AI Engineering Sr Director (Columbia)

Company DescriptionAbout Blend360: Blend360 is a premier AI services provider, committed to co-creating meaningful impact for our clients through the power of data science, AI, technology, and people. With a mission to fuel bold visions, we tackle significant challenges by seamlessly aligning human expertise with artificial intelligence. We are dedicated to unlocking value and fostering innovation for our clients by harnessing world-class talent and data-driven strategies. We believe that the power of people and AI can have a transformative impact on the world, creating more fulfilling work and innovative solutions for our people and clients.Job DescriptionThe Opportunity: We are seeking a highly accomplished and dynamic Director, AI & Generative Solutions to join our rapidly expanding team. This pivotal role is designed for a strategic leader with deep technical expertise in Generative AI (GenAI) and advanced AI methodologies, coupled with exceptional client-facing and business development acumen. You will be instrumental in guiding our diverse client base – from mid-market entities to large corporations – through the complexities of AI technology and business applications, driving innovation from conception to implementation.This role requires an understanding of AI architecture, model development, and implementation best practices, combined with the ability to articulate complex AI concepts and their strategic implications to both technical and non-technical audiences. You will be a trusted advisor, a thought leader, and a hands-on contributor in crafting bespoke GenAI and agentic solutions that address our clients' most pressing business challenges and unlock new opportunities.Key Responsibilities:Advanced AI Solution Design & Architecture: Lead the technical design, development, and architecture of cutting-edge AI and Generative AI solutions. This includes selecting appropriate models (LLMs, diffusion models, etc.), designing data pipelines for AI training and inference, and architecting scalable and robust AI systems.Strategic Client Engagement & Technical Advisory: Serve as a trusted technical advisor to national and international clients, guiding them from strategic planning stages through to the pilot and full-scale implementation of complex AI and GenAI projects. Confidently present and articulate Blend360's technical capabilities and the strategic implications of AI solutions to senior client stakeholders.Technical Implementation & Oversight: Provide hands-on technical leadership and guidance throughout the entire project lifecycle, from proof-of-concept to pilot and full-scale production deployment. Ensure technical excellence, adherence to best practices, and the delivery of high-quality, performant AI solutions.Thought Leadership & Innovation: Drive thought leadership in the evolving landscape of GenAI, large language models (LLMs), agentic AI systems, and emerging AI techniques. Research and evaluate new technologies, contribute to internal IP development, and publish insights that position Blend360 at the forefront of AI innovation.Business Development Support & Technical Scoping: Actively participate in presales activities, providing deep technical expertise for proposal development, solution architecture, and technical scoping. Support the identification and capitalization on new business opportunities by demonstrating our technical capabilities and value proposition.AI Strategy & Roadmapping: Collaborate with clients to understand their business challenges and translate them into actionable AI strategies and technical roadmaps. Develop bespoke GenAI solutions, facilitate seamless integration, and advise on organizational changes necessary for AI adoption.Project Leadership & Execution: Lead and manage specific technical workstreams within complex projects, ensuring deliverables meet the strategic goals, technical excellence, and quality standards expected by our clients. Drive cross-functional collaboration with data scientists, machine learning engineers, and other specialists to ensure successful technical outcomes.Service Evolution & Go-to-Market: Contribute to the continuous development and technical refinement of Blend360's AI and Generative Solutions offerings. Support go-to-market strategies by providing technical insights and expertise for effective positioning in the market.Qualifications10+ years of proven experience in technical consulting, solution architecture, or a similar role, with a strong recent focus (at least 5-7 years) on the design, development, and implementation of advanced AI/ML and Generative AI solutions.Deep and practical technical expertise in Generative AI (GenAI) technologies, including:Large Language Models (LLMs): Architecture (e.g., Transformers), fine-tuning, prompt engineering, RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation), and deployment strategies.Other Generative Models: Familiarity with diffusion models, GANs, or other generative architectures is a plus.Agentic AI Systems: Experience in designing and implementing multi-agent systems or autonomous agents.Proficiency with core AI/ML frameworks and libraries such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, Hugging Face Transformers, LangChain, LangGraph, Crew.ai or equivalent.Programming experience in Python, with experience in developing and deploying production-grade AI applications.Experience with cloud-based AI platforms (e.g., AWS SageMaker, Google Cloud AI Platform, Azure ML) and MLOps practices for scaling and managing AI models.Demonstrated ability to engage confidently with clients at all levels, translating complex technical concepts into clear business value and articulating technical solutions effectively.Proven track record in supporting business development, including technical presales, solution architecture for proposals, and identifying new opportunities.Exceptional strategic consulting abilities, with a knack for translating ambiguous business problems into workable AI/GenAI solutions and developing clear technical roadmaps for implementation.Strong analytical, architectural, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complex data environments and design robust technical solutions.Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, capable of working effectively with cross-functional technical and business teams.Ability to lead technical projects and make strategic architectural decisions in a fast-paced, evolving environment.A strong desire to stay at the cutting edge of AI advancements and continuously learn and apply new technologies.Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a closely related quantitative field. A Ph.D. in a related field is a significant plus.Additional InformationWhy Blend360?Impactful Technical Work: Be at the forefront of AI innovation, designing and implementing cutting-edge technical solutions for leading companies and making a tangible impact on their businesses.Growth Opportunities: Thrive in a company and leadership team committed to growth, providing a platform for your technical and professional development.Collaborative Culture: Work alongside a team of world-class experts in data science, AI, and technology, fostering an environment of learning, sharing, and mutual support on complex technical challenges.Bold Vision: Join a company that is brave, goes the extra mile to innovate, and delivers bold visions for the future of AI.If you are a visionary technical leader passionate about leveraging AI and GenAI to drive business transformation and are excited by the prospect of shaping the future of our clients, we encourage you to apply!All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. The starting pay range for this role is $200,000 - $290,000. Actual compensation within the range will be dependent on several factors including but not limited to relevant experience, skills, certifications, training, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range and determining factors for compensation are considered for each individual circumstance. BLEND360 also offers a competitive benefits program to meet the health and financial well-being of our team and their families. You can look forward to a range of benefits including medical, dental, vision, 401K, PTO, paid holidays, commuter benefits, spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, and EAPs. SummaryType: Full-timeFunction: MarketingExperience level: Mid-Senior LevelIndustry: Marketing And Advertising