Director of AI Engineering

Careerscape is recruiting on behalf of our client, a national professional services firm, for a Director of AI Engineering to lead the design and delivery of applied AI solutions across its consulting practice. This is a rare opportunity to build and scale an AI engineering function inside a firm with national reach, shaping how artificial intelligence is embedded into client engagements, internal tooling, and go-to-market offerings. You will set technical direction, build out a high-performing engineering team, and act as a senior voice connecting AI strategy to real business outcomes for Fortune 500 clients.

Day to day, this role blends hands-on technical leadership with organizational influence. You will move between architecture reviews, roadmap planning, and direct conversations with practice leaders and clients about what is technically feasible and commercially valuable. The person who thrives here has shipped production AI and machine learning systems, knows how to translate ambiguous business problems into engineering plans, and is energized by mentoring engineers while still staying close to the technology. Comfort operating in a matrixed, client-facing services environment is essential.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the technical roadmap for AI engineering across client and internal initiatives
• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of AI and machine learning engineers
• Oversee architecture and design decisions for generative AI, machine learning, and data-driven systems
• Partner with practice leaders and client stakeholders to scope and price AI engagements
• Establish engineering standards, MLOps practices, and responsible AI governance
• Evaluate and select AI platforms, frameworks, and vendor partnerships
• Drive proof-of-concept and pilot projects from concept through production deployment
• Collaborate with sales and delivery teams to shape AI service offerings and proposals
• Monitor emerging AI research and translate relevant advances into practical client solutions
• Report on team performance, project delivery, and technical risk to executive leadership

Requirements

• 10+ years of software or AI engineering experience with progressive leadership responsibility
• Proven track record architecting and shipping production machine learning or generative AI systems
• Experience leading and scaling engineering teams in a client services or consulting environment
• Strong hands-on knowledge of Python, cloud platforms, and modern ML or LLM tooling
• Familiarity with MLOps practices including model deployment, monitoring, and versioning
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical business and client audiences
• Experience shaping technical proposals, statements of work, or client-facing solution design
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field; advanced degree a plus
• Willingness to work in a hybrid model with periodic client and office presence

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401k retirement plan with employer match
• Generous paid time off and company holidays
• Hybrid work schedule with flexibility
• Annual performance bonus eligibility
• Professional development and certification reimbursement
• Life and disability insurance
• Parental leave program
• Employee assistance program
• Collaborative, innovation-driven culture