Director, Machine Learning Engineering

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Director, Machine Learning Engineering

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Mastercard’s Business & Market Insights (B&MI) group empowers organizations to achieve growth & innovation goals by providing unparalleled data-driven insights and advanced analytics. By leveraging proprietary data and global expertise, B&MI helps businesses make smarter, more informed decisions that drive profitability and success. We turn complex data into actionable strategies that lead to better outcomes and sustained competitive advantage.

We are currently looking for a ‘Director, Machine Learning Engineering’ for Operational Insights Program, within B&MI group. This role will work with internal and external partners to execute on AI/ML strategy for the program that enables business growth, enhances customer experience, and ensures the delivery of secure, scalable, and high-performing software solutions. As a key technology leader, this role will also focus on engineering best practices, next gen innovation and vendor management, while fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.

Roles and Responsibilities:
This position provides leadership to large, diverse, technology teams building innovative technical solutions to cater to internal and external customer requirements. Major accountabilities include:

• Develop and execute on strategic vision for machine learning projects and initiatives. Possess hands-on technical capabilities to track, analyse or resolve critical issues and customer queries. Oversee design, development, and deployment of machine learning models and systems. Be a major contributor to technical discussions and provide valuable insight and guidance on technology approach and processes.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in machine learning and AI technologies. Research on current and upcoming technologies and application frameworks and provide recommendations. Proactively create and maintain solution and technology roadmaps.
• Work closely with business partners on product definition, product roadmaps, business case development, and overall direction.
• Source, evaluate, and manage appropriate vendors on the build and run of products in line with the full scope of program objectives
• Drive scalability, security, and performance across all software solutions and platforms. Ensure product compliance to regulatory and industry standards.
• Drive next gen technology innovation to enhance product value proposition and improve customer experience. Foster a culture of day-to-day innovation within the team.
• Manage operational and business concerns relative to future business programs, projects, or enhancements to ensure consistent delivery of quality services
• Lead, manage and mentor global team members, ensuring development of robust, high-quality, and scalable software, while creating an inspiring, exciting and performance-driven work environment for the team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Attract, hire, and develop world-class engineering talent and be accountable for their performance and growth

All About You:

• Master’s/bachelor’s degree in computer science or engineering, and a considerable work experience with a proven track-record of successfully leading and managing complex projects/products and delivering to aggressive market needs.

• Engineering experience that demonstrates successful track record of enabling business through smart solutioning, technical innovation and delivery excellence. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with quick adaptation to new technologies, methodologies, and systems.

• Strong applied knowledge and hands on experience in advanced statistical techniques, predictive modelling, machine learning algorithms, GenAI and deep learning frameworks. Experience with AI and machine learning platforms such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar.

• Strong programming skills in languages such as Java/Python/SQL is a must. Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) and understanding of cloud computing services (AWS, Azure, GCP) related to data processing and storage is a plus.

• Responsible AI knowledge: Awareness of the principles and practices surrounding responsible AI, including fairness, transparency, accountability, and ethics in AI deployments.


• Proven track-record of leading and managing large and diverse global teams (including vendor partners), and of building highly motivated, engaged and innovative teams

• Sound, clear and crisp verbal communication, with ability to effectively engage with internal and external stakeholders at all management levels, coupled with excellent negotiation skills.

• High-energy, detail-oriented and proactive, with ability to function under pressure in an independent environment, along with a high degree of initiative and self-motivation to drive results.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

• Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices;

• Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

• Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

• Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.