Senior AI and Automation Specialist

Job Description Senior AI and Automation Specialist Location: Remote, South Africa Employment Type: Full Time Contractor Working Hours: US business hours, exact schedule to be confirmed Experience Level: Senior, Level 3 About the Role NetOps Africa is recruiting for a senior AI and Automation Specialist to support a US based client that provides advanced Level 3 technical, AI, and automation services to MSPs and their customers. This is a senior, customer-facing technical role focused on building practical AI and automation solutions that solve real business problems. The right person will be able to meet with stakeholders, understand workflows, identify automation opportunities, build working solutions, and help clients adopt AI tools in a secure and useful way. This role is not suited for someone who has only experimented with AI tools or built personal projects. The ideal candidate has real hands-on experience building automations, integrating systems, using AI tools effectively, and supporting solutions in production environments. Role Summary The Senior AI and Automation Specialist will lead AI adoption and automation initiatives across MSP and end-client environments. You will help MSP partners and their customers implement AI tools, improve manual workflows, build automations, create lightweight business applications, and design practical solutions that save time, reduce errors, and improve operational efficiency. This role requires a strong mix of technical ability, business process thinking, client communication, and independent problem solving. Key Responsibilities AI Implementation and Adoption Lead AI implementation projects for MSP partners and their customers. Help clients identify practical use cases for AI across their business. Meet with stakeholders to understand business goals, pain points, risks, and workflow challenges. Design and roll out AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, and related AI platforms. Help define user enablement, governance, adoption plans, and success measures. Train users, support internal champions, and help ensure AI adoption is practical and sustainable. Advise MSP partners and clients on safe and useful AI adoption. Automation and Workflow Engineering Build, support, and optimize business automations across multiple client environments. Use tools such as Zapier, Rewst, Make, n8n, and Microsoft Power Automate to connect systems and streamline workflows. Troubleshoot broken, unreliable, or poorly designed automations. Perform root cause analysis and implement long-term fixes instead of temporary workarounds. Identify manual, repetitive, or error-prone processes that can be automated. Create clear documentation for automations, workflows, integrations, handoff, and support. AI Tooling and Development Use modern AI tools such as Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Codex, and OpenAI tools or APIs to build working solutions. Build lightweight internal tools, workflow helpers, and small business applications that solve specific operational problems. Use AI-assisted coding tools to move from concept to working solution quickly. Create practical solutions that are maintainable, secure, and supportable. Stay current on AI tools, models, capabilities, and practical business use cases. Power Platform and Reporting Build or support solutions using Microsoft Power Platform. Create or support Power Apps where appropriate. Build or support Power BI dashboards and reporting solutions where appropriate. Use Power Automate to connect Microsoft 365, business applications, and workflow systems. Help clients improve visibility, reporting, and business process efficiency. Projects, Strategy, and Advisory Lead AI and automation projects from discovery through delivery. Scope requirements, design solutions, build workflows, test functionality, deploy solutions, and document the work. Translate business problems into technical solutions. Advise MSP partners on AI strategy, automation opportunities, tool selection, licensing, governance, and long-term supportability. Coordinate with software vendors, MSP teams, and client stakeholders to ensure integrations are configured correctly. Support multiple client environments with different systems, documentation levels, and business needs. Requirements Required Experience Senior level experience building and supporting business automations in production environments. Hands-on experience with automation platforms such as Zapier, Make, n8n, Rewst, or Microsoft Power Automate. Practical experience using AI tools such as Claude, ChatGPT, OpenAI tools or APIs, Claude Code, Codex, or similar platforms. Experience building working solutions, not just prototypes or demos. Ability to understand business workflows and identify useful automation opportunities. Experience integrating business applications, SaaS platforms, Microsoft 365, CRMs, PSAs, ticketing systems, or similar tools. Familiarity with Microsoft Power Platform, including Power Automate, Power Apps, or Power BI. Strong troubleshooting ability for broken workflows, failed automations, permissions issues, API issues, and integration problems. Experience working in or with MSP environments is strongly preferred. Strong written and spoken English. Comfortable communicating directly with business owners, technical teams, MSP partners, and end customers. Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and own projects through completion. Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a senior automation builder who understands both technology and business process. This person should be able to sit with a client, ask thoughtful questions, understand what problem actually needs to be solved, and then build a practical solution. They should be comfortable working with AI tools, automation platforms, APIs, Microsoft 365, and business applications. The right candidate is curious, resourceful, and hands-on. They should enjoy figuring things out, learning new platforms quickly, and turning messy workflows into clean, reliable automations. This person also needs to be client-facing. They should be able to explain ideas clearly, guide nontechnical users, and avoid overcomplicating solutions. Nice to Have Experience with Rewst in an MSP environment. Experience with ConnectWise, HaloPSA, Autotask, Kaseya, Datto, NinjaOne, or similar MSP platforms. Experience building automations for ticketing, onboarding, offboarding, reporting, alerting, billing, or service desk workflows. Experience with APIs, webhooks, JSON, REST, OAuth, and SaaS integrations. Experience using GitHub, basic software development workflows, or low-code development tools. Experience building internal tools or micro applications. Experience with AI governance, prompt design, knowledge bases, RAG, or secure AI adoption. Experience training users or leading adoption of new tools. Remote Work Requirements Because this is a fully remote role, candidates must have a reliable professional work setup. Required remote setup: Stable fibre internet connection with minimum 100 Mbps download speed. Reliable backup internet option or mobile hotspot. Battery backup or UPS for internet equipment. Workstation or laptop suitable for professional technical work. Intel i5 or equivalent processor, minimum 8 GB RAM, with 16 GB preferred. Device must be less than 5 years old and dedicated to work use. Noise cancelling headset. Quiet, professional workspace suitable for client calls and video meetings. Ability to work during required US aligned hours. Application Requirements Applicants must submit: Updated CV or resume. Short audio sample, 1 to 2 minutes, introducing themselves and summarizing their AI, automation, and client-facing experience. A link, demo, short video, screenshot, or written explanation of something they have built, such as an automation, AI workflow, internal tool, integration, dashboard, or business process improvement.