Program Director - Data Science and AI/ML Practice Lead

Birlasoft Limited; Pune District; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Birlasoft Limited is seeking an Executive Program Director to lead the data science and AI/ML practice. You will shape strategy, oversee projects, and partner with clients to deliver high-impact solutions across industries.

The role requires an advanced degree and 10–12+ years of experience in data science, ML, and systems integration, with proven leadership of multi-disciplinary teams and successful delivery of complex programs.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. or Master's) in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or related field.
• 10-12+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, AI, or related domains.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for the data science and AI/ML practice, aligning with the firm's overall objectives and market trends.
• Client Engagement: Engage with clients to understand objectives, challenges, and opportunities, and design customized data science/AI/ML solutions.
• Team Management: Lead and mentor data scientists, ML engineers, data engineers, and AI specialists, guiding project scoping, resources, and technical direction.
• Solution Development: Oversee design, development, and implementation of data science/AI/ML solutions, ensuring alignment with client needs and industry standards.
• Thought Leadership and Innovation: Stay updated on trends and drive innovation through research and knowledge sharing.
• Pre-sales Support: Collaborate with sales to craft proposals, conduct client meetings, and respond to RFPs/RFIs with tailored AI solutions.
• Go-to-Market Strategy: Develop GTM plans targeting industry verticals and contribute to collateral and thought leadership content.

Skills

Data science

Machine learning

AI

Education

Ph.D. or Master's in Computer Science/Statistics/Mathematics/Engineering

Job description

Program Director Area(s) of responsibility Non-Functional Security Test Lead Director - Data science / AI & ML Practice Lead

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a strategic roadmap for the data science and AI/ML practice, aligning with the firm's overall objectives and market trends.
• Client Engagement: Engage with clients to understand their business objectives, challenges, and opportunities, and collaborate with them to design and deliver customized data science and AI/ML solutions.
• Team Management: Lead and mentor a team of data scientists, machine learning engineers, data engineers, and AI specialists, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. Provide guidance on project scoping, resource allocation, and technical direction, ensuring successful project delivery and client satisfaction.
• Solution Development: Oversee the design, development, and implementation of data science and AI/ML solutions, ensuring alignment with client requirements, industry standards, and best practices. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate data science and AI/ML capabilities into existing systems and workflows, maximizing impact and value for clients.
• Thought Leadership and Innovation: Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in data science and AI/ML, and drive innovation through research, experimentation, and knowledge sharing.
• Pre-sales Support: Collaborate closely with the sales team to understand the specific requirements and pain points of our clients, and develop tailored proposals and solutions. Conduct client meetings and presentations to articulate the value proposition of our AI/ML/Gen AI services in addressing the unique challenges faced by the key industry sectors. Work with the sales team to craft responses to RFPs (Request for Proposals) and RFIs (Request for Information) with customized solutions.
• Go-to-Market Strategy: Develop and execute go-to-market strategies specifically targeting the industry verticals, identifying key stakeholders, industry trends, and competitive positioning opportunities. Collaborate with the marketing team to create targeted collateral, case studies, and thought leadership content highlighting our AI/ML/Gen AI expertise. Actively participate in industry events, conferences, and forums to promote our AI/ML/Gen AI services and establish thought leadership within the sector.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (Ph.D. or Master's) in Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Engineering, or related field.
• Extensive experience (10-12+ years) in data science, machine learning, AI, or related domains, with a proven track record of leading successful projects and teams within a system integration context.

Experience Level Executive Level