Executive Director, Data Engineering

Digital Agency Jobs; Detroit (MI); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 390,000; Full time

Job summary

VML, a global creative company, seeks an Executive Director of Data Engineering to modernize AI infrastructure, establish global data standards, and lead a world‑class data engineering organization. You will drive scalable data platforms across domains, partnering with product, analytics, and agency teams.

The role requires deep tech leadership, hands‑on expertise in data infrastructure, and a track record of delivering automated, AI‑native data solutions at scale.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering.
• Experience leading global or distributed engineering teams.
• Expertise in modern data infrastructure, cloud, and AI/ML engineering.
• Experience with data taxonomies, governance, and privacy.

Responsibilities

• AI Infrastructure & Engineering Modernization: design scalable AI/data infrastructure for predictive, prescriptive, and generative use cases.
• Data Standards, Taxonomies & Governance: develop future‑proof data taxonomies and standards across domains.
• Delivery Excellence & AI Integration: advance agile, automated data delivery and CI/CD across engineering workflows.
• Lead a globally distributed engineering organization and align with product, analytics and agency teams.

Skills

Data leadership

Cloud platforms

AI/ML engineering

MLOps

Data governance

Executive mgmt

Tools

Spark

Python

SQL

Cloud platforms

Job description

Who We Are

VML is a global creative company that combines brand experience, customer experience, and commerce to create connected brands that drive growth. Guided by a Human First philosophy, VML is known for its innovative work for brands and consistently ranks among the world’s leading creative companies, including the WARC Creative 100. VML’s global network spans 55+ markets with principal offices in Buenos Aires, Kansas City, London, New York, São Paulo, Shanghai and Singapore.

VML is part of WPP, the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands. Powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform WPP Open, WPP unites cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, creativity, production, enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel.

For more information, please visit www.vml.com and follow along on LinkedIn #WeAreVML.

About the Role

We’re seeking a Executive Director of Data Engineering to lead the architecture, infrastructure, and engineering standards that power our global marketing intelligence capabilities. Reporting directly to the Chief Marketing Intelligence Officer, this leader will modernize our AI infrastructure, accelerate how we build and deliver, and set global data standards across every domain we touch — creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on technologist and a strategic leader who can build best‑in‑class engineering practices at global scale while driving the move toward agile, automated, and AI‑native data delivery.

What You’ll Do

AI Infrastructure & Engineering Modernization

• Design and evolve scalable AI and data infrastructure that supports predictive, prescriptive, and generative use cases across the function.

• Establish standards and tooling for accelerated delivery and faster coding — including AI‑assisted development, reusable components, and automation that compresses time‑to‑value.

• Evaluate and introduce new technologies that enable innovation across creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data domains.

• Mature our MLOps and deployment practices so models and data products move from prototype to production reliably and repeatably.

Data Standards, Taxonomies & Governance