Director, Machine Learning Engineering

Government Employees Insurance Company; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

GEICO seeks a Director of Runtime Intelligence & Personalization to own the vision and delivery of AI-powered, context-aware experiences across GEICO products and platforms. This role sits at the intersection of AI/ML, platform engineering, and product strategy, building scalable, low-latency systems leveraging context, memory, and retrieval to deliver real-time intelligence.

The candidate will define the roadmap for runtime intelligence, lead core capabilities like context orchestration, memory

Qualifications

• 10-15+ years of experience in engineering, platform, or AI/ML roles, with significant leadership experience.
• Proven track record building and scaling distributed systems, AI platforms, or personalization systems.
• Deep expertise in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), context and memory architectures, real-time inference systems.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategy into execution.
• Demonstrated success leading large, cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute the roadmap for runtime intelligence capabilities, including context building, memory systems, and RAG-based architectures.
• Translate business and customer needs into scalable, AI-powered personalization strategies.
• Partner with executive stakeholders to align runtime intelligence investments with enterprise priorities.
• Act as a thought leader in shaping next-generation personalization and AI-driven experiences.
• Lead development of core runtime capabilities: Context orchestration and state management.
• Memory systems (short-term and long-term)
• Retrieval systems (RAG, knowledge integration)
• Personalization frameworks
• Drive design and implementation of high-scale, low-latency systems
• Ensure systems are secure, observable, and reliable in production environments
• Establish observability standards across runtime intelligence systems (latency, quality, accuracy, cost)
• Define KPIs and metrics to evaluate system performance and business impact
• Lead continuous optimization of runtime performance, cost, and response quality
• Implement feedback loops for model and system improvement
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of runtime intelligence platforms, ensuring scalability and reliability
• Drive cross-functional execution across engineering, data science, and product teams
• Manage prioritization, trade-offs, and execution in a complex, fast-paced environment
• Build, lead, and scale high-performing teams across engineering, ML, and platform functions
• Develop talent strategy, including hiring, coaching, and organizational design
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Lead through senior managers and technical leaders to deliver outcomes at scale
• Partner with Product, Design, Data, and Infrastructure teams to deliver integrated solutions
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across competing priorities
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to executive and non-technical audiences

Skills

Strategic leadership

AI/ML platform

Distributed systems

RAG

Real-time inference

Executive communication

Team building

Tools

LLMs

Observability

Job description

Why Join GEICO?

At GEICO, we offer a rewarding career where your ambitions are met with endless possibilities. Every day we honor our iconic brand by offering quality coverage to millions of customers and being there when they need us most. We thrive on relentless innovation to exceed our customers' expectations while making a real impact on local communities nationwide. Founded in 1936, GEICO is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and one of the largest auto insurers in the United States. When you join our company, we want you to feel valued, supported, and proud to work here. That's why we offer the GEICO Pledge: Great Company, Great Culture, Great Rewards, and Great Careers.

Director – Runtime Intelligence & Personalization Overview

We are seeking a strategic and execution-oriented Director to lead our Runtime Intelligence & Personalization function. This leader will own the vision, strategy, and delivery of intelligent runtime systems that power context-aware, personalized experiences across products and platforms. This role sits at the intersection of AI/ML, platform engineering, and product strategy, responsible for building scalable systems that leverage context, memory, and retrieval to deliver differentiated, real-time intelligence.

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

Define and execute the roadmap for runtime intelligence capabilities, including context building, memory systems, and RAG-based architectures

Translate business and customer needs into scalable, AI-powered personalization strategies

Partner with executive stakeholders to align runtime intelligence investments with enterprise priorities

Act as a thought leader in shaping next-generation personalization and AI-driven experiences

Platform & Capability Ownership

Lead development of core runtime capabilities: Context orchestration and state management

Memory systems (short-term and long-term)

Retrieval systems (RAG, knowledge integration)

Personalization frameworks

Drive design and implementation of high-scale, low-latency systems

Ensure systems are secure, observable, and reliable in production environments

Observability & Optimization

Establish observability standards across runtime intelligence systems (latency, quality, accuracy, cost)

Define KPIs and metrics to evaluate system performance and business impact

Lead continuous optimization of runtime performance, cost, and response quality

Implement feedback loops for model and system improvement

Execution & Delivery

Oversee end-to-end delivery of runtime intelligence platforms, ensuring scalability and reliability

Drive cross-functional execution across engineering, data science, and product teams

Manage prioritization, trade-offs, and execution in a complex, fast-paced environment

Leadership & Team Development

Build, lead, and scale high-performing teams across engineering, ML, and platform functions

Develop talent strategy, including hiring, coaching, and organizational design

Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement

Lead through senior managers and technical leaders to deliver outcomes at scale

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Product, Design, Data, and Infrastructure teams to deliver integrated solutions

Influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across competing priorities

Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to executive and non-technical audiences

Qualifications Required

10-15+ years of experience in engineering, platform, or AI/ML roles, with significant leadership experience

Proven track record building and scaling distributed systems, AI platforms, or personalization systems

Deep expertise in areas such as: Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) Context and memory architectures Real-time inference systems

Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategy into execution

Demonstrated success leading large, complex, cross-functional initiatives

Preferred Experience with LLMs, generative AI, and agent-based systems

Background in observability, experimentation frameworks, or system optimization

Experience operating in high-scale, customer-facing environments

Core Competencies

Strategic Thinking & Vision

AI/ML & Platform Leadership

Operational Excellence & Execution

Cross-Functional Influence

Talent Development & Leadership

Data-Driven Decision Making

Annual Salary

$150,000.00 - $300,000.00

The above annual salary range is a general guideline. Multiple factors are taken into consideration to arrive at the final hourly rate/ annual salary to be offered to the selected candidate. Factors include, but are not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, the selected candidate’s work experience, education and training, the work location as well as market and business considerations. At this time, GEICO will not sponsor a new applicant for employment authorization for this position.

GEICO Pledge

Great Company: Protecting customers through life's twists and turns with innovation and integrity.

Great Careers: Personalized development programs, mentorship, and certification assistance.

Great Culture: Inclusive and collaborative culture rooted in shared success.

Great Rewards: Competitive pay, benefits, and flexibility to support your well-being and future.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The equal employment opportunity policy of the GEICO Companies provides for a fair and equal employment opportunity for all associates and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law.

GEICO hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

GEICO reasonably accommodates qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to receive equal employment opportunity and/or perform the essential functions of the job, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship to the Company. This applies to all applicants and associates.

GEICO also provides a work environment in which each associate is able to be productive and work to the best of their ability. We do not condone or tolerate an atmosphere of intimidation or harassment. We expect and require the cooperation of all associates in maintaining an atmosphere free from discrimination and harassment with mutual respect by and for all associates and applicants.

At GEICO, we offer a rewarding career where your ambitions are met with endless possibilities. Every day we honor our iconic brand by offering quality coverage to millions of customers and being there when they need us most. We thrive on relentless innovation to exceed our customers' expectations while making a real impact on local communities nationwide. Founded in 1936, GEICO is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and one of the largest auto insurers in the United States.

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