Senior Manager, AI/ML

The Cognitive and Generative-AI Engineering team, within the Enterprise Data and Information Management (EDIM) department, is responsible for designing and implementing advanced AI systems to enhance and scale AI adoption across the organization. This pivotal role drives the AI Center for Enablement by leading skilled AI Engineering talent and AI Operations, spurring innovation, attracting top talent, and fostering collaboration with business partners, Enterprise Technology Services, Enterprise AI Strategy, the AI Working Group, and external technology partners. Additionally, this person will operationalize an Enterprise AI Anchor Platform, nurture an AI-as-a-service culture, and enable the organization to maximize the value from AI investments.

The successful candidate will provide delivery and ongoing support for NFCU's data science, advanced analytics, and augmented intelligence technologies, executing on the strategic vision and ensuring the effective implementation of AI initiatives across the organization, while demonstrating strong communication, technical leadership, and organizational skills. They will assist in leading the coordination of strategic program delivery across Enterprise Data & Information Management (EDIM) disciplines. The incumbent will be considered a subject matter expert and a key stakeholder/key contributor on highly complex initiatives and project teams.  

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• Lead Enterprise AI Center for Enablement and ensure its services and deliverables align with NFCU’s overall strategic goals and Agentic Transformation program objectives.
• Partner with senior EDIM, technology product, and engineering leaders to shape and contribute to the strategic goals and direction needed to continuously evolve NFCU's AI Center For Enablement capabilities.
• Lead/Conduct technology strategy and roadmap development efforts to drive business unit Data and AI modernization efforts.
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture, Cloud Native Engineering, and Microsoft support to build and operationalize AI Anchor Platform as a Service, comprising Model Garden and Control Plane by leveraging Azure and OpenAI technologies.
• Manage AI Engineering and Operations teams, fostering continuous upskilling to enable the design, deployment, and scaling of Generative-AI solutions that boost efficiency and spur innovation.
• Oversee AI standards, best practices, and establish guardrails to ensure secure, ethical, and responsible AI principles are integral to the solutions.
• Ensure consistent application of broader EDIM standards and best practices while planning, developing, reviewing, and enforcing enterprise architectural standards.
• Coordinate the implementation of AI Operational Governance controls by collaborating with the AI Strategy team, AI Working Group, Model Risk Management, and Cyber Security teams to ensure secure AI practices, enhance explainability, and maintain comprehensive audit tracking.
• Support machine-ready Knowledge Management Engineering efforts and drive AI accuracy by implementing measurable data quality metrics and establishing advanced domain adaptation techniques like advanced RAG to meet business needs.
• Drive and enable AI products, including Developer Productivity Tools, across the organization with a high degree of adoption and capture metrics to measure their impact.
• Manage and coach the AI Engineering and AI Operations teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment to drive continuous improvement.
• Assist with leading the formation of cross organizational “communities of practice” to enable federated development activities for AI driven process efficiencies.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with technology vendors and professional services firms specializing in advanced analytics, generative AI, and natural language processing (NLP) to drive NFCU value outcomes.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Data Analytics, Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics or related technical field.
• Experience in leading, designing, implementing, and managing large-scale AI and machine learning solutions, including production-grade Generative-AI applications preferably, in a large multi-function financial services organization.
• Strong technical skills in AI technologies, including experience with Azure and OpenAI familiarity with building and operationalizing AI platforms equipped with Model Garden and Control Plane, and Agentic AI.
• Experience in executing on strategic AI initiatives and aligning foundational AI capabilities with the organization's overall strategic goals and transformation objectives.
• Experience with delivering AI solutions that accelerate productivity.
• Extensive experience with system architecture in a service-oriented and enterprise service business environment, focusing on designing and implementing scalable, reliable, and efficient systems.
• Extensive experience in building a Knowledge Base for AI, cloud migration and engineering cloud centric environments.
• Experience supporting AI Operations, observability and incident management.
• Extensive experience with Agile practices including Scrum, Azure DevOps, Git and CI/CD.
• Expert knowledge of project lifecycles and management methodologies.
• Expert knowledge of engineering principles, practices, and theories, and methods to identify and solve the highest complex problems and perform sophisticated analyses.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of the end-to-end IT process, including architecture, design & engineering, implementation, and operations, ensuring seamless integration and optimal delivery across all stages.
• Experience in financial planning and analysis, encompassing comprehensive cost allocation, continuous budget oversight, and strategic scenario modeling.
• Proven expertise in managing vendor relationships for Statement of Work (SOW) execution, developing risk mitigation strategies, and maintaining effective communication channels to ensure successful project outcomes.
• Expert ability to communicate effectively about AI with a broad range of audiences, from sophisticated technical resources to those with little or no technical background.
• Expert problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, team building, and presentation skills.
• Expert skill in applying innovative approaches to solving technical design issues.
• Expert verbal, interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Solid experience with Python and SQL required.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s in Computer Science, Data Science, Data Analytics, Engineering, Statistics, Mathematics or related technical field. 
• Expert knowledge of Navy Federal products, services, programs, policies and procedures.
• Experience in advanced AI/ML technologies.
• Experience building and supporting Enterprise grade APIs.
• Expert knowledge of banking/financial industry trends, products, and services.
• Experience working in an AI Center for Enablement.

Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00AM - 4:30PM

Location: 820 Follin Lane, Vienna, VA 22180

Navy Federal provides much more than a job. We provide a meaningful career experience, including a culture that is energized, engaged and committed; and fierce appreciation for our teams, who are rewarded with highly competitive pay and generous benefits and perks.

Our approach to careers is simple yet powerful: Make our mission your passion.

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Equal Employment Opportunity: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Hybrid Workplace: Navy Federal Credit Union is a hybrid workplace, and details will be discussed during your interview process.

Disclaimers: Navy Federal reserves the right to fill this role at a higher/lower grade level based on business need. An assessment may be required to compete for this position. Job postings are subject to close early or extend out longer than the anticipated closing date at the hiring team’s discretion based on qualified applicant volume. Navy Federal Credit Union assesses market data to establish salary ranges that enable us to remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range, based on your experience, location and market position.

Bank Secrecy Act: Remains cognizant of and adheres to Navy Federal policies and procedures, and regulations pertaining to the Bank Secrecy Act.