AI Engineering Lead

AI Engineering Lead

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering Lead will lead Information Technology Solutions' (ITS) artificial intelligence and data science initiatives within the Office of Data & Analytics. The incumbent is a proactive leader who can act as a technical strategist and a hands-on expert. This position will partner with leaders across ITS and the UCR campus to bring high-impact AI and Data Science projects to life. As a key technical leader, the incumbent will be responsible for mentoring a team of AI professionals and serving as an AI technical enabler for ITS' development teams. The position will drive the adoption of AI across UCR by empowering teams to integrate AI capabilities into their work, whether it's embedded within custom applications, reporting, or intelligent agents. This role will involve having a constant pulse on solutioning to embed AI within existing products, processes, and initiatives. This position is classified as predominantly remote with occasional visits to campus as needed. Working hours will be based on Pacific Standard Time (PST). The full salary range for the AI Engineering Lead is $126,700 - $248,700 annually. However, the pay scale for this position is up to $200,000 annually.

Educational Requirements

Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training. Required

Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related quantitative field. Preferred

Experience Requirements

8 - 13 years of related experience. Required

Proficiency in programming languages like Python and experience with relevant AI/ML frameworks. Vertex AI experience a plus. Required

Proven hands-on experience with data science and AI models and development projects. Required

Experience with data quality and data governance best practices. Preferred

Experience in a higher education or public sector environment. Preferred

Demonstrated experience with product management, including requirements gathering, roadmap development, and stakeholder management. Preferred

Proven experience translating high-level business needs and user requirements into detailed, actionable technical specifications and user stories for development teams. Preferred

Special Conditions

Must pass a background check. Required

Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations. Required

Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development. Required

Travel Outside of Normal Business Hours - Required

Minimum Requirements

Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with executive-level management on a regular basis.

Familiarity with data quality and governance issues and requirements.

Expert knowledge of data management systems, practices and standards.

Thorough knowledge of relevant rules and regulations.

Demonstrated ability to work with others from diverse backgrounds. Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills. Demonstrated ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization.

Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team. Demonstrates problem-solving skills. Able to learn effectively and meet deadlines. Strong organizational skills.

Expert analytical and design skills, including the ability to abstract information requirements from real-world processes to understand information flows in computer systems.

Ability to represent relevant information in abstract models. Critical thinking skills and attention to detail.

Solid understanding of machine learning models, data science methodologies, and generative AI concepts.

Preferred Qualifications

Ability to prepare models at varying levels of detail, such as broad conceptual and planning models as well as detailed logical designs or dimensional models.

Expert skill in logical data design, data integration and the specification of data services.

Good negotiation and influencing skills.

Demonstrated service orientation skills.

A talent for identifying the root cause of user problems and framing them in a way that allows for effective AI and data-driven solutions.

Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to inspire and educate diverse audiences.

A proactive and collaborative leader who can work across departments to build consensus and drive change.

The ability to listen and speak with users and stakeholders in a clear, non-technical way to truly understand their challenges and needs.

A servant leader mindset, with a passion for coaching, mentoring, and empowering others to succeed.

In the heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain in Southern California; the park-like campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region. The campus is a living laboratory for the exploration of issues critical to growing communities' air, water, energy, transportation, politics, the arts, history, and culture. UCR gives every student, faculty and staff member the resources to explore, engage, imagine and excel.

UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country boasting several key rankings of which we are extremely proud.

• UC Riverside is proud to be ranked No. 12 among all U.S. universities, according to Money Magazine's 2020 rankings, and among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide, according to the 2019-20 Center for World University rankings.
• UC Riverside is the top university in the United States for social mobility. - U.S. News 2020
• UCR is a member of the University Innovation Alliance, the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.
• Among top-tier universities, UC Riverside ranks No. 2 in financial aid. - Business Insider 2019
• Ranked No. 2 in the world for research, UCR's Department of Entomology maintains one of the largest collections of insect specimens the nation. - Center for World University Rankings
• UCR's distinguished faculty boasts 2 Nobel Laureates, and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.

For information about our generous employee benefits package, visit: Employee Benefits Overview

General Information

Job Title DATA SYS ANL 5 Job Code 000600 Grade 27 Department Head Matthew Gunkel Supervisor Michelle Hardwick

Positions Directly Supervised

Job Code - Title - FTE

000599 - DATA SYS ANL 4 - 1

007197 - DATA SYS ANL 1 - 1

Generic Scope

Recognized organization-wide expert. Has significant impact and influence on organizational policy and program development. Regularly leads projects of critical importance to the organization; these projects carry substantial consequences of success or failure. May direct programs with organization-wide impact that include formulating strategies and administering policies, processes, and resources. Significant barriers to entry exist at this level.

Custom Scope

Having wide-ranging experience, applies data/information management concepts and campus/medical center/OP objectives to resolve issues, up to and including the most complex, with campus/medical center/OP-wide, institution-wide and/or multi-institutional impact. Formulates strategies and works on issues, up to and including the most complex, with little or no campus/medical center/OP precedent where analyses of situations, information or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors. Selects methods, techniques and evaluation criteria to obtain results. Internal