This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Machine Learning Engineer - AI based in India. This is an engineering-focused opportunity for a machine learning professional working at the intersection of small language models, model optimization, and production AI. You will fine-tune and optimize lightweight models designed for efficient inference across edge, mobile, and local environments. The role spans the full machine learning lifecycle, from data ingestion and experimentation through deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement. You will work with modern frameworks and techniques such as Hugging Face, TRL, LoRA, QLoRA, and PEFT to build efficient AI solutions. A strong focus is placed on performance, with strict attention to latency, model accuracy, and hardware utilization. You will also contribute to scalable MLOps practices that make AI models reliable and production-ready.