NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026: AI/ML Lead, Data Science Lead, MLOps Lead & Other Contract Posts
The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under Digital India Corporation has opened NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026 for 10 posts on a contract basis. The posts are Principal Architect – AI, MLOps Lead, MLOps Engineer, AI Safety Researcher, AI/ML Lead and Data Science Lead. NeGD’s initiatives include DigiLocker and UMANG. Do see our page on Computer & IT govt jobs for similar openings.
These are senior roles, so please read the experience needs before you apply. The last date to submit your application online is 13 November 2026. The contract is for 3 years at first and can be extended. This guide covers posts, eligibility, age, selection and the steps to apply. Keep reading with GovtJobsAlert.in so you do not miss any condition.
NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026 Key Highlights
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | National e-Governance Division, Digital India Corporation (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) |
| Advertisement No. | N/39/2026-NeGD (dated 22.10.2026) |
| Total Vacancies | 10 |
| Type of Job | Contract, 3 years at first, extendable as per project need |
| Job Location | New Delhi, transferable to NeGD project locations |
| Mode of Apply | Online |
| Last Date | 13 November 2026 |
NeGD is a business division of Digital India Corporation and supports MeitY in running e-Governance projects. It supports Central and State departments; posting is in Delhi. The notification does not state any salary for these posts.
How Many Vacancies Are There in NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026?
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Principal Architect – AI | 1 |
| MLOps Lead | 1 |
| MLOps Engineer | 1 |
| AI Safety Researcher | 1 |
| AI/ML Lead | 4 |
| Data Science Lead | 2 |
| Total | 10 |
The notification gives no category-wise split for any post. It splits two posts by specialisation:
| Post and Specialisation | Positions |
|---|---|
| AI/ML Lead – NLP & Document AI | 1 |
| AI/ML Lead – Speech AI | 1 |
| AI/ML Lead – Computer Vision | 1 |
| AI/ML Lead – Agentic AI | 1 |
| Data Science Lead – Predictive Analytics | 1 |
| Data Science Lead – Fraud & Risk Analytics | 1 |
What Is the Eligibility for NeGD AI Team Posts 2026?
Educational Qualification
| Post | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Principal Architect – AI | B.Tech, M.Tech, MS or Ph.D. in Computer Science, IT, AI or a related technical field |
| MLOps Lead | B.Tech, M.Tech or M.S. in Computer Science, Data Engineering, AI or a related discipline |
| MLOps Engineer | B.Tech or M.Tech in Computer Science, AI/ML or a related discipline |
| AI Safety Researcher | B.Tech/B.E. or M.Tech/M.S./M.Sc. in Computer Science, Information Security, AI/ML or a related quantitative discipline (must have) |
| AI/ML Lead | B.Tech/B.E., M.Tech/M.S. or M.Sc. in Computer Science, AI/ML, Data Science, Electronics or a related discipline |
| Data Science Lead | B.Tech/B.E., M.Tech/M.S. or M.Sc. in Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science or a related quantitative discipline |
Certifications, research papers, open-source work and advanced degrees (M.Tech/M.S./Ph.D. for several posts) are only “preferred” or “desirable” in the notification, so they help but are not compulsory. For AI Safety Researcher, advising non-specialist teams on AI security and regulated-sector experience are also listed as plus points. For AI Safety Researcher, AI/ML Lead and Data Science Lead, strong verifiable work can be considered in lieu of a formal qualification. For Data Science Lead, the notification gives examples: Kaggle Master level or above, published research or open-source work. The AI/ML Lead and Data Science Lead qualifications refer to a “Minimum Evidence at Screening” section. That section is not in this PDF, so check the official page. Graduates in engineering can also browse engineering govt jobs.
Experience Required
| Post | Experience |
|---|---|
| Principal Architect – AI | Minimum 12+ years total; at least 5 years in AI/ML system design; proven multi-component AI solutions for government or enterprise |
| MLOps Lead | 7–10 years in MLOps or DevOps; minimum 4 years building CI/CD pipelines for AI/ML models; containerised and microservice experience |
| MLOps Engineer | 3–6 years operationalising AI/ML models with CI/CD automation; exposure to NLP, computer vision or speech pipelines |
| AI Safety Researcher | 6+ years in ML, applied AI or security research; minimum 3 years in adversarial ML, AI red teaming or LLM safety; hands-on LLM red-teaming |
| AI/ML Lead | 7+ years in AI/ML (10+ preferred); minimum 4 years in the chosen specialisation in production (Agentic AI: minimum 2 years); at least 2 years leading a team |
| Data Science Lead | 8+ years in data science (12+ preferred); minimum 4 years in the chosen specialisation; at least 3 years leading teams; two systems owned in production |
What the Roles Involve
Each post lists its own duties, and reading them tells you if the job suits you.
