AI Engineering Fellow

Job Summary

Chicago Public Media (CPM), home to WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, is looking for a mission-driven AI Engineer to join our team as part of a two-year fellowship funded by the Lenfest Institute. This fellowship is ideal for a professional ready to act as both a hands-on expert and a mentor, guiding CPM into AI-driven innovation for the first time. You will design, develop, and implement AI solutions that bridge the gap between audio, digital, and print media, expanding our content’s accessibility, discoverability, and engagement across Chicago’s diverse communities.

You will lead the charge on AI solutions, building foundational tools and processes from the ground up. Reporting to our Director of Product Engineering, your work will involve mentoring and empowering team members in best practices for AI-driven solutions, while directly contributing to our mission of making high-quality journalism freely accessible and an integral part of Chicagoans’ daily lives.

Key Responsibilities

AI-Powered Content Tools

• Develop and deploy tools for audio content transcription, summarization, and translation to make our radio broadcasts, podcasts, and print content accessible across multiple mediums.
• Implement processes for summarizing and localizing content for diverse audiences, enhancing accessibility for non-native English speakers and individuals with disabilities.

Personalized Content Recommendation System

• Design and implement a recommendation engine that personalizes content suggestions across CPM platforms based on user behavior.
• Integrate this engine across WBEZ and the Chicago Sun-Times, ensuring cohesive and cross-promotional user experiences.

AI-Enhanced Search & Chatbot Functionality

• Improve site search to deliver relevant, comprehensive search results and summaries, creating an intuitive user experience.
• Build and optimize a chatbot that helps users navigate content, retrieve information, and interact with our platforms, enhancing engagement and audience satisfaction.

Collaboration, Knowledge Sharing, and Mentorship

• Collaborate with CPM’s product, newsroom, and engineering teams to implement AI solutions that align with our mission and meet newsroom needs, integrating seamlessly with our Java-based Brightspot CMS, ensuring efficient content management and delivery.
• Mentor and train staff on AI project development and best practices, fostering knowledge sharing and skills development across the team.
• Document and share project learnings and tools with other local news organizations to support knowledge-sharing within the industry.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

• Prioritize DEI in AI-driven projects by developing tools that address underrepresented communities' needs, such as accurate, bias-free recommendation systems and accessible content for non-native English speakers.
• Actively participate in community listening sessions to gather audience feedback, ensuring that our AI solutions reflect and serve the diversity of Chicago.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5 years of technical consulting or applied AI experience, with a proven track record in building and deploying AI prototypes.
• Proficiency in Python and JavaScript; experience with OpenAI API or similar tools. Knowledge of Java is beneficial, particularly for CMS integration.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex projects, especially within environments that require managing multiple stakeholders.
• Passion for the mission of journalism, with a commitment to supporting equitable access to information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior involvement in open-source projects focused on serving the common good.
• Strong ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with a teaching/mentorship mindset.
• Ability to navigate ambiguous, dynamic environments and solve complex challenges.