AI and Data Engineering Lead

Position Purpose

The VP of AI & Data Strategy leads the development, deployment, and optimization of AI and data solutions across the company. This role requires a deep technical background in machine learning (ML), data engineering, MLOps, and cloud data platforms, coupled with leadership skills to mentor and grow a high-performing AI engineering team. This role sets the vision and strategy for data and AI projects, ensuring the effective implementation of advanced analytics and machine learning while fostering a culture of data-driven decision-making across the organization. The role requires deep business and technical acumen as well as a deep understanding of the banking industry.

Position Responsibilities

• AI and Data Strategy: Develops and implements a comprehensive AI and Data strategy that aligns with the organization's goals and drives business value.
• AI Strategy & Implementation: Leads the design, development, and deployment of AI solutions to solve business problems. Creates and deploys change management plans to implement AI Strategy.
• AI governance and productization: Develops a framework for AI model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Data Management: Leads and manages all aspects of data management for the organization, including data governance, data stewardship, data organizational change management, and data architecture. Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and oversees a high-performing team of data engineers and analysts. Foster a collaborative and innovative environment. Mentors and coaches direct reports within the team. Manages performance of the team and conducts performance reviews within the processes of the Bank.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with business leaders, product managers, operations and other stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into data and AI solutions. Provide expertise and guidance on data-driven strategies.
• Innovation: Stay abreast of emerging technologies and industry trends in data science and AI. Evaluate and integrate tools and techniques to enhance the organization's capabilities.
• Roadmap Delivery: Lead AI and data roadmap from execution, ensuring delivery on time and within scope. Monitor and communicate project progress, address issues that arise.
• Data Visualization & Reporting: Oversee the development of dashboards, reports, and
• Ethical and compliant AI: Ensure that AI models and algorithms are developed and deployed in an ethical manner, compliant with financial services regulations, with consideration for fairness, transparency, and bias mitigation.

Minimum Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in data engineering, machine learning, or AI development, preferably within the financial services industry.
• 3+ years of experience leading a team of data and AI engineers.
• Strong hands-on experience with SQL, Python, Spark, and MLOps tools (MLflow, SageMaker, Vertex AI, Databricks).
• Experience deploying LLMs, GenAI, and AI-driven automation in production environments.
• Strong understanding of financial data models, securities, transactions, and related concepts.
• Experience with data warehousing, data lake, data lakehouse and big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark).
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, DataBricks, Azure Fabric) and data integration tools.
• Knowledge of regulatory requirements such as PCI compliance, or financial regulations (e.g., Basel III, Dodd-Frank Act).
• Experience in Database Administration (DBA), managing and optimizing databases for performance and security.
• Familiarity with Business Intelligence (BI) tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Sisense) and ETL tools (e.g., Informatica, Talend) for data transformation and visualization.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across teams and stakeholders.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

• Relevant certifications (e.g., Azure, AWS Certified Big Data - Specialty, Cloudera Certified Professional Data Engineer).
• Experience with real-time data processing frameworks (e.g., Kafka, Flink).
• Experience in deploying and managing containerized applications (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) in cloud environments.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and in a team setting, and across external and internal stakeholder groups.
• Strong attention to detail, with a keen focus on quality. Strong analytical skills.
• Agile mindset and flexibility.

Working Arrangements

• This is a role is 100% remote.

Compensation:

• Base Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000 annually. Final determination of where you are at in the salary range is based on numerous factors such as relevant experience, skill set, education, and ability to meet qualifications within the job description.
• Additional Compensation: This role will include a yearly annual target bonus based on individual performance.

Why Join Us?

• Join a growing company with a culture that fosters an entrepreneurial spirit
• Comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Company Paid Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, and more!
• Company Contributions to your 401k - Regardless of your contribution
• Employee Perks: Paid Parental Leave, Employee Recognition Program, Leadership Program, Tuition Reimbursement Program, Employee Bank Checking Account, and much more!
• Generous Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays - Including Paid Charity Hours to support volunteer opportunities

Compliance

It is the responsibility of each bank staff member and of management to adhere to policies and procedures designed to implement compliance with the laws and regulations to which the bank is subject. Each bank staff and management member shall be accountable for understanding how compliance with laws and regulations affects the performance of their day-to-day duties, for completing compliance training as assigned and for carrying out those duties in a manner to achieve compliance with those laws and regulations.

The above mentioned are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed rather than to be an inclusive list of all duties, responsibilities and skills required for the position. Job duties may be changed at any time at management's discretion. The job description is not intended to create contractual obligations of any kind.

Capital Bank, N.A. is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer