Director, Technology - AI Engineering

About the Team

Join a forward-thinking, innovative team at the intersection of AI and eCommerce. Our mission is to reshape the retail landscape through intelligent automation and data-driven insights, creating memorable customer experiences and measurable value for the business. We are a group of passionate engineers, data scientists, and product visionaries who thrive on solving complex challenges and driving meaningful change.

About the Role 

Are you ready to lead the AI revolution in eCommerce? We seek a visionary and delivery-focused Director of AI Engineering to spearhead transformative artificial intelligence and machine learning initiatives. In this pivotal role, you will drive the development of groundbreaking technologies that redefine customer engagement, streamline operations, and unlock new growth opportunities. If you have a strategic mindset, a passion for innovation, and a proven ability to inspire and lead teams, we want to hear from you!

 

Responsibilities 

1. Shape the Future of AI:
   • Craft and execute a forward-looking AI roadmap, aligning cutting-edge machine learning solutions with our strategic business goals to revolutionize personalization, sales, and operational efficiency.
2. Drive Innovation:
   • Explore and implement emerging AI trends, ensuring our platform remains ahead of the curve and ready for tomorrow's challenges.
3. Elevate Customer Experiences:
   • Design and optimize AI-driven personalization systems, recommendation engines, and intelligent search tools to enhance every touchpoint of the customer journey.
4. Automate for Excellence:
   • Led the development & deployment of predictive models for e-commerce platforms, demand forecasting, inventory management, supply chain optimization, recommendation engines, search algorithms, predictive analytics, and e-commerce platform automation, making our operations more innovative and agile.
5. Establish a Data-Driven Culture:
   • Build a robust data governance framework to support scalable AI initiatives while ensuring security and privacy standards compliance.
6. Deliver Scalable AI Solutions:
   • Oversee the lifecycle of AI models, ensuring they are reliable and efficient and deliver measurable results.
7. Collaborate Across Teams:
   • Partner with product, engineering, and marketing teams to prioritize impactful AI projects and achieve cross-functional success.
8. Lead and Inspire Talent:
   • Cultivate a world-class team of AI experts, fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and excellence.
9. Champion Responsible AI:
   • Embed ethical AI practices into every initiative, prioritizing fairness, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
10. Measure Success:

• Define and track KPIs to demonstrate the ROI of AI initiatives, providing regular updates to executive leadership.

 

Criteria

• Academic Excellence: MS or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Machine Learning, related fields, or equivalent hands-on experience.
• Industry Expertise: 12+ years in technology or engineering, including 7+ years in AI/ML-focused roles within eCommerce, with proven results in developing recommendation engines, search algorithms, and predictive analytics.
• Technical Mastery: Expertise in Python, R, and Java, and proficiency with leading ML frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Scikit-Learn.
• Visionary Leadership: Demonstrated success in setting and executing a strategic vision for AI, inspiring teams, and driving impactful results.
• This role requires being onsite in the San Francisco or San Jose office Monday through Thursday and Friday as optional in the office 

 

Our Culture & Values 

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing. Our associates are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, so they can be their best and achieve their personal and professional goals.   We make inclusivity a cornerstone of our culture by welcoming associates with diverse cultures and backgrounds and celebrating them, together.  We nurture an open, inclusive environment for all. Our differences—whatever they may be—are valued, explored, and appreciated. Together, we’re creating a more just and inclusive company culture where the only criteria for advancement are: 

• The quality of our work
• The contributions we make to our teams and the business
• Our ability to lead and connect

We firmly believe that working in a culture focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) spurs innovation, creates healthy and high-performing teams, and delivers superior customer experiences. Outside of WSI, we recognize the importance of playing a part in our communities through partnerships, collaborations, and commitments to a more just and inclusive world.

 

People First 

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

Continued Learning

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities 
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series             

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

The expected starting pay range for this position is $230,000 - $270,000. Applicable pay ranges may differ across markets. Actual pay will be determined based on experience and other job-related factors permitted by law. In addition to competitive pay, compensation may include a variety of other components like benefits, paid time off, merit, and bonus opportunities.

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Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn teen, pottery barn kids, Rejuvenation, Mark & Graham, west elm, or Outward. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.