Principal Data & AI Delivery Lead (Onsite in Riyadh)- Octopus by RTG

ROBUSTA; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading tech firm in Saudi Arabia is seeking a Principal Data & AI Delivery Lead with over 10 years of experience in technology. The candidate will analyze public sector digital initiatives and lead cross-functional teams to deliver effective solutions. Responsibilities include strategy development, team leadership, and ensuring compliance with national standards. This is an exciting opportunity to shape impactful projects in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in technology, with a focus on data and AI.
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and projects.
• Understanding of public sector digital initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze current systems and define target outcomes.
• Translate policy goals into executable strategies.
• Lead architects in developing data and AI solutions.
• Build resource models and delivery plans.
• Ensure compliance with privacy and security standards.
• Lead and coach your team to improve delivery.
• Drive alignment with senior officials and stakeholders.
• Define test strategies and run evaluations.
• Track benefits and oversee handover to operations.
• Manage risks and vendor relationships effectively.

Skills

Data management

AI expertise

Stakeholder management

Solution architecture

Team leadership

Job description

Overview

Octopus by RTG is enabling a key partner organization to grow their tech teams while focusing on AI. We are currently looking for the right pioneers to join the team!

Octopus is proud to be part of the Robusta Technology Group (RTG), a leading tech group. With a decade of experience and a successful track record of delivering over 300 projects across Europe, the Middle East, and North America, RTG has established itself as a preferred employer in the Egyptian market. Octopus and Robusta are building a bridge between Europe and Africa, creating tailored hub solutions to connect companies with top talent across the globe.

Octopus is specialized in rapidly assembling remote & onsite global tech teams that are fully aligned with the culture and practices of a particular brand. By providing tailored hubs to suit its clients’ needs, Octopus gives companies all the advantages of remote work and offshoring without all the negatives.

Role Summary

A highly experienced senior leader with 10+ years in technology, specializing in data and AI. This role combines product management discipline with hands-on delivery leadership. The Principal Data & AI Delivery Lead will be accountable for assessing public sector digital initiatives, shaping execution strategy, aligning stakeholders, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver secure, testable, and measurable outcomes. Prior experience working with ministries or large public organizations is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Initiative Assessment: Analyze problem statements, current systems, policy constraints, data readiness, and feasibility. Define target outcomes, KPIs, and success criteria.
• Product & Delivery Strategy: Translate policy goals into an executable product strategy, roadmap, and operating model. Prioritize scope using value, risk, and effort.
• Solution Architecture Oversight: Direct high-level data and AI architecture, integration patterns, and MLOps approach in collaboration with Solution and Data Architects.
• Execution Planning: Build delivery plans, resource models, and budgets. Sequence discovery, build, and pilot phases with clear exit criteria.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure privacy, security, data governance, and accessibility are embedded by design. Align with national standards and audit requirements.
• Team Leadership: Lead Engineers, Data Scientists, Product Managers, Designers, and QA professionals. Set rituals, remove blockers, coach leads, and raise delivery quality.
• Stakeholder Management: Drive alignment with senior officials and partner vendors. Run steering routines and communicate trade-offs and decisions clearly.
• Testing & Piloting: Define test strategy, run controlled pilots, evaluate model and product performance, and plan scale-up.
• Value Realisation: Track benefits, adoption, and operational readiness. Oversee handover to operations with runbooks and training.
• Risk & Vendor Management: Identify risks early, maintain mitigation plans, and manage SOWs and acceptance criteria with third parties.