Associate Director

DNEG; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 4,200,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

DNEG in Bengaluru (Hybrid) seeks a Senior Engineering Manager / Associate Director – BRAHMA AI Core to lead a matrixed team spanning Product, AI Leads, Platform and QA. The role emphasizes influence over direct reporting lines, guiding AI-enabled solutions that integrate into the CLEAR platform.

The candidate will drive execution, shape solutions, collaborate across AI/ML, Platform and QA, and explore new tools and frameworks to improve performance and delivery on cloud infrastructure.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of software development experience, with at least 5 years in technical leadership or delivery management.
• Hands-on technology leadership in AI/ML driven product or platform development.
• Strong knowledge of AI/ML technologies, LLMs/SLMs, TensorFlow and PyTorch, and cloud-based ML pipelines.
• Experience with Java, Spring Boot, microservices, APIs, DevOps/MLOps, CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, MongoDB.
• Proficient in Jira, Confluence, and release planning in a matrix organization.
• Cloud knowledge in AWS, Azure or GCP.
• Familiarity with media workflows such as video/audio processing, speech-to-text, computer vision, or metadata enrichment.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills; customer-focused.
• Willingness to work in a Bangalore hybrid environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams to deliver scalable AI-powered capabilities integrated into the CLEAR platform.
• Be hands-on in defining solution approaches, evaluating tools, and supporting technical execution.
• Collaborate with AI/ML, Platform, and QA teams for smooth delivery, automation, and CI/CD integration.
• Support customer pursuits by shaping and presenting technical solutions aligned with business goals.
• Explore and evaluate emerging AI tools and frameworks to drive innovation and delivery efficiency.
• Optimize AI workloads for performance, reliability, and cost on cloud infrastructure (AWS / Azure).
• Encourage best practices in development, documentation, and quality assurance across teams.
• Foster collaboration and learning, ensuring alignment with business priorities and continuous improvement.

Skills

AI leadership

Hands-on AI/ML

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Matrix organization

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s in CS/Engineering

Advanced AI/ML or Cloud certifications

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

Java

Spring Boot

Microservices

APIs

DevOps / MLOps

Docker

Kubernetes

MongoDB

CI/CD

Jira

Confluence

Job description

Job Title:
Senior Engineering Manager / Associate Director -- BRAHMA AI Core
Location:
Bangalore / Hybrid (India)

Role Overview:
The Development Manager will work in a matrix setup with Product Managers, AI Leads, Platform, and QA teams, leading through influence rather than direct reporting lines. The role calls for a technically proficient, AI-aware leader who enjoys exploring new technologies, shaping solutions, guiding execution, and participating in customer pursuits. You will help translate business needs into practical AI-enabled solutions that integrate seamlessly into platforms.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and guide cross-functional teams to deliver scalable AI-powered capabilities integrated into the CLEAR platform.
• Be hands-on in defining solution approaches, evaluating tools, and supporting technical execution.
• Collaborate with AI/ML, Platform, and QA teams to ensure smooth delivery, automation, and efficient CI/CD integration.
• Support customer pursuits by helping shape and present technical solutions aligned with business goals.
• Explore and evaluate emerging AI tools and frameworks to drive innovation and delivery efficiency.
• Optimize AI workloads for performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness on cloud infrastructure (AWS / Azure).
• Encourage best practices in development, documentation, and quality assurance across teams.
• Foster collaboration and learning, ensuring alignment with business priorities and continuous improvement in delivery.

Required Experience & Skills:

• 15+ years of experience in software development, with at least 5 years in technical leadership or delivery management.
• Proven record of being hands-on in technology and guiding teams in AI/ML-driven product or platform development.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML technologies, LLMs, SLMs, frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch) and cloud-based ML pipelines.
• Experience with Java , Springboot, microservices, APIs, DevOps/MLOps, CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes, Mongo DB, etc.
• Strong in Project Management, resource planning, allocation and release planning and management (experienced in Jira, Confluence, Feature Build and Release Pipelines)
• Hands on cloud knowledge in AWS, Azure or GCP
• Familiarity with media workflows such as video/audio processing, speech-to-text, computer vision, or metadata enrichment.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills; strong ability to collaborate in a matrix organization.
• An attitude to ensure customer success at all costs.

Nice to Have:

• Experience in Media Supply Chain, Post-production, Sports, Broadcast, or OTT environments.
• Familiarity with media workflow platforms.
• Awareness of cloud cost optimization, and AI observability.
• Contributions to open-source AI/ML or media processing frameworks.

Education:

• Bachelor's / Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field. Advanced degree or certifications in AI/ML, Cloud, or Data Analytics or Data Engineering preferred.