Director, AI Engineering

Dentsu X; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 230,000 - 360,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Home office stipend

Volunteer leave

Wellness days

Dentsu University access

Job summary

Dentsu is seeking a Director (AI Engineering) to lead the development of AI-powered products and establish AI engineering as a discipline. You will own architecture, evaluation standards, and guardrails across multiple products, collaborating with the Executive Director of Engineering.

This permanent, hybrid role is based in Melbourne or Sydney and focuses on building market-facing AI capabilities aligned to the 2027 AI strategy.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and running AI systems in production.
• Ability to lead multiple AI products from concept to scale.
• Strong cloud engineering foundations across platforms.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of AI-powered products, platforms and capabilities that drive growth and differentiation.
• Define AI engineering standards, architecture patterns and technical strategy across densu.
• Design, build and deploy production ready AI systems including LLM applications and intelligent automation.
• Collaborate with internal teams to turn ideas into scalable solutions.
• Help shape the future AI Engineering function and long-term platform strategy.

Skills

AI systems design

Production AI deployment

Cloud platforms

Stakeholder influence

Technical leadership

Tools

Python

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Job description

Job Description

dentsu is a network designed for what's next, helping clients predict and plan for disruptive future opportunities and create new paths to growth in a sustainable economy. As a unified organisation, dentsu brings together deep expertise across media, creative and customer experience to deliver integrated solutions that drive meaningful progress for clients and society. Our data and technology team is responsible for building and maintaining industry leading solutions to support marketing, media buying, creative, and customer experience teams to create more meaningful impact. As Director (AI Engineering) you'll work closely with our Executive Director of Engineering to establish AI engineering as a discipline. This will start with a new programme of work to build a portfolio of AI-driven marketing products that will deliver value for our clients. The ideal candidate will have expert knowledge of how AI systems are designed, evaluated and run in production, being able to lead the delivery of several products at once and own the architecture, evaluation standards and guardrails that those products share. This is a brand new role where you'd be operating as an individual contributor and playing a critical role in shaping the future of dentsu's products, services and competitive advantage. You'll be one of the foundational leaders responsible for establishing AI Engineering as a discipline, building market facing capabilities and helping accelerate our market facing capabilities and 2027 AI strategy. This is a permanent role, working on a hybrid model in Melbourne or Sydney.

Core responsibilities

• Lead the development of AI-powered products, platforms and capabilities that drive commercial growth and competitive differentiation.
• Define AI engineering standards, architecture patterns and technical strategy across dentsu.
• Design, build and deploy production ready AI systems including LLM applications, agentic workflows and intelligent automation solutions.
• Work with stakeholders with other internal teams to turn ideas into scalable solutions.
• Build and help shape the future AI Engineering function, such as capability development and long-term platform strategy.

A bit about you

• Experience building, deploying and scaling commercial AI, machine learning or generative AI products in production environments.
• Strong foundation in software engineering, cloud platforms and modern AI architectures, with the want and ability to remain hands on.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical direction, influence stakeholders and translate emerging technologies into business outcomes.
• Experience owning complex technical initiatives from strategy through to delivery and ongoing optimisation.
• Passion for building new capabilities, challenging convention and creating innovative solutions from the ground up.

What’s in it for you

• Real flexibility to work when and where you feel most productive with our 'Be the Best You' policy which includes a $250 contribution to your home office set up.
• The opportunity to give back with dedicated volunteer leave and our whole-company event, One Day for Change.
• 5 weeks annual leave after 2 years of service and 3 whole company Wellness days off per year for you to switch off and take your day, your way.
• Career Development and Learning & Development opportunities, including access to our global online dentsu University.
• Become a champion for meaningful progress: Our diverse and inclusive culture enables our employees to bring their whole selves to work and be proud of doing so.

Our diverse and inclusive culture enables our employees to bring their whole selves to work and be proud of doing so.

This is why we encourage applications from people with disabilities, and of all ages, nationalities, backgrounds and cultures.

If you want to belong to a one global network where opportunities are limitless – we look forward to welcoming you.

Location: Sydney

Brand: Dentsu

Time Type: Full time

Contract Type: Permanent

About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact. Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We're leading the way - helping to build a more sustainable planet. Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for our work and excitement for the future. Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way.