)
• Development of NLP and LLM-based solutions (chatbots, document intelligence, search systems)
• Use and integration of locally hosted AI models in production environments
• Building scalable AI systems for real-world operational deployment
• Working within constrained environments (including platform restrictions such as Focus)
• Leveraging open-source AI models for applied use cases

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, and deploy AI-driven applications using Python and modern ML frameworks
• Train, fine-tune, and optimize machine learning models, including dataset preparation and curation
• Develop and integrate LLM-based solutions for text understanding, search, and automation
• Implement and manage containerized applications using Docker
• Work with PostgreSQL for data storage and querying
• Build and deploy locally hosted LLM solutions (e.g. vLLM, llama.cpp)
• Integrate AI solutions with existing platforms and APIs
• Apply best practices in MLOps and production AI deployment
• Collaborate closely with end users to translate operational needs into AI solutions
• Contribute to system design for scalable and maintainable AI architectures

Required Experience & Skills

Must-Have

• 5+ years of experience as an AI Consultant or AI Engineer
• Strong experience with Python (5+ years)
• Proven experience with LLMs and modern AI systems
• Experience in training and fine-tuning models, including dataset preparation and tuning workflows
• Strong knowledge of Docker and containerized deployments
• Experience with PostgreSQL
• Familiarity with Claude Code or OpenAI Codex
• Experience working with machine learning techniques across multiple domains
• Fluency in Dutch (CEFR C2 level required)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• Experience deploying locally hosted LLMs (vLLM, llama.cpp)
• Knowledge of TypeScript, React, Node.js, Tailwind CSS
• Experience with NVIDIA DeepStream (Computer Vision pipelines)
• Familiarity with CI/CD and MLOps practices
• Strong understanding of AI system performance optimization

Ideal Candidate

You are a hands-on AI engineer who thrives in applied, real-world environments. You are comfortable working with cutting-edge open-source AI models and enjoy translating complex technical capabilities into usable operational tools. You are proactive, independent, and passionate about building production-grade AI systems with real impact.

Additional Information

• Hybrid working arrangement available
• Estimated workload: ~3000 hours
• Long-term engagement with potential extensions
• Candidate weighting: 50% quality / 50% price
• Must sign IT code and NDA prior to engagement
• Work in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment with end-user proximity

Apply

If you are passionate about AI engineering, computer vision, LLM systems, and building impactful real-world applications, we would love to hear from you.