Director of AI Infrastructure Engineering

As the Director of AI Infrastructure Engineering within our Infrastructure Engineering organization, you will build, lead, and scale a new team towards our bold AI transformation vision. This role is uniquely focused on establishing generative AI platforms and enablement capabilities that will accelerate AI productivity across both engineering and non-engineering functions. You will architect and implement foundational AI infrastructure powered by services like AWS Bedrock, Amazon Q Developer, and Amazon Q for Business, while building targeted agentic AI solutions and internal MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers. 

Working closely with engineering, product, business leaders, and our Data+ML organization, you will define and execute a comprehensive generative AI infrastructure strategy that positions Marqeta at the forefront of AI-driven innovation in fintech.

This role will report directly to the SVP of Infrastructure Engineering and will define a generative AI infrastructure strategy and technical vision to support Marqeta's enterprise-wide AI adoption, with particular emphasis on building scalable, secure, and cost-effective generative AI platforms and agentic solutions that serve diverse organizational needs.

We work Flexible First. This role can be performed remote within the United States or from our Oakland, CA headquarters. We'd love for you to join us!

The Impact You'll Have 

Build and lead an AI Infrastructure Engineering team, establishing team culture, processes, and technical standards while recruiting top-tier talent to execute on our AI infrastructure roadmap

• Develop a comprehensive technical vision for generative AI infrastructure that enables seamless integration of AI-powered developer tools, business productivity applications, and agentic solutions across engineering workflows and business operations while maintaining security and compliance standards
• Own and operate comprehensive generative AI platforms including AWS Bedrock integrations, Amazon Q Developer and Q for Business deployments, custom agentic AI solutions, and internal MCP servers that accelerate AI adoption across technical and non-technical teams
• Establish generative AI operational excellence including prompt engineering standards,  cost optimization strategies, and performance monitoring capabilities that ensure responsible and efficient AI deployment at scale
• Build and deploy agentic AI solutions and automation including custom AI agents, workflow automations, and internal MCP servers that enhance productivity and enable sophisticated AI-driven business processes
• Partner closely with the Data+ML organization to ensure complementary AI strategies, shared infrastructure components, and seamless integration between generative AI tools and traditional ML capabilities
• Create strategic roadmaps and delivery frameworks including OKRs, project structures, and milestone tracking to guide AI infrastructure initiatives and align stakeholders across the organization
• Manage AI infrastructure costs and performance by implementing monitoring, attribution, and optimization mechanisms that ensure efficient resource utilization and demonstrate clear ROI on AI investments
• Build vendor and technology partnerships for AI infrastructure components, evaluating emerging AI technologies, managing integrations, and establishing strategic relationships that accelerate our AI capabilities
• Mentor and develop team members on AI engineering best practices, infrastructure design patterns, and career growth while fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning
• Establish metrics and KPIs to measure AI platform adoption, performance, and business impact while communicating progress and outcomes to executive leadership

Who you Are 

• 8+ years experience in platform engineering and infrastructure leadership roles with demonstrated expertise in building and scaling generative AI platforms, developer productivity tools, and enterprise AI enablement solutions
• 2+ years hands-on experience with generative AI platforms and services including AWS Bedrock, Amazon Q, OpenAI APIs, and similar enterprise AI services, with proven track record of production deployments and user adoption
• Proven track record of building teams from zero to one with experience recruiting, hiring, and developing high-performing engineering teams while establishing technical vision and execution standards
• Deep expertise in cloud ML platforms and services with strong preference for AWS (Bedrock, EKS, EC2) and experience with Google Workspace, along with proficiency in Kubernetes, Infrastructure as Code, MLOps CI/CD pipelines, and ML observability tools
• Background in fintech or regulated industries preferred, with strong understanding of security, compliance, and governance requirements for AI systems handling sensitive financial data
• Excellent leadership and communication skills with ability to influence senior stakeholders, build cross-functional partnerships, and translate complex technical concepts into business value
• Platform ownership mindset with proven experience taking end-to-end responsibility for generative AI platform reliability, performance, and user experience while building self-service capabilities for developers and business users
• Experience with AI productivity tools and developer enablement such as AI-powered code generation, automated documentation, intelligent testing tools, and workflow optimization platforms
• Strong bias toward action and innovation with ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-paced environments while maintaining high standards for quality and reliability
• High ethical standards and commitment to responsible AI with understanding of AI ethics, bias mitigation, and responsible deployment practices
• BS/MS degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Compensation and Benefits

Marqeta is a Flex First company which allows you to choose your best working environment, whether that be from home or at a company office. To support Flex First, we calibrate pay to a competitive value according to working location. Compensation is aligned according to three tiers within the United States:

• National: A baseline tier that applies to most of the geographic territory of the United States.
• Premium: Slightly elevated from the National tier, and oriented toward a narrower set of higher cost-of-living areas, such as Los Angeles CA and Seattle WA
• Premium Plus: A tier for the most expensive working areas, like the San Francisco Bay area and New York City.

Visit salaryzones">this page or consult with a Recruiter to determine which tier would be applicable to you.

When determining salaries, we consider several factors including, but not limited to, skills, prior experience, and work location. The new-hire base salary range for this position is:

• National: $206,000 - $257,600
• Premium: $223,100 -  $278,900 
• Premium Plus: $242,500 - $303,100

We also believe in recognizing the contributions of our people. That's why we award annual bonuses to eligible employees, rewarding both individual performance and the success of the entire company.

Along with monetary compensation, Marqeta offers

• Multiple health insurance options
• Flexible time off – take what you need
• Retirement savings program with company contribution and after tax contributions
• Equity in a publicly-traded company and an Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Family-forming benefits, fertility support, and up to 20 weeks of Parental Leave
• Free therapy sessions, financial and professional coaching, and legal advice
• Monthly stipend to support our remote work model
• Annual “development dollars” to support our people growth and development