Software Engineering Director - Automation & AI

At U.S. Bank, we’re on a journey to do our best. Helping the customers and businesses we serve to make better and smarter financial decisions and enabling the communities we support to grow and succeed.  We believe it takes all of us to bring our shared ambition to life, and each person is unique in their potential. A career with U.S. Bank gives you a wide, ever-growing range of opportunities to discover what makes you thrive at every stage of your career. Try new things, learn new skills and discover what you excel at—all from Day One.

Job Description

We are looking for a passionate and motivated Software Engineering Director to join our team and make a difference in the lives of our employees, bankers, and customers. This role is perfect for someone who wants to be at the forefront of innovation, improving our branch and ATM technology experiences with cutting-edge AI and automation solutions.

As the Software Engineering Director, Automation & AI, you will partner with our business partners and IT stakeholders to plan and develop advanced technology solutions using AI and automation tools. In this high-impact role, you will build a technology incubation function, identifying, developing, and launching innovative solutions that address critical business challenges, enhance customer experiences, and automate repeatable tasks whenever possible. You will lead our AI and automation efforts for branch and ATM technologies, collaborating closely with business leaders, technology teams, and external partners to shape the future.

Responsibilities:

• Lead AI & Automation Strategy: Define and execute the AI and automation vision, aligning with business goals and innovation initiatives for Branch & ATM Technology.
• Drive Engineering Governance: Establish and enforce best practices for scalable, stable, and resilient software delivery, including performance monitoring, audits, and technical standards.
• Foster Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with engineering, product, and business teams across a matrixed organization to prioritize initiatives, prototype solutions, and ensure successful delivery.
• Enable Change through Influence: Champion a culture of continuous learning and psychological safety. Guide engineers through change with empathy, forums, and peer learning—not mandates.
• Oversee Technical Execution: Maintain visibility into what’s queued, what’s in progress, and what’s delivering value. Leverage internal teams and resources to accelerate outcomes.
• Promote Innovation: Identify and incubate new ideas and use cases for AI and automation, especially those tailored to specific business channels or customer needs.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent work experience
• Eight or more years of relevant software engineering experience
• Five or more years of experience leading a software engineering team

Preferred Skills/Experience

• Experience leading automation and AI strategy and delivery with at least 2 years of hands-on AI/ML experience (including GenAI) and hands-on expertise with automating processes.
• Proven expertise in integrating modern applications with legacy infrastructure using streaming platforms and technologies that serve as a cohesive link between the two.
• Extensive hands-on experience in Python and key data science libraries, with practical development expertise in TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Natural Language Processing (NLP). Proficient in deploying and managing models on the Azure Machine Learning platform and integrating with leading LLM APIs, including OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Anthropic, and Mistral.
• Develop and refine SLM and LLM behavior using prompt engineering, guardrail implementation, and fine-tuning pipelines.
• Design and build scalable APIs (e.g., FastAPI, Flask) to enable AI-driven features across products
• Familiarity with application cloud hosting and migrations (Azure and AWS) and cloud data and services.
• Experience with Retail Branch and ATM channels, including capabilities such as sales, account opening, customer onboarding, account servicing, sales alerts and leads, disputes, money movement capabilities, document management, appointment scheduling, CoBrowse, ATMs, transaction middleware, and TCRs.
• Experience working within an agile/scrum development environment aligned to product.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of business and technical/engineering strategy align.
• Strong people management skills, including mentoring and coaching engineers of all skill levels.
• Strong communication skills, verbal and written, with the ability to communicate technical information in simple, easily understood terms.
• Financial services experience.

Location Expectations

The role offers a hybrid/flexible schedule, which means there's an in-office expectation of 3 or more days per week and the flexibility to work outside the office location for the other days.

If there’s anything we can do to accommodate a disability during any portion of the application or hiring process, please refer to our disability accommodations for applicants.

Benefits: 

Our approach to benefits and total rewards considers our team members’ whole selves and what may be needed to thrive in and outside work. That's why our benefits are designed to help you and your family boost your health, protect your financial security and give you peace of mind. Our benefits include the following (some may vary based on role, location or hours):

• Healthcare (medical, dental, vision)

• Basic term and optional term life insurance

• Short-term and long-term disability

• Pregnancy disability and parental leave

• 401(k) and employer-funded retirement plan

• Paid vacation (from two to five weeks depending on salary grade and tenure)

• Up to 11 paid holiday opportunities

• Adoption assistance

• Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 80 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law

U.S. Bank is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status, and other factors protected under applicable law.

E-Verify

U.S. Bank participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program in all facilities located in the United States and certain U.S. territories. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.

The salary range reflects figures based on the primary location, which is listed first. The actual range for the role may differ based on the location of the role. In addition to salary, U.S. Bank offers a comprehensive benefits package, including incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase 401(k) contribution and pension (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). Pay Range: $149,515.00 - $175,900.00 - $193,490.00

U.S. Bank will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment. U.S. Bank conducts background checks consistent with applicable local laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act as well as the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. U.S. Bank is subject to, and conducts background checks consistent with the requirements of Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA). In addition, certain positions may also be subject to the requirements of FINRA, NMLS registration, Reg Z, Reg G, OFAC, the NFA, the FCPA, the Bank Secrecy Act, the SAFE Act, and/or federal guidelines applicable to an agreement, such as those related to ethics, safety, or operational procedures.

Applicants must be able to comply with U.S. Bank policies and procedures including the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and related workplace conduct and safety policies.

Posting may be closed earlier due to high volume of applicants.