- Principal Architect – AI: design end-to-end solution architecture that puts AI/ML into NeGD and allied government applications, set API and integration standards, and guide teams on security, privacy and Responsible AI.
- MLOps Lead and MLOps Engineer: build and manage CI/CD pipelines for AI/ML models, set up model versioning, monitoring and rollback, and keep deployed models running well.
- AI Safety Researcher: test AI systems against adversarial attacks, run red-team exercises on LLM and agentic AI, and check models for bias, hallucination and security risks.
- AI/ML Lead: lead a team in one specialisation, own the design and deployment of reusable AI services, and oversee vendor teams.
- Data Science Lead: lead a team that builds predictive, risk and fraud models used for government decisions, and check them with careful validation.
Age Limit
| Category | Maximum Age |
|---|---|
| All posts | 55 years on the closing date of receipt of applications (13 November 2026) |
🎂 Not sure if you meet the age criteria? Use our free Age Calculator for Government Exams to find your exact age on the cut-off date and check whether you are within the age limit. →
The notification gives only a maximum age of 55 years and mentions no age relaxation. No minimum age is stated. Because the age is counted on the closing date, work out your age on 13 November 2026, not on the day you apply.
What is the Salary for NeGD AI Team Posts 2026?
The notification does not state any salary, pay level or monthly remuneration for these posts. The only pay mention is for termination: NeGD can end a contract with one month’s notice, or without notice by paying one month’s salary in lieu. If you plan to leave a steady job for this one, check the official page or write to the NeGD HR team first, because the contract is temporary and gives no claim to a permanent post.
What is the Selection Process for NeGD AI Team 2026?
| Stage | Detail |
|---|---|
| Screening | Applications are screened on qualifications, age and relevant experience |
| Interview | Only shortlisted candidates are invited |
NeGD can fix a higher threshold of qualification and experience for screening and can limit how many candidates reach the interview. It can also choose not to select any candidate without giving a reason. The notification names no other stage. For the AI/ML Lead and Data Science Lead posts, the notification says demonstrated work carries greater weight than certificates.
Important Conditions for NeGD Applicants
| Condition | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Government or PSU employees | If you work in regular or contract service under Central or State Government, PSUs or autonomous bodies, apply through proper channel, attach a No Objection Certificate, or produce it at the interview |
| Vacancies | NeGD may fill all, some or none of the posts without giving any reason |
| Temporary posts | The jobs are purely temporary for the NeGD/DIC project. Appointees shall not derive any right or claim for permanent appointment at NeGD/DIC, or on any present or future vacancy |
| Termination | One month’s notice, or one month’s salary in lieu of notice |
| Designation | Mapped as per the existing designation policy of NeGD |
| Posting | New Delhi, but transferable to NeGD project locations |
| Queries | HR Team, National e-Governance Division, 4th Floor, Electronics Niketan, 6-CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003; Email: Negdhr@digitalindia.gov.in |
How to Apply Online for NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026?
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the online application portal using the link in Essential Links |
| 2 | Sign in or create an account, as the portal asks |
| 3 | Choose your post and, for AI/ML Lead or Data Science Lead, your specialisation |
| 4 | Fill in your qualification, experience and age details and upload the documents the portal asks for |
| 5 | Submit by 13 November 2026 and save the confirmation |
Keep the No Objection Certificate ready if you are employed in government. The notification lists no other documents or portal steps, so follow what the portal shows.
What Are the Important Dates for NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026?
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Advertisement date | 22 October 2026 |
| Application start date | Not stated in the notification |
| Last date to apply online | 13 November 2026 |
Is There an Application Fee for NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026?
The notification does not mention any application fee. Check the online portal for any payment step before you submit.
NeGD AI Team 2026 Essential Links
- Download NeGD AI Team Detailed Advertisement PDF (N/39/2026-NeGD)
- Apply Online for NeGD AI Team Recruitment 2026 (Online Application Portal)
- Official Notification Page for NeGD Careers
- Visit NeGD (Digital India Corporation) Official Website
- Join WhatsApp Channel for Government Jobs
- Join Telegram Channel for Government Jobs
If your experience matches one of these six posts, do not wait for the last week. Send your application by 13 November 2026, with your documents ready. Explore more central government jobs and keep visiting GovtJobsAlert.in for fresh updates.