Director Software Engineering - Automation & AI Agent

Company Description

Visa is a world leader in payments and technology, with over 259 billion payments transactions flowing safely between consumers, merchants, financial institutions, and government entities in more than 200 countries and territories each year. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable, and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses, and economies to thrive while driven by a common purpose – to uplift everyone, everywhere by being the best way to pay and be paid.

Make an impact with a purpose-driven industry leader. Join us today and experience Life at Visa.

Job Description

Are you passionate about the future of Automation and GenAI?  Are you eager to automate many activities in a large global organization and help the company with the next generation of GenAI based intelligent tools and applications using vendor technologies? We are seeking a hands-on software development leader and people manager committed to developing and releasing exceptional automation products and AI Agent's while enabling global teams leverage vendor GenAI tools to bring immense value and satisfaction to customers and businesses.

This role reports to the Vice President of Corporate Generative AI and places you at the forefront of Automation, innovation and GenAI enablement at Visa. You will lead a product development team implementing cutting-edge automation products and leveraging vendor AI products to revolutionize Visa's internal and corporate functions. You will also maintain and own the automation and vendor GenAI platforms. You will work in a highly agile environment, delivering best-in-class solutions using the latest technologies, such as autonomous agents, assistants, and other productivity-enhancing capabilities.

If you are ready to make a significant impact on corporate productivity and work with a team of brilliant minds, this is the opportunity for you!

Essential Functions:

• Lead and manage a team of automation developers and Generative AI SMEs who fully comprehend vendor-based GenAI technology offering for Visa.
• Low-code Automation and Platforms: Operate and manage third-party vendor platforms such as Copilot Studio, Automation Anywhere, and Power Platform. Leverage these low-code platforms to design, deliver, and deploy Automations for the company.
• Code-based Automation: Design, deliver and deploy code-based Automations using scripting and advanced programming languages (Java, .Net, Python, etc.).
• Build and deploy enterprise-grade automation solutions and agents to enhance productivity and efficiency, ensuring they are robust, secure, and equipped with necessary guardrails.
• Vendor-based GenAI product rollout: Lead a team of SMEs partners with business stakeholders to globally roll out vendor-based GenAI products including Microsoft copilots, Copilot Studio, and Power Platform components. 
• Center of Excellence (COE): Establish and maintain a Center of Excellence for Automation and vendor based GenAI platforms and products to enable distributed innovation.  Provide governance to ensure the platforms and products are secure and capable of supporting enterprise automation needs. Unblock and enable Visa internal teams within an agreed SLA, liaise with vendors and enabling technology teams, and maintain a strong focus on customer satisfaction.
• Collaborate closely with product management and business stakeholders to fully understand the vision, gather requirements, manage the backlog, set expectations, and provide product updates.
• Measure KPIs to demonstrate improvements in productivity and time savings for employees and use these KPIs to further enhance the product.
• Utilize end-of-sprint demos to gain approval for feature deployment, and work with product management and architects to prioritize feedback.
• Stay updated with the latest developments in automation, AI, and vendor technologies, primarily from Microsoft Copilot, Power Platform, and Automation Anywhere, to provide informed support to the team.
• Ensure all products developed meet Visa’s high standards of security, quality, performance, resiliency, and compliance.
• Collaborate with security, privacy, and governance teams to ensure products comply with relevant policies, standards, and regulations.
• Liaise with other developers, business units, product managers, engineers, and other applicable groups to ensure flawless execution.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant work experience and a Bachelors degree, OR 13+ years of relevant work experience

Preferred Qualifications

• 12+ years of work experience with a bachelor’s degree, or 8-10 years with an Advanced Degree (e.g., Masters, MBA, JD, MD), or 6+ years with a PhD.
• Leadership: 5+ years proven experience in managing and mentoring a team of developers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment, and aligning team goals with organizational objectives.
• Software Delivery and Reliability Engineering: Track record of delivering high-quality, enterprise software applications. Complete understanding of release management, DevOps, reliability engineering, high availability, resiliency, monitoring, operations automation, infrastructure as code, configuration as code, and customization as code.
• Agile Methodology: Strong understanding and implementation of Agile frameworks like Scrum or Kanban. Experience managing software development projects using Agile methodologies.
• Automation and AI Agents Product Development: Experience in delivering automation solutions and AI-based agents using various technology stacks like Microsoft Copilot Studios, M365 Copilot, Power Platform, Automation Anywhere, custom code solutions, and vendor-based solutions. Proven experience in managing large-scale enterprise deployments of products like Microsoft Copilot and Copilot Studio, and other third-party vendor products, with a strong understanding of distribution, governance, and management of enterprise solutions.
• Platform Maintenance: Proven experience in maintaining enterprise-wide automation platforms, both in-house and vendor-based, ensuring it remains free of vulnerabilities. Provide enterprise capabilities in a timely manner with a well-defined Center of Excellence and established processes.
• Strong process development and implementation skills, with the ability to manage and prioritize multiple requests efficiently, and experience in developing and maintaining intake and request management systems.
• Engagement with Business Units: Proven expertise in engaging with business units to identify pain points and deliver automation solutions that enhance productivity and save costs for the company.
• Partnership with Tech Stakeholders: Partner with various technology stakeholders to build relationships and ensure product rollouts are aligned. Engage stakeholders for smooth rollouts.
• External Vendor Relationships: Build strong relationships with external vendors like Microsoft. Ensure alignment with product strategy and establish a relationship where they listen to pain points and contribute to their roadmap.
• AI and Machine Learning: Knowledge of Large Language Models (LLMs) and understanding of NLP tasks such as Named Entity Recognition and Text Classification.
• Project Management: Experience leading complex projects from inception to completion. Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and continuous improvement across projects with a development team. Experience managing multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, a passion for innovation, a commitment to staying up to date with the latest advancements in automation and product space, and exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a knack for making data-driven decisions.

Additional Information

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is 176,400.00 to 256,000.00 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity. Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401 (k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.