AI Agent & Technical Operations Engineer (PhD)

Company Description

Uprise Impact Inc. is a Kitchener-based technology company specializing in AI-enabled geospatial intelligence and land activation solutions. Founded in 2016, Uprise has grown profitably and was ranked 36th on The Globe and Mail’s Fastest Growing Companies list in 2024, achieving 935% growth from 2021 to 2024.

The company develops intelligent systems that analyze satellite imagery, terrain data, and infrastructure characteristics to support decision-making across energy, land development, infrastructure, and sustainability sectors. Uprise combines applied geospatial expertise with artificial intelligence to automate land assessment, reduce risk, and accelerate project timelines.

Role Description

Uprise is seeking an AI Agent & Technical Operations Engineer (OVIN-TFP) to support the development and deployment of AI-enabled operational systems across mobility, energy, and infrastructure projects.

This role sits at the intersection of AI development and technical operations. The successful candidate will help design, implement, and support AI agents and operational workflows that improve internal processes, automate routine tasks, and support decision-making across projects. The role emphasizes practical implementation, system integration, and operational readiness rather than purely theoretical research. The position contributes directly to prototype development, workflow design, testing, and preparation for commercialization.

This role will also support the growth of Uprise’s AI agent division, with a focus on building scalable agent-based systems that can be deployed across multiple domains, including infrastructure analytics, operational automation, and creative/theatrical media workflows. In addition to core infrastructure applications, the role contributes to expanding Uprise’s AI video and theatrical systems division, supporting the development of AI-driven storytelling tools, automated media pipelines, and intelligent agents that assist in audiovisual production, simulation, and immersive environments. The position is intentionally cross-functional, ensuring that AI agents and workflows are designed not only for geospatial or satellite-based applications, but also for broader operational, analytical, and creative use cases across the company.

Key Responsibilities

AI Agent & Systems Development

• Develop and support AI agents used to automate operational and data-related tasks
• Design and implement AI-enabled workflows that improve operational efficiency
• Support integration of AI tools into internal platforms and operational systems
• Assist in developing workflows that support mobility, EV infrastructure, and energy-related applications
• Design and deploy multi-agent systems that coordinate tasks across different operational domains (e.g., data ingestion, analysis, reporting, and decision support)
• Contribute to the development of AI agents for creative and media applications, including AI-assisted video generation, simulation environments, and narrative/theatrical workflows

Technical Operations & Implementation

• Support deployment and testing of AI-enabled systems in operational environments
• Help maintain operational data workflows and system integrations
• Assist with system monitoring and performance improvements
• Support preparation of technical documentation for internal use and commercialization activities
• Support the operationalization of AI agents across both technical and creative pipelines, ensuring reliability, scalability, and real-time performance

R&D and Collaboration

• Work closely with technical and operations teams to translate research outputs into deployable tools
• Support prototype testing, validation, and iteration cycles
• Contribute to documentation and knowledge sharing across teams
• Collaborate across divisions (AI, geospatial, mobility, and media) to ensure cohesive development of agent-based systems and workflows
• Contribute to the strategic expansion of Uprise’s AI agent and automation capabilities, supporting long-term product and platform development

Required Qualifications (OVIN-TFP Eligible)

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, AI, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field
• Experience developing software using Python or similar programming languages
• Experience working with APIs, automation tools, or data workflows
• Understanding of AI/ML systems and their application in real-world environments
• Experience working in applied research, prototype development, or technical project environments
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills
• Eligible to work in Ontario
• Not employed by the company within the last 6 months
• Not a co-op placement

Preferred Assets

• Experience building or deploying AI agents or workflow automation systems
• Experience with cloud-based systems or distributed software environments
• Familiarity with mobility, EV infrastructure, energy systems, or geospatial data
• Experience integrating software into operational workflows
• Strong documentation and systems-thinking skills
• Experience with generative AI tools for video, simulation, or creative production workflows
• Familiarity with multi-agent architectures, orchestration frameworks, or LLM-based systems
• Interest in applied AI across both technical infrastructure and creative/theatrical domains

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $40 – $50 per hour (commensurate with experience and qualifications)

Additional Note Regarding Funding Structure

Please note that this position is being applied for under the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network Talent Development Internship Program (OVIN-TFP). As such, the selected candidate must meet OVIN-TFP eligibility requirements, and the final hiring decision is contingent upon approval through the OVIN program. Candidates must meet OVIN-TFP eligibility criteria, including graduation within the past three years or current graduate enrollment. Following internal selection, the successful candidate will need to be formally presented to OVIN/OCI for review and confirmation of eligibility prior to final offer issuance.