AI-Powered Educational Assistant Developer (Part-Time)

Job Description Position Summary The Department of Computer Information Systems at Colorado State University is seeking a motivated and technically skilled Non-Student Hourly Employee to support the development of an AI-powered educational assistant for programming and cybersecurity courses. This position provides an opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI technologies, including large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), semantic search, cloud deployment, and learning management system integration. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with faculty to design, implement, test, and maintain secure and privacy-aware AI systems that enhance student learning while supporting academic integrity. Appointment Details: Hours: 8 hours per week Anticipated Start Date: September 15, 2026 End Date: December 31, 2026 Work Schedule: Flexible, coordinated with the project supervisor Responsibilities The selected candidate will: Develop and enhance an AI-powered educational assistant using Python and modern AI frameworks. Process and ingest course materials (lecture slides, textbooks, PDFs, assignments, and programming examples) for semantic search and retrieval. Implement and maintain vector databases and embedding pipelines (e.g., FAISS, ChromaDB). Develop and improve user interfaces using Gradio, Flask, or other web technologies. Build and maintain logging, analytics, and confidence-based response evaluation using Firebase. Integrate the system with Canvas LMS and CSU authentication services. Test, debug, document, and maintain the software throughout development. Ensure compliance with data privacy, security, and academic integrity requirements. Fine-tune open-source LLMs (e.g., Llama, Mistral, Gemma) using course-specific datasets. Develop hybrid AI architectures combining locally hosted models with cloud-based LLMs. Apply prompt engineering techniques to improve routing, response quality, and operational cost. Deploy and maintain AI services using Google Cloud Run, Compute Engine, Docker, and Firebase. Collaborate with faculty on feature development, evaluation, and continuous system improvement. Preferred Qualifications Applicants should possess: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Information Systems, Software Engineering, or a closely related field. Strong Python programming skills. Experience with software development, APIs, databases, and object-oriented programming. Familiarity with machine learning, natural language processing, or large language models. Experience with AI frameworks such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, FAISS, ChromaDB, or similar technologies. Experience with web application development (Flask, FastAPI, Gradio, or equivalent). Familiarity with Firebase, SQLite, PostgreSQL, or similar database systems. Knowledge of prompt engineering and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Experience deploying applications using Docker and Google Cloud Platform is highly desirable. Excellent communication, organizational, and documentation skills. Ability to work independently and manage multiple development tasks. Preferred Skills Experience with one or more of the following is highly desirable: Fine-tuning LLMs using LoRA or QLoRA Google Cloud Platform (Cloud Run, Compute Engine, Firebase) Git/GitHub collaborative development Cybersecurity concepts and secure software development Educational technology or learning management systems Benefits Work on an innovative AI project with real-world educational impact. Gain hands-on experience with modern AI technologies and cloud platforms. Collaborate directly with faculty on applied AI research. Flexible work schedule (8 hours per week). Opportunity to contribute to conference papers and scholarly publications. Build valuable experience in AI engineering, software architecture, and educational technology. How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit: Resume Brief cover letter describing relevant experience Links to GitHub repositories or AI/software projects (if available) Applications and questions should be sent to: Dr. Ramadan Abdunabi Clinical Professor Department of Computer Information Systems Colorado State University Email: Salary Range $15.16-$18.00 Required Application Documents To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution. Cover Letter, Resume/CV Employee Benefits Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact. Review our detailed benefits information here. Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here. For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator. Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in! Background Check Policy Statement Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so. EEO Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.