AI Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
AI Engineer jobs in Tennessee are actively sought across healthcare technology, financial services, logistics, and defense contracting, with openings ranging from entry-level data pipeline roles through senior machine learning architects. Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville anchor most of the hiring, with employers like HCA Healthcare, FedEx, and Oak Ridge National Laboratory maintaining consistent demand for ai engineers. The most in-demand specialties in the state include natural language processing, computer vision, and MLOps infrastructure. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Position Summary
The Associate Director, AI & Career Systems Strategy leads the design, implementation, and optimization of AI-enabled tools and operational systems within Career Advancement & Engagement. This role is responsible for scaling student access, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing employer engagement through the strategic use of AI, automation, and integrated platforms. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Initiatives, this role serves as the primary owner of CAE’s AI advising co-pilot and works closely with internal teams, faculty partners, and external vendors (e.g., Handshake) to develop and deploy technology-enabled solutions that improve student outcomes and organizational performance.
About Career Advancement & Engagement
Career Advancement & Engagement at Vanderbilt University is building a pathway-based career ecosystem that aligns academic experience, experiential learning, and employer engagement to improve student outcomes at scale. Through advising, internships, industry partnerships, and AI-enabled tools, CAE helps students explore, prepare for, and launch into meaningful careers across a broad range of industries. This model expands access to opportunities, strengthens employer relationships, and positions Vanderbilt as a leading source of talent in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Key Functions and Expected Performance
- AI Product Ownership (Student Experience):
- Lead development, deployment, and continuous improvement of the AI advising co-pilot
- Define use cases aligned to student pathways, milestones, and advising needs
- Monitor usage, effectiveness, and student outcomes
-
Partner with faculty (e.g., Generative AI Innovation Center) on ongoing development
-
Workflow Automation & Operational Efficiency:
- Identify and redesign key workflows across advising, employer engagement, and student communications
- Implement AI and automation tools to improve efficiency, consistency, and scale
-
Reduce manual processes and streamline operations across teams
-
Marketing & Communication Automation:
- Develop AI-enabled approaches to student and employer communications
- Automate targeted messaging aligned to pathways, recruiting timelines, and student milestones
-
Improve personalization and engagement at scale
-
Systems Integration & Vendor Management:
- Serve as primary liaison to Handshake and other platform providers on AI-enabled features
- Ensure alignment between AI tools, CRM (VandyQuest), and career platforms
-
Identify and implement new tools that enhance system capabilities
-
Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement:
- Develop dashboards and reporting to assess system performance and user engagement
- Use data to refine workflows, improve student outcomes, and inform strategy
-
Identify trends and opportunities for further automation and innovation
-
Training, Adoption & Change Management:
- Train staff on AI tools and system workflows
- Drive adoption of new tools and processes across CAE
- Develop documentation and best practices for sustainable use
Supervisory Relationships
This position does not have supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Education and Certifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field is necessary.
Experience and Skills
- 5–8+ years of experience in operations, systems, technology, or program management is necessary.
- Demonstrated experience implementing or managing AI, automation, or digital tools is necessary.
- Strong analytical, process design, and problem-solving skills are necessary.
- Ability to translate complex systems into practical workflows is necessary.
- Experience in higher education, workforce development, or career services is preferred.
- Familiarity with CRM systems (Salesforce) and platforms like Handshake is preferred.
- Experience working with AI tools, product development, or digital transformation initiatives is preferred.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are preferred.
Position Summary
The Associate Director, AI & Career Systems Strategy leads the design, implementation, and optimization of AI-enabled tools and operational systems within Career Advancement & Engagement. This role is responsible for scaling student access, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing employer engagement through the strategic use of AI, automation, and integrated platforms. Reporting to the Director of Strategic Initiatives, this role serves as the primary owner of CAE’s AI advising co-pilot and works closely with internal teams, faculty partners, and external vendors (e.g., Handshake) to develop and deploy technology-enabled solutions that improve student outcomes and organizational performance.
About Career Advancement & Engagement
Career Advancement & Engagement at Vanderbilt University is building a pathway-based career ecosystem that aligns academic experience, experiential learning, and employer engagement to improve student outcomes at scale. Through advising, internships, industry partnerships, and AI-enabled tools, CAE helps students explore, prepare for, and launch into meaningful careers across a broad range of industries. This model expands access to opportunities, strengthens employer relationships, and positions Vanderbilt as a leading source of talent in a rapidly evolving workforce.
