AI Innovation Director

Ericsson GmbH; Reading; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Ericsson GmbH in Reading seeks an AI Innovation Director to lead the definition, design and industrialisation of AI and autonomous-operations solutions across service assurance, customer experience, fault management, or change management. You will guide lighthouse deployments, shape value-driven use cases, and ensure scalable blueprints and runbooks, while collaborating with sales, delivery and partners.

This role demands 10+ years in telecom and 5+ years in innovation, with strong leadership

Qualifications

• 10+ years in telco operations or managed services.
• 5+ years in innovation, product management or solution leadership for AI/analytics.
• Experience leading cross-functional, global teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the innovation roadmap for the domain.
• Identify, shape and prioritise high-value AI use cases.
• Lead end-to-end solution design for each use case.
• Steer cross-functional squads to build and validate new solutions with lighthouse customers.
• Industrialise solutions through reusable blueprints, reference architectures, runbooks and value messaging.
• Act as primary innovation contact for sales, delivery, customers and partners.

Skills

AI/ML expertise

GenAI concepts

Autonomous operations

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Job description

Grow with us

The AI Innovation Director – Network AI & Autonomous Operations leads the definition, design and industrialisation of AI and autonomous-operations solutions in a specific domain (Service Assurance, Customer Experience, Fault Management, or Change Management), turning real operational problems into repeatable, deployable AI solutions and ensuring alignment with the overall AI and autonomous operations strategy.

Role Responsibilities

• Own the innovation roadmap for the assigned domain, aligned with the overall AI and autonomous operations strategy.
• Identify, shape and prioritise high-value AI use cases based on operational insights and customer demand.
• Lead end-to-end solution design for each use case, including business intent, scope, architecture, operating model, KPIs and value case.
• Steer cross-functional squads (SMEs, AI experts, architects, delivery) to build and validate new solutions with lighthouse customers.
• Ensure every solution is industrialised through reusable blueprints, standard SoWs, reference architectures, runbooks and value messaging.
• Act as primary innovation contact for the domain with sales, delivery, customers and partners, supporting GTM without owning P&L
• Continuously monitor market, competitor and technology developments to keep the domain ahead on AI, GenAI and autonomy.

Join our Team

Role Authority

• Define and recommend changes to the AI innovation roadmap, solution patterns and autonomy strategy within the governance of the AI Innovation VP and SA MSN.
• Access necessary operational, financial and customer data to prioritise and shape AI use cases and measure value delivery.
• Initiate and lead innovation and industrialisation initiatives within the scope of AI and autonomous-operations solutions, including lighthouse engagements.

Required, Skills, Experience and Qualifications

Experience –

• 10+ years in telco operations, managed services or adjacent domains (RAN, core, IP, service assurance, change).
• 5+ years in innovation, product management or solution leadership for AI/analytics/autonomous operations.
• Experience leading cross-functional, global teams and delivering complex solutions into live networks.

Skills –

• Strong domain expertise in at least one of: Service Assurance, Optimization, Fault Management, Change Management.
• Ability to translate complex operations challenges into clear AI use cases and value narratives.
• Solid understanding of AI/ML, GenAI and autonomous operations concepts (intents, closed loops, autonomy levels).
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management and storytelling skills suitable for senior internal and customer engagement.

Behaviours and Competencies

• Customer and value focused, with the ability to shape AI use cases around measurable operational and business outcomes.
• Strong collaboration and ability to lead cross-functional, global teams and squads by influence rather than direct authority.
• Structured, strategic thinking with the ability to articulate complex AI and autonomy concepts in simple, impactful narratives.
• Innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, constantly scanning the market and technology landscape to keep the domain ahead.

Why join Ericsson?

At Ericsson, you´ll have an outstanding opportunity. The chance to use your skills and imagination to push the boundaries of what´s possible. To build solutions never seen before to some of the world’s toughest problems. You´ll be challenged, but you won’t be alone. You´ll be joining a team of diverse innovators, all driven to go beyond the status quo to craft what comes next.

Encouraging a diverse and inclusive organization is core to our values at Ericsson, that's why we champion it in everything we do. We truly believe that by collaborating with people with different experiences we drive innovation, which is essential for our future growth. We encourage people from all backgrounds to apply and realize their full potential as part of our Ericsson team. Ericsson is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. learn more.

Primary country and city: United Kingdom (GB) || Reading