COMPANY SUMMARY
Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT) owns and operates a New York City portfolio of well-leased, top of tier, office, retail, and multifamily assets. ESRT’s Empire State Building features an Observation Deck. The Company is a recognized leader in sustainability. As of November 2, 2026, ESRT’s portfolio is comprised of approximately 7.7 million rentable square feet of commercial space and three residential properties. More information about Empire State Realty Trust can be found at esrtreit.com and by following ESRT on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and LinkedIn.
The dedicated team at ESRT is a collection of diverse individuals with a shared passion for excellence and a keen eye toward future growth. Headquartered in New York City, we harness the energy of the city in everything we do. We care for one another, work hard, and have a lot of fun doing it! We are Certified™ as a Great Place to Work® by the global authority, Great Place to Work®, on workplace culture, employee experience, and leadership behaviors. We prioritize and invest in the health and wellness of employees to attract, develop, and retain top-tier talent. ESRT values continuous employee development and encourages colleagues to excel in their roles and adapt to emerging business needs. From our crown jewel, The Empire State Building, to incredible buildings modernized for the 21st century, to outstanding customer service, and our decade-long leadership position in sustainability and energy efficient portfolio that is 100% fully powered by renewable wind electricity, we take pride in our work. ESRT seeks an equally passionate colleague to join the team, understand the vision and help achieve that vision.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Applied AI Engineer I supports, maintains, and enhances ESRT’s portfolio of AI-enabled enterprise applications. This early-career role offers recent graduates hands-on experience with large language models, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, and intelligent automation, and helps them develop software engineering skills for production applications.
The role works closely with senior engineers and technical leadership to learn the application portfolio and codebase and complete well-defined tasks, such as bug fixes, small enhancements, tests, and documentation. Regular mentorship and code review support skill development and greater responsibility over time.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Support software design, development, tests, and deployment under senior guidance, and help build applications that incorporate large language models and other AI capabilities
Support retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) workflows, such as document ingestion, chunking, embeddings, indexing, and retrieval
Help develop AI agents, agent tools, and tool-calling workflows, and convert approved prototypes into production-ready features under senior guidance
Implement small, well-defined features and components under close guidance, with code review by senior engineers
Learn the architecture and codebase of AI applications, such as model integrations, RAG pipelines, agent workflows, evaluation systems, and observability, through structured orientation, documentation, and work with experienced engineers
Write unit and integration tests and help develop automated tests and application monitoring
Learn and apply safeguards for data privacy, access control, and responsible AI practices
Help build APIs, backend services, and data processing workflows that connect AI solutions with internal systems, with support for data ingestion and extract, transform, and load (ETL) processes
Write clean, well-documented code, use Git for version control, participate in peer code reviews, and follow the team’s continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) practices
Maintain technical documentation, communicate progress and blockers clearly, and collaborate with internal teams, vendors, and business stakeholders in an agile environment
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
Complete orientation within the first 3 months, demonstrate familiarity with the team’s tools and development processes, and help resolve small, well-defined bugs and tasks under close supervision
Complete assigned tasks and small features within the first 6 months, incorporate regular feedback from senior engineers, and contribute reliably to team sprints
Handle well-scoped tasks with greater independence within the first year, apply foundational AI engineering practices, and take on greater ownership with continued mentorship
REQUIRED TECHNICAL SKILLS / ABILITIES
Solid foundation in Python; exposure to at least one additional language (e.g., C#, Java, TypeScript) through coursework or projects
Exposure to large language models, APIs, or other AI services through coursework, internships, or personal projects
Basic knowledge of software engineering fundamentals: version control (Git), tests, and code review
Familiarity with API development or use, databases, and data models
Willingness to learn about AI application risks, such as prompt injection and sensitive-data exposure, and responsible AI practices
Strong problem resolution skills, ability to learn new tools and technologies quickly, and clear written and verbal communication
Ability to collaborate, take direction from senior engineers, and show initiative on assigned tasks
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, or a related field (recent graduates welcome), or equivalent hands-on experience through internships, bootcamps, or personal/academic projects
No prior professional experience required; internship, co-op, or project experience is a plus
Coursework or project exposure to RAG concepts (embeddings, vector search), Azure OpenAI or comparable AI platforms, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP), or traditional machine learning
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
At ESRT, like our tenants, our employees come from everywhere. We foster a collaborative work environment that captures top talent and cultivates the best ideas. As a Great Place to Work® Certified employer, we are committed to maintaining our positive work culture where employees are engaged and can grow and develop. In addition, ESRT employees embody our Company Culture & Success Factors -
Adaptable – you are a self-starter who’s able to quickly digest and execute new processes to work both collaboratively and independently
Dynamic – you are solutions-oriented, aim to improve processes and implement efficiency, and offer insightful feedback to improve ESRT
Dependable – you take a strong sense of ownership and accountability over your work
Passionate – you keep up with industry trends and are excited about the potential to propel the industry forward with a “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude
Curious – you consistently look for new ways to work smarter, not just harder
Ethical – you treat others with respect, act with integrity in how you perform your work, and embrace our collaborative culture
Positive – you possess a service-oriented attitude with excellent follow through
BENEFITS
Competitive base salary and bonus
Health/Dental/Vision insurance
Company sponsored Life, AD&D, STD (with Salary Continuation), and LTD Insurance
Voluntary Enhanced LTD Program
Voluntary Hospital, Accident, and Cancer Programs
401(k) with 100% match up to 5%
Paid parental leave
Pre-tax transit accounts
Employee Assistance Program for emotional, financial, and legal support
WELL-BEING
Generous paid time off
Flex remote work time
Flex Summer Fridays
Employee engagement programs
Volunteer time off
Continuing education
Complimentary Empire State Building Observation Deck access
Complimentary gym membership and other wellness benefits
Employee Discount Programs
ESRT is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We celebrate the unique differences of our employees because they drive curiosity, innovation, and the success of our business. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, reproductive choices, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, pregnancy, parental status, caregiver status, genetic information, political affiliation, or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination. Reasonable accommodations that do not create an undue hardship for the Company are available for applicants and employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs.