Key Functions and Expected Performance
- AI Product Ownership (Student Experience):
- Lead development, deployment, and continuous improvement of the AI advising co-pilot
- Define use cases aligned to student pathways, milestones, and advising needs
- Monitor usage, effectiveness, and student outcomes
-
Partner with faculty (e.g., Generative AI Innovation Center) on ongoing development
-
Workflow Automation & Operational Efficiency:
- Identify and redesign key workflows across advising, employer engagement, and student communications
- Implement AI and automation tools to improve efficiency, consistency, and scale
-
Reduce manual processes and streamline operations across teams
-
Marketing & Communication Automation:
- Develop AI-enabled approaches to student and employer communications
- Automate targeted messaging aligned to pathways, recruiting timelines, and student milestones
-
Improve personalization and engagement at scale
-
Systems Integration & Vendor Management:
- Serve as primary liaison to Handshake and other platform providers on AI-enabled features
- Ensure alignment between AI tools, CRM (VandyQuest), and career platforms
-
Identify and implement new tools that enhance system capabilities
-
Data, Insights & Continuous Improvement:
- Develop dashboards and reporting to assess system performance and user engagement
- Use data to refine workflows, improve student outcomes, and inform strategy
-
Identify trends and opportunities for further automation and innovation
-
Training, Adoption & Change Management:
- Train staff on AI tools and system workflows
- Drive adoption of new tools and processes across CAE
- Develop documentation and best practices for sustainable use
Supervisory Relationships
This position does not have supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to the Director of Strategic Initiatives.
Education and Certifications
Bachelor’s degree in a related field is necessary.
Experience and Skills
- 5–8+ years of experience in operations, systems, technology, or program management is necessary.
- Demonstrated experience implementing or managing AI, automation, or digital tools is necessary.
- Strong analytical, process design, and problem-solving skills are necessary.
- Ability to translate complex systems into practical workflows is necessary.
- Experience in higher education, workforce development, or career services is preferred.
- Familiarity with CRM systems (Salesforce) and platforms like Handshake is preferred.
- Experience working with AI tools, product development, or digital transformation initiatives is preferred.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are preferred.
See All 28 AI Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find AI Engineer JobsAI Engineer Jobs by City in Tennessee
Where Tennessee roles are concentrated, by current openings.
AI Engineer Job Market in Tennessee
A snapshot from current Tennessee openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Starbucks4
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital4
- Conexess3
- Dollar General2
- Belmont University2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software5
- Healthcare & Medical Services5
- Food & Beverage4
- Education3
- Retail2
What Tennessee Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in AI engineer jobs across Tennessee.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, data science, or a closely related field
- Proficiency in Python and machine learning frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch
- Experience designing, training, and deploying machine learning models in production environments
- Familiarity with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for AI workloads
- Strong understanding of data engineering pipelines, feature stores, and model monitoring
- Ability to communicate model performance and limitations to non-technical business stakeholders
AI Engineer Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a ai engineer in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not require a state-issued license to work as an ai engineer. The standard path is a bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, or electrical engineering, followed by hands-on experience with machine learning frameworks and cloud platforms. Many Tennessee employers, particularly in healthcare technology and defense, also value candidates who hold industry certifications in AWS Machine Learning or Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer alongside a strong project portfolio.
Which companies hire ai engineers in Tennessee?
Employers hiring ai engineers in Tennessee right now include Starbucks, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Conexess, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Tennessee's concentration of large healthcare systems, logistics companies, and federally funded research institutions means ai engineer demand is spread across multiple industry verticals rather than concentrated in a single sector.
Which Tennessee cities have the most ai engineer jobs?
Nashville, Memphis, and Spring Hill have the most ai engineer openings in Tennessee. Nashville leads because of its dense cluster of healthcare technology companies and corporate headquarters, Memphis draws demand from logistics and supply chain operations anchored by FedEx, and Knoxville benefits from proximity to Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee's research partnerships.
Are there remote ai engineer jobs in Tennessee?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 11% of ai engineer openings tied to Tennessee are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, reflecting how naturally the role fits distributed work. Model development, experimentation, and data pipeline work are the parts of the role most commonly performed fully remote, while roles tied to on-site infrastructure or classified government contracts at Oak Ridge typically require in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a ai engineer in Tennessee with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for junior data scientist or machine learning associate roles at Tennessee's large healthcare technology firms, where companies like HCA Healthcare and Ciara Health run structured new-graduate programs. Building a public portfolio on GitHub with end-to-end projects, including data ingestion through model deployment, gives candidates a meaningful edge. Adjacent roles in data analytics or data engineering at Tennessee employers are also a common stepping stone into a dedicated ai engineer position.
Where can I find and apply to ai engineer jobs in Tennessee?
You can find and apply to ai engineer jobs in Tennessee on Migrate Mate, which lists current Tennessee openings across Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and surrounding areas. Find roles that fit your experience and specialization and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 28 AI Engineer Jobs in Tennessee
Find roles in Tennessee that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find AI Engineer Jobs