AI Applications Developer

Job Title: AI Applications Developer

Location: Phoenix, AZ (On-site; local candidates only)

Employment Type: W2 Contract About the Opportunity: ZipStaff is hiring an AI Applications Developer for our client, a state government agency in Phoenix, to design, build and support AI-enabled applications that improve public services. You will work with business and technical stakeholders to turn requirements into secure, reliable solutions that integrate AI capabilities into agency systems. This is an approximately 6-month contract-to-hire role; candidates must be eligible to convert to a full-time employee.

What You'll Do: Design, develop and maintain applications that integrate AI and machine learning capabilities, including generative AI and LLM-based features. Build and consume APIs and integrate AI services with existing internal systems and data sources. Develop data pipelines and prepare data for AI-driven features. Evaluate, test and monitor AI solutions for accuracy, reliability, security and responsible use. Participate in requirements gathering, design reviews, code reviews and testing. Document solutions and follow agency standards for security, privacy and quality. Collaborate with project managers, analysts and developers in an Agile environment.

Required Qualifications: Professional software development experience building production applications (e.g., Python, C#/.NET or JavaScript/TypeScript).Hands-on experience integrating AI/ML or generative AI services (e.g., Azure OpenAI, OpenAI APIs or similar) into applications. Experience building and integrating RESTful APIs and working with relational databases. Experience with Git-based source control and the full SDLC.Strong communication and problem-solving skills. Must currently live in the Phoenix, AZ area at time of application; resumes must state current location. Available for in-person interviews and able to start within 2 weeks of an offer. Eligible to convert to a full-time employee. Must be able to pass a background check and drug screening.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with state or public sector agencies. Experience with Azure or other cloud platforms and CI/CD pipelines. Familiarity with prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and AI governance practices.

Benefits: Health Insurance. Dental Insurance. Vision Insurance.401(k) + 401(k) matching. Paid time off. Referral Program. About ZipStaff: ZipStaff connects skilled technology professionals with leading organizations across the United States, matching top talent with impactful contract and full-time opportunities. To apply, submit your resume through this posting. Qualified candidates will be contacted by a ZipStaff recruiter.