AI Lead job at Emata

Want to build the AI solutions that will disrupt agricultural lending globally? We’re looking for an experienced AI professional with both technical hands-on and leadership experience to take our algorithms to new crops and countries, and bring GenAI and agentic AI into the way we work.

About Emata

Emata is a frontrunner in agri finance in East Africa, backed by award-winning tech and a mission-driven team. Since launching in 2021, we’ve served 70,000+ farmers and partnered with 120+ agri companies and cooperatives, blending data science, AI and a deep industry love for agriculture. Now we’re growing beyond Uganda, starting with Tanzania and Rwanda.

Products: Digital loans, crop insurance, payments

Where we are: Offices in Kampala and Mbarara in Uganda, and in Tanzania

Team: 25+ engineers, data scientists, product & business

Culture perks: Cappuccinos from farmers we lend to, freedom to innovate, health insurance cover, salary-backed loans, ongoing training & certifications

At our core, we value teamwork over titles, critical thinking over copying, ownership of outcomes, fast learning, and integrity without compromise.

What you’ll own

You’ll lead our algorithms and applied AI work – making our credit models work in new places, and putting AI to work across the business. Specifically:

• Take our methods to new places: work out what carries over to a new crop, partner or country, what needs to change, and how to make each expansion faster ‍
• Make our algorithms better: run experiments, test assumptions, and find out why models behave differently in different places ‍
• Put GenAI and agents to work: pick use cases by value, cost and risk, take the best ones into daily use with the right human checks, and be honest about what to grow, change or stop ‍
• Run AI reliably in production: with our ML engineering team, move models from experiment to dependable services, and help shape the platform as we grow ‍
• Tie the work to results: faster partner onboarding, better lending decisions, less manual work ‍
• Lead and explain: coach the people in your area, and explain your work plainly to partners and investors

Your first year

You’ll work closely with our Chief AI Officer (CAIO), who has 18 years in top-tier tech consulting. The CAIO sets direction; you bring your own judgement and own the delivery.

First 3 months – learn and plan. Learn our methods, data and platform, spend time in the field, and agree a roadmap with the CAIO.

By 6 months – deliver. Ship model improvements, show evidence for new crops or markets, and get the first GenAI use cases live.

By 12 months – scale. AI runs reliably in production and delivers measurable value. Expansion is faster, and the team is ready for a bigger business.

You might be the one if you are…

• Experienced – 6+ years in data science, ML or AI, including 2+ years leading technical delivery
• Broad – you’ve applied AI to very different problems, and adapted when the first approach didn’t work
• Production-proven – you’ve deployed AI and scaled it, and kept quality, reliability and cost in check
• Technically strong – stats, ML, programming and hands-on GenAI, with a quantitative degree or equivalent
• A fast learner – no credit or agri finance background needed, we’ll teach you our methods

You’re hands-on – team before titles – and you build your own playbook. You’re at ease with everyone from farmers to investors, and you want your work to matter.

We prefer candidates with experience working/living in frontier markets, especially Africa. If you are not based in Uganda, we facilitate relocation to Uganda (flight, work permit, and housing allowance).

What we offer

A unique opportunity to lead AI at an award-winning, venture-capital-backed startup that’s reshaping how African farmers access finance.

Competitive package, health insurance, salary loans, a growth budget, and a friendly, hard-working team.

Ready to have real impact?

• Take our methods to new places: work out what carries over to a new crop, partner or country, what needs to change, and how to make each expansion faster ‍
• Make our algorithms better: run experiments, test assumptions, and find out why models behave differently in different places ‍
• Put GenAI and agents to work: pick use cases by value, cost and risk, take the best ones into daily use with the right human checks, and be honest about what to grow, change or stop ‍
• Run AI reliably in production: with our ML engineering team, move models from experiment to dependable services, and help shape the platform as we grow ‍
• Tie the work to results: faster partner onboarding, better lending decisions, less manual work ‍
• Lead and explain: coach the people in your area, and explain your work plainly to partners and investors

• Data science
• ML
• AI
• GenAI
• Programming
• Statistics
• Leadership

• 6+ years in data science, ML or AI
• 2+ years leading technical delivery
• Applied AI to very different problems
• Deployed AI and scaled it
• Kept quality, reliability and cost in check
• Technically strong in stats, ML, programming and hands-on GenAI
• Quantitative degree or equivalent
• Fast learner
• Experience working/living in frontier markets, especially Africa (preferred)