Senior Associate, Applied AI Engineer

Core Spaces (Core) is more than a real estate company; it’s a people company. Where building relationships is just as important as building properties. From researchers and architects to designers and operators, Core is made up of risk takers and dreamers who are on a mission to invent the future of living. Our six cultural values guide us every day and we strive to live them in everything we do: PUSH (Invent Better Places to Live), GRIT (We Got This), LIFT (Help Each Other Win), SHINE (Bring Your Full Self), UPHOLD (Never Break Trust), GROW (Always Get Better). Everything Core does stem from this culture of collaboration and innovation, and the drive to constantly improve the resident experience. This unique approach has led to creating spaces and services that are redefining the way people live.

Founded in 2010, Core is a vertically integrated real estate investment manager focused on acquiring, developing and managing across the student housing and build-to-rent (“BTR”) sectors. Its residential communities feature world-class amenities, progressive design, and hospitality-driven service. Core’s student housing portfolio includes over 59,000 beds currently owned or managed, with a pipeline of over 50,930 beds in various stages of development. Core’s BTR division has over 3,000 homes under development, now leasing or in its pipeline in high growth metros nationwide. For more information, visit www.corespaces.com.

*Portfolio and pipeline numbers as of Q4 2025

• A culture that provides you with a sense of belonging 

• Competitive pay that values your contributions 

• Incentives designed to reward your achievements 

• Paid flexible PTO to disconnect or celebrate life milestones 

• Paid 14+ holidays, including your birthday, to disconnect and celebrate 

• Paid Parental Leave that begins after 90 days 

• Paid volunteer time off to give back to your community 

• Monthly workshop weeks; fewer meetings & more collaboration 

• Robust health plan options that begin within at least 30 days of your employment 

• Monthly phone reimbursement 

• Wellness allowance and perks, including a yearly subscription to a meditation app 

• An environment that provides you a voice to share your perspectives 

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for access to confidential support services        

• Company retirement options including 401(k) + matching & Roth account option 

The Senior Associate, Applied AI Engineer works closely with the AI Architect to design, implement, evaluate, and operationalize AI agents and automation workflows across the organization. This role focuses on applying modern AI techniques related to retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agent frameworks, and evaluation methodologies all contained within a Databricks-centric data platform and Microsoft Copilot Studio–based agent ecosystem.

This is a hands-on role centered on building reliable, auditable AI systems that integrate deeply with enterprise data, analytics, and business processes. The position does not have direct reports and operates as a junior partner to the AI Architect, supporting architectural vision through implementation and validation.

AI Agent & RAG Implementation

• Build and implement AI agents using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), tool calling, and orchestration frameworks
• Leverage Databricks (Delta Lake, notebooks, jobs, MLflow) as the primary environment for data preparation, experimentation, and evaluation
• Configure embeddings, vector stores, retrieval strategies, and prompt logic to support accurate, grounded responses
• Implement and extend agents within Microsoft Copilot Studio, integrating enterprise data, workflows, and APIs
• Assist the AI Architect in translating reference architectures into working agent implementations

Evaluation, Accuracy & Auditing

• Audit AI agent behavior for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with business intent
• Design and run evaluation workflows using Databricks (test datasets, regression checks, qualitative reviews)
• Identify failure modes such as hallucinations, retrieval gaps, or tool misuse and recommend corrective strategies
• Support monitoring and iteration of deployed agents to maintain reliability over time

Data & Platform Enablement

• Prepare and curate structured and unstructured data for retrieval and grounding
• Assist with document ingestion pipelines, chunking strategies, metadata enrichment, and indexing in Databricks
• Collaborate with data engineering teams to ensure AI workflows align with Lakehouse standards and governance
• Support integration between Databricks outputs and Copilot Studio agents

Responsible AI & Compliance

• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner with product managers to translate business needs into agent behaviors and success criteria
• Work with stakeholders to validate AI outputs against real-world use cases
• Clearly communicate system behavior, limitations, and tradeoffs to non-technical audiences
   

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with product managers, engineers, and domain experts to define problem statements and success metrics
• Communicate complex technical concepts to non technical stakeholders in a clear, concise manner
• Occasional travel may be necessary as needed
• Perform all other duties and tasks as assigned by management
• Must be able to complete all physical requirements of this role with or without a reasonable accommodation

• 2–5 years of experience in applied AI, ML engineering, data science, or analytics engineering
• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Data Science, Applied Mathematics, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience)
• Solid understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software engineering principles
• Proficiency in Python and Machine Learning frameworks

You'll crush it if you have experience with

• Databricks (Delta Lake, notebooks, jobs, MLflow, feature pipelines)
• Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and embedding workflows
• Microsoft Copilot Studio or Power Platform–based automations
• Vector databases and semantic search patterns
• LLM evaluation, prompt iteration, and agent testing
• Cloud platforms such as Azure (preferred), AWS, or GCP

Organizational Structure
Reports to: Vice President, Data Strategy
Direct Reports: N/A

Disclaimer: Please note that job responsibilities, reporting lines, and duties outlined in this job description are subject to change to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Core Spaces celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive environment, which creates a sense of belonging for all employees. We do not discriminate and believe every individual should be proud of who they are and the community they represent.

The compensation range listed reflects the base salary or hourly rate that we reasonably and in good faith expect to offer for this role at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as education, experience, skills, certifications, seniority, geographic location, and business needs.

This role may be eligible for additional forms of compensation, including bonuses, commissions, stipends, or non-cash incentives, depending on position and performance. Benefits may include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, and other role-based offerings, subject to eligibility requirements.

All compensation components are subject to change based on business needs or market conditions.