Director, Analytical AI & Data Platforms

Role Description

The Director, Analytical AI & Data Platforms will lead the transformation of predictive intelligence and AI-enabled decisioning across our payment processing ecosystem. This strategic leadership role will support the VP, Data in refining and operationalizing the company’s Analytical AI vision by building scalable predictive analytics, machine learning, and AI-driven insight capabilities that improve:

• Transaction intelligence
• Fraud prevention
• Merchant growth
• Customer engagement
• Operational efficiency
• Revenue optimization

In partnership with the VP of Data, this role will establish the strategic direction for Analytical AI, defining how predictive analytics, machine learning, decision intelligence, and AI-assisted analytics complement broader enterprise AI initiatives, including:

• Automation
• Generative AI
• Customer-facing AI
• Operational AI

Success in this position requires a unique combination of deep technical expertise, business acumen, organizational leadership, and strategic influence. The ideal candidate will be able to translate sophisticated analytical concepts into measurable business outcomes while building scalable AI and data capabilities within a highly regulated, high-volume transactional environment.

The Director, Analytical AI & Data Platforms will lead a multidisciplinary team spanning data platform engineering, AI/ML enablement, BI, and platform operations, while advancing a modern cloud data platform built on:

• Snowflake
• Dataiku
• dbt
• Fivetran
• Apache Iceberg on Amazon S3
• Looker & LookML
• SQL, Python
• AWS
• MySQL, PostgreSQL
• Gitlab
• Monte Carlo
• Terraform, OpenTofu
• RDS Database Insights and Datadog

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics, Information Systems, or related field required; Master’s or PhD preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in Data, Analytics, AI/ML, or Data Platform organizations.
• 5+ years leading enterprise-scale analytics, data science, or AI engineering teams.
• Strong hands-on expertise in predictive analytics, machine learning, recommendation systems, decision intelligence, and AI-enabled analytics.
• Deep experience with modern cloud data platforms and analytical ecosystems including Snowflake, Dataiku, dbt, Fivetran, Apache Iceberg, Looker / LookML.
• Strong technical expertise in Python, SQL, ML frameworks and AI tooling, Cloud platforms such as AWS.
• Experience establishing AI/ML operating models and production AI governance frameworks.
• Demonstrated success operationalizing predictive analytics and AI capabilities at enterprise scale.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience leading within complex, matrixed organizations.

Requirements

• Experience within fintech, payment processing, transaction platforms, fraud analytics, or regulated financial services.
• Experience with real-time analytics and streaming architectures.
• Familiarity with MLOps platforms, feature stores, vector databases, semantic retrieval architectures, agentic AI frameworks.
• Knowledge of PCI, SOC2, GDPR, and financial data governance requirements.
• Experience integrating predictive AI and analytical AI capabilities with broader GenAI enterprise initiatives.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits with growth-company options grant
• Fast-paced and professional work culture
• Stock options with standard startup vesting - 1 year cliff; 4 years total
• $50 monthly communication expense stipend to go towards your phone/internet bill
• $250 stipend to enhance your WFH setup
• Reimbursement for peripheral equipment: monitor (up to $400), keyboard and mouse (up to $200)
• Premium medical benefits including vision and dental (100% coverage for employees)
• Company-sponsored life and disability insurance
• Paid parental bonding leave
• Paid sick leave, jury duty, bereavement
• 401k plan
• Flexible Time Off (our team members typically take off ~3-4 weeks per year)
• Volunteer Time Off
• 13 scheduled holidays