AI COE Head [T500-29004]

VIP (Vermont Information Processing); Mumbai; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 10,000,000; Full time

Job summary

VIP India, a state-of-the-art innovation hub in Mumbai, seeks a senior AI/ML leader to drive end-to-end AI initiatives across NLP, CV, GenAI, and analytics. You will architect platforms, mentor teams, and partner with stakeholders to deliver measurable ROI.

Ideal candidates hold 15-18 years in AI/ML, with substantial experience leading CoEs and delivering scalable AI programs in enterprise settings.

Qualifications

• 15-18 years total experience, with 12-15 years in AI/ML/data science roles.
• Proven experience leading an AI CoE or large-scale AI programs.
• Strong track record delivering production-grade AI solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end design, development, and deployment of AI/ML solutions across NLP, CV, and GenAI use cases.
• Establish AI CoE operating model, governance, and best practices.
• Partner with leaders to identify high-impact AI opportunities and translate them into roadmaps.

Skills

Python

NLP

GenAI

MLOps

Cloud Platforms

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Scikit-learn

OpenAI/Anthropic/LLMs

Job description

About VIP (Vermont Information Processing, Inc.)

We are the leading technology provider powering the beverage industry, delivering integrated software solutions that connect suppliers, distributors, bottlers, and retailers across all three tiers. Since 1972, from our headquarters in Colchester, Vermont, we have focused on optimizing daily workflows and driving efficiency, visibility, and value through innovative applications like KARMA and Order Stream, for businesses of every size and type. Today, with over 800 employees across 20 states and 3 countries, more than 63,000 monthly active users, and systems that process over 80% of U.S. beer volume, we enable seamless data exchange, stronger performance, and industry-wide growth by working side by side with our customers.

About VIP India

India’s deep and diverse talent pool plays a major role in our global growth strategy. That is why we have expanded our global footprint with the establishment of VIP India, a state-of-the-art innovation hub in Mumbai India . At VIP India, we are a high-impact, inclusive, and collaborative ecosystem where a community of talented professionals come together to drive digital innovation and transform the global beverage industry.

Life at VIP India:

Life at VIP India reflects our belief that great work happens when people are both challenged and cared for. An enjoyable work environment, flexible/hybrid options, and benefits that promote well-being and work-life balance encourage you to bring your best self to work.

As part of the wider VIP community, India teams share in traditions of giving back and team building—from local initiatives to supporting broader company efforts that strengthen our communities. If you want to grow your career, stay close to the latest in industry technology, and be part of a team that genuinely looks out for one another, VIP India is the place to grow together.

Key Responsibilities:

Technical & Hands-on Leadership:

• Lead end-to-end design, development, and deployment of AI/ML solutions across use cases (NLP, CV, predictive analytics, GenAI, recommendation systems).
• Be hands-on with model development, experimentation, training, evaluation, and optimization.
• Architect scalable AI platforms and pipelines (data ingestion, feature engineering, model lifecycle management, MLOps).
• Drive adoption of GenAI/LLMs (prompt engineering, fine-tuning, RAG architectures, AI agents).

CoE Setup & Governance:

• Establish the AI CoE operating model, standards, and best practices.
• Define AI governance, model risk management, ethics, security, and compliance frameworks.
• Create reusable accelerators, frameworks, and reference architectures.

Business & Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Partner with business leaders, product teams, and engineering to identify high-impact AI use cases.
• Translate business problems into AI roadmaps with clear ROI and measurable outcomes.
• Act as a thought leader and advisor on AI strategy across the organization.

Team & Capability Building:

• Build, mentor, and scale a high-performing team of data scientists, ML engineers, and AI engineers.
• Review code, models, and solution design to ensure quality and scalability.
• Upskill teams and drive an AI-first culture across the organization.

Required Skills & Experience:

Experience:

• 15-18 years of overall experience, with at least 12–15 years in AI/ML, data science, or advanced analytics roles.
• Proven experience setting up or leading an AI CoE or large-scale AI programs.
• Strong track record of delivering production-grade AI solutions.

Technical Skills (Must-Have):

• Strong hands-on expertise in Python, ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).
• Deep understanding of ML algorithms, deep learning, NLP, and generative AI.
• Experience with LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, open-source models), fine-tuning, and RAG.
• Solid experience in MLOps, CI/CD for ML, model monitoring, and lifecycle management.
• Strong understanding of data engineering concepts, cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP), and scalable architectures.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in building AI solutions for retail, B2B SaaS or enterprise platforms.
• Exposure to AI governance, regulatory compliance, and responsible AI frameworks.
• Prior startup or GCC experience is a plus.
• Strong hands-on mindset with the ability to go deep into code and models.
• Strategic thinker with execution focus.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and building from zero to scale.