AI Platform Director - Data Engineering

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Director to lead the AI platform engineeringand enablement functions within our expanding Cloud Data and AI Platform organization. This role is instrumental in building, operationalizing, and governing the next-generation AI and machine learning ecosystem that powers advanced analytics and responsible AI adoption across the bank. You will lead multiple engineering teams responsible for designing andmaintainingsecure, scalable, and compliant AI environments that connect enterprise data, model development, deployment, and monitoring capabilities.

As a seasoned technology leader, you will bring yourexpertisein enterprise AI architecture, model operations, and platform engineering to partner with key business, technology, and governance stakeholdersensuring AI initiatives are responsibly implemented, well-controlled, and deliver measurable value.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous evolution of the banks enterprise AI platform, including infrastructure, model lifecycle management, observability, and integration with Snowflake, AWS, and cloud-native toolchains.
• Manage and mentor cross-functional engineering teamsresponsible forAI enablement, automation, and platform services supporting data scientists, engineers, and analysts across the organization.
• Define and enforce standards, patterns, and guardrailsfor model deployment, explainability, lineage, and monitoring in alignment with enterprise risk, compliance, and security frameworks.
• Partner closelywith leaders across Responsible AI Governance, AI Portfolio Management, AI Fluency & Engagement, and Applied Data Science & GenAI, incollaborationwith enterprise risk partners, to implement a responsible AI framework that embeds audit-ready control evidence and governance mechanisms directly into the platforms core design to ensurethe platform supports scalable, ethical,compliant,and high-impact AI delivery.
• Build andmaintainintegrationswith enterprise platforms for data ingestion, metadata management, tokenization, and control evidence generation.
• Continuously enhance the platforms automation, resilience, and observability, ensuring robust end-to-end telemetry for both model and data pipelines.
• Drive innovationenablement byestablishingsecure sandbox environments, reusable components, and APIs that accelerate experimentation whilemaintainingcompliance.
• Collaboratewith Enterprise Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Model Risk partners to embed Responsible AI principles and audit-ready control evidence directly into platform design.
• Oversee technical due diligence, onboarding, and management of strategic AI and GenAI vendors and tools, ensuring compatibility with enterprise architecture and control frameworks.
• Develop and mentor engineering talent, championing Agile practices, continuous learning, and adoption of emerging AI and data engineering technologies.
  
  

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of experience in Information Technology including application development, support roles, and management. OR High School Diploma or GED and 12 years of experience in Information Technology including application development, support roles, and management.

Preferred:

• Experience implementing ML or GenAI systems on major cloudplatformspreferably AWS.
• Knowledge of LLMs, vectordatabases,and orchestration frameworks.
• Bachelors Degree and 8 years of experience in Information Technology, Data Engineering, or AI/ML Platform Engineering including leadership roles.
• OR High School Diploma or GED and 12 years of experience in Information Technology or AI platform delivery, including management of cross-functional engineering teams.
  
  

Preferred Area of Experience: Financial services withfocuson AI/ML delivery, data platforms, and regulated environments.

• License or Certification Type: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Professional ML Engineer, Project Management Professional (PMP), or Certified Agile Project Manager (IAPM/PMI-ACP).
• Strong understanding of AI/ML pipelines,MLOpsframeworks, and Responsible AI controls.
• Experience integrating third-party AI and data solutions within secure on-prem and cloud ecosystems.
• Knowledge of information security, data governance, and regulatory compliance frameworks related to AI.
• Demonstrated ability to develop both strategic and tactical plans, manage vendor partnerships, and build technical teams that deliver enterprise-scale AI capabilities.
  
  

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at benefits.

• Lead the design, implementation, and continuous evolution of the banks enterprise AI platform, including infrastructure, model lifecycle management, observability, and integration with Snowflake, AWS, and cloud-native toolchains.
• Manage and mentor cross-functional engineering teamsresponsible forAI enablement, automation, and platform services supporting data scientists, engineers, and analysts across the organization.
• Define and enforce standards, patterns, and guardrailsfor model deployment, explainability, lineage, and monitoring in alignment with enterprise risk, compliance, and security frameworks.
• Partner closelywith leaders across Responsible AI Governance, AI Portfolio Management, AI Fluency & Engagement, and Applied Data Science & GenAI, incollaborationwith enterprise risk partners, to implement a responsible AI framework that embeds audit-ready control evidence and governance mechanisms directly into the platforms core design to ensurethe platform supports scalable, ethical,compliant,and high-impact AI delivery.
• Build andmaintainintegrationswith enterprise platforms for data ingestion, metadata management, tokenization, and control evidence generation.
• Continuously enhance the platforms automation, resilience, and observability, ensuring robust end-to-end telemetry for both model and data pipelines.
• Drive innovationenablement byestablishingsecure sandbox environments, reusable components, and APIs that accelerate experimentation whilemaintainingcompliance.
• Collaboratewith Enterprise Risk, Legal, Compliance, and Model Risk partners to embed Responsible AI principles and audit-ready control evidence directly into platform design.
• Oversee technical due diligence, onboarding, and management of strategic AI and GenAI vendors and tools, ensuring compatibility with enterprise architecture and control frameworks.
• Develop and mentor engineering talent, championing Agile practices, continuous learning, and adoption of emerging AI and data engineering technologies.
  
  

Bachelor's Degree and 8 years of experience in Information Technology including application development, support roles, and management. OR High School Diploma or GED and 12 years of experience in Information Technology including application development, support roles, and management.

Preferred:

• Experience implementing ML or GenAI systems on major cloudplatformspreferably AWS.
• Knowledge of LLMs, vectordatabases,and orchestration frameworks.
• Bachelors Degree and 8 years of experience in Information Technology, Data Engineering, or AI/ML Platform Engineering including leadership roles.
• OR High School Diploma or GED and 12 years of experience in Information Technology or AI platform delivery, including management of cross-functional engineering teams.
  
  

Preferred Area of Experience: Financial services withfocuson AI/ML delivery, data platforms, and regulated environments.

• License or Certification Type: AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Google Professional ML Engineer, Project Management Professional (PMP), or Certified Agile Project Manager (IAPM/PMI-ACP).
• Strong understanding of AI/ML pipelines,MLOpsframeworks, and Responsible AI controls.
• Experience integrating third-party AI and data solutions within secure on-prem and cloud ecosystems.
• Knowledge of information security, data governance, and regulatory compliance frameworks related to AI.
• Demonstrated ability to develop both strategic and tactical plans, manage vendor partnerships, and build technical teams that deliver enterprise-scale AI capabilities.
  
  

Benefits are an integral part of total rewards and First Citizens Bank is committed to providing a competitive, thoughtfully designed and quality benefits program to meet the needs of our associates. More information can be found at benefits.