AI Product Strategy Director

Elevance Health; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 297,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevance Health seeks a hands-on AI Product Strategy & Rapid Innovation leader to design, prototype, and launch enterprise AI capabilities. This role sits in the CDIO Executive Office and uses AI-powered development tools to compress concept-to-production timelines.

The ideal candidate is an experienced software engineer or AI developer who thrives in ambiguity, prefers practical prototyping over presentations, and can lead rapid experimentation across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Requires a BA/BS in IT, CS or related field and at least 10 years in Data Collection/Analysis, IT Consulting, IT Performance Management, Strategy/Financial Planning, BI/Analytics, or Business Process Design, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Design, prototype, and develop new AI-powered products using AI-assisted software development.
• Build working prototypes in days or weeks, turning executive ideas into production-ready solutions.
• Create internal AI applications that transform how employees work.
• Develop reusable AI components to accelerate future development.
• Identify opportunities to replace manual work with intelligent automation.
• Validate ideas through working software and rapid prototyping.
• Transition prototypes into enterprise production teams; establish engineering patterns for reusable AI capabilities.

Skills

AI development

Prototyping

Cross-functional leadership

Cloud-native architectures

AI-assisted coding

Large Language Models

Agentic AI systems

Multi-agent workflows

RAG architectures

Knowledge systems

Workflow automation

API development

Cloud-native architectures

Education

BA/BS degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related field

Tools

AI-assisted coding tools

Agentic frameworks

Rapid prototyping

Job description

Location: Indianapolis IN, Costa Mesa CA, Woodland Hills CA, Grand Prairie TX, Tampa FL, Atlanta GA, New York NY

Hours: Standard Working hours

Travel: This role requires associates to be in-office 3 days per week, fostering collaboration and connectivity, while providing flexibility to support productivity and work-life balance. This approach combines structured office engagement with the autonomy of virtual work, promoting a dynamic and adaptable workplace. Alternate locations may be considered if candidates reside within a commuting distance from an office. Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless an accommodation is granted as required by law.

Position Overview

The Director, AI Product Strategy & Rapid Innovation is a hands-on AI product builder responsible for rapidly transforming ideas into working AI capabilities. Embedded within the CDIO Executive Office, this leader uses AI-assisted software development to design, prototype, build, and launch new enterprise AI products that accelerate the company's digital transformation.

This is not a traditional strategy or product management role. We are looking for technical innovators who build. Using modern AI development tools, coding assistants, agentic frameworks, and rapid prototyping techniques, this leader will dramatically compress the time from concept to production.

The ideal candidate is an experienced software engineer, AI developer, startup builder, or technical product innovator who thrives in ambiguity, embraces experimentation, and is excited about creating entirely new capabilities that challenge conventional approaches. Healthcare experience is not required; exceptional AI engineering and product-building capability is.

How You Will Make an Impact

Build AI Products

• Personally design, prototype, and develop new AI-powered products using AI-assisted software development.
• Build working prototypes in days or weeks—not months.
• Turn executive ideas into production-ready solutions.
• Create internal AI applications that transform how employees work.
• Develop reusable AI components that accelerate future development.

Rapid Innovation

• Continuously experiment with emerging AI technologies.
• Identify opportunities to replace manual work with intelligent automation.
• Quickly validate ideas through working software rather than presentations.
• Build proof-of-concepts that demonstrate enterprise value.
• Drive a culture of rapid experimentation and continuous iteration.

AI Engineering

Use modern AI engineering practices including:

• AI-assisted coding
• Large Language Models
• Agentic AI systems
• Multi-agent workflows
• RAG architectures
• Knowledge systems
• Workflow automation
• AI copilots
• Intelligent assistants
• API development
• Cloud-native architectures

Partner with Engineering

• Transition successful prototypes into enterprise production teams.
• Establish engineering patterns for reusable AI capabilities.
• Help modernize software development using AI.
• Increase engineering velocity through automation and AI-enabled workflows.
• Collaborate closely with architecture, security, and platform teams.

Executive Innovation Partner

Work directly with the CDIO and Executive Office to:

• Rapidly prototype strategic ideas.
• Demonstrate new AI capabilities.
• Explore emerging technologies.
• Advise on build-versus-buy decisions.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate enterprise transformation.
• Help shape the enterprise AI roadmap through working solutions.

We're Looking For Builders

We care far more about what you've built than where you've worked.

Ideal backgrounds include

• AI startups
• Big Tech AI engineering
• Open-source AI communities
• Startup founders
• AI platform engineers
• Full-stack engineers using AI development tools
• Technical product builders
• Developer tooling organizations

Required Qualifications

• Requires an BA/BS degree in Information Technology, Computer Science or related field of study and a minimum of 10 years experience in Data Collection and Analysis, IT Consulting, IT Performance Management, Strategy or Financial Planning, Business Intelligence and Analytics, or Business Process Design; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.

For candidates working in person or virtually in the below location(s), the salary* range for this specific position is $165,200 to $297,360

Locations: California; New York;

Elevance Health offers benefits such as a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary offered for this specific position is based on a number of legitimate, non-discriminatory factors set by the Company. The Company is fully committed to ensuring equal pay opportunities for equal work regardless of gender, race, or any other category protected by federal, state, and local pay equity laws.

*The salary range is the range Elevance Health in good faith believes is the range of possible compensation for this role at the time of this posting. This range may be modified in the future and actual compensation may vary from posting based on geographic location, work experience, education and/or skill level. Even within the range, the actual compensation will vary depending on the above factors as well as market/business considerations. No amount is considered to be wages or compensation until such amount is earned, vested, and determinable under the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans. The amount and availability of any bonus, commission, benefits, paid time off, stock, or any other form of compensation and benefits that are allocable to a particular employee remains in the Company's sole discretion unless and until paid and may be modified at the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with the law.

Please be advised that Elevance Health only accepts resumes for compensation from agencies that have a signed agreement with Elevance Health. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of Elevance Health.

Who We Are

Elevance Health is a health company dedicated to improving lives and communities – and making healthcare simpler. We are a Fortune 25 company with a longstanding history in the healthcare industry, looking for leaders at all levels of the organization who are passionate about making an impact on our members and the communities we serve.

How We Work

At Elevance Health, we are creating a culture that is designed to advance our strategy but will also lead to personal and professional growth for our associates. Our values and behaviors are the root of our culture. They are how we achieve our strategy, power our business outcomes and drive our shared success - for our consumers, our associates, our communities and our business.

We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and incentive bonus programs (unless covered by a collective bargaining agreement), medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k) +match, stock purchase plan, life insurance, wellness programs and financial education resources, to name a few.

Elevance Health operates in a Hybrid Workforce Strategy. Unless specified as primarily virtual by the hiring manager, associates are required to work at an Elevance Health location at least once per week, and potentially several times per week. Specific requirements and expectations for time onsite will be discussed as part of the hiring process.

The health of our associates and communities is a top priority for Elevance Health. We require all new candidates in certain patient/member-facing roles to become vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. If you are not vaccinated, your offer will be rescinded unless you provide an acceptable explanation. Elevance Health will also follow all relevant federal, state, and local laws.

Elevance Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process should submit Accessibility Accommodation Request Form and a member of the team will be in contact.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.

Prospective employees required to be screened under Florida law should review the education and awareness resources at HB531 | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.