AI Agent Developer & Integration Specialist

Job Title: AI Agent Developer & Integration Specialist

Location: Sarasota, FL or Houston, TX

Reports To: CIO

Compensation Range: $140,000 - $160,000 annually

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and travel opportunities

The Ceres Commitment

Ceres Environmental Services is a leader in crisis management, rapid response, and disaster recovery, committed to rebuilding stronger, safer communities. Founded in 1976, Ceres has secured more than $3.4 billion in government-funded contracts, reflecting decades of trust in bringing hope during times of need.

We specialize in emergency response, environmental services, planning, and consulting, including debris removal, blue roofs, logistics, debris management, demolition, recycling, forest management, and coastal and marine restoration. As a licensed general contractor, we offer unparalleled expertise to restore stability where it’s needed most.

Driven by Purpose, Powered by People

At Ceres, we believe you're more than just an employee; you're part of a team with a purpose and a meaningful mission. Whether in management, field operations, or behind the scenes, every team member plays a vital role in restoring hope, helping communities recover and rebuild.

We value initiative, respect diversity, and give our people the freedom to lead. We offer competitive pay, travel opportunities, and a culture built on resilience and teamwork. If you show up with compassion, share the commitment, react with urgency, and deliver solutions, you'll fit right in. We don't just respond to challenges; we rise to them.

What We Are Looking For

We are seeking an AI Agent Developer & Integration Specialist to lead the design, development, deployment, and continuous improvement of enterprise AI agents and intelligent automation solutions across Ceres. This role sits within the Information Technology organization and serves as the bridge between business stakeholders and technology teams, partnering directly with subject matter experts to identify opportunities, gather requirements, build solutions, and drive user adoption.

The successful candidate will own AI initiatives from concept through production, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, reliable, and aligned with business objectives. This role has no direct people management responsibilities but requires strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration. Success during the first 12 months will be demonstrated through the deployment of multiple business AI solutions, measurable efficiency gains, strong stakeholder adoption, and the establishment of scalable AI governance and best practices across the organization.

What You Will Do

• Lead the design, development, testing, deployment, and support of enterprise AI agents and intelligent automation solutions.
• Partner with business leaders and subject matter experts to identify process improvement and automation opportunities.
• Facilitate requirement-gathering sessions and document business, technical, and operational needs.
• Build AI agents using approved enterprise AI platforms, frameworks, and development tools.
• Integrate AI solutions with enterprise applications, databases, APIs, and data sources.
• Develop prompts, workflows, orchestration logic, retrieval systems, and business process automations.
• Conduct functional, integration, performance, and user acceptance testing to ensure solution quality and reliability.
• Ensure compliance with organizational security, privacy, governance, and Responsible AI standards.
• Monitor deployed AI agents, analyze performance metrics, and implement continuous improvements.
• Manage the AI agent portfolio, including demand intake, prioritization, lifecycle management, adoption tracking, and ROI measurement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Three (3) or more years of experience developing AI-enabled applications, enterprise automation solutions, or workflow systems.
• Experience building and deploying AI agents, large language model (LLM) applications, or intelligent automation solutions.
• Proficiency in Python and/or TypeScript/Node.js, including API integration and automation development.
• Experience with AI development platforms and frameworks such as Microsoft Copilot Studio, Semantic Kernel, LangChain, LlamaIndex, CrewAI, OpenAI, Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, or similar technologies.
• Proven ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical solutions while communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with enterprise cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), or Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Familiarity with retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), vector databases, prompt engineering, and AI evaluation methodologies.
• Experience with MLOps or LLMOps tools used for monitoring, testing, and optimizing AI applications.
• Knowledge of enterprise business systems including ERP, CRM, finance, operations, or project management platforms.

What to Expect

This is a highly visible role that combines software development, AI innovation, business process improvement, and stakeholder engagement. You will spend time meeting with business leaders and subject matter experts to understand challenges, evaluate opportunities, and prioritize automation initiatives. You will also spend significant time designing, building, testing, and deploying AI agents that improve efficiency and support operational decision-making across the organization.

Success in this role requires balancing technical development with business partnership. You will manage multiple projects simultaneously, work across departments, and adapt to changing priorities as organizational needs evolve. Some projects will involve rapid prototyping and experimentation, while others will require structured development, governance reviews, and enterprise deployment planning.

The pace is fast and collaborative, with a strong focus on practical problem solving, measurable business outcomes, and responsible AI adoption. Individuals who are curious, self-directed, and excited about applying emerging technology to real-world business challenges will thrive in this environment.

Travel may be required periodically to collaborate with business teams, support implementations, facilitate workshops, or provide training at company locations throughout the United States.

Physical Requirements and Environment

Ceres provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and to applicants with sincerely held religious beliefs, as required by law. The physical requirements listed below reflect the essential functions of this role. If you need accommodation to perform these functions, please inform us during the application process.

• Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods of time.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, virtually, and via telephone.
• Ability to travel periodically to company offices, operational locations, and training events.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Commitment to following company safety standards, information security requirements, and operational protocols.

Why Join Ceres?

At Ceres, you won't just have a job, you'll have a mission. Your work will directly impact the speed and strength of community recovery after disasters.

We offer:

• A collaborative, mission-driven culture.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
• The chance to make a lasting difference for communities across the U.S.
• The opportunity to help shape and scale AI capabilities across a national organization.

Ceres Environmental is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to age, race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability status, or protected veteran status.

E-Verify: We comply with Federal law by verifying employment eligibility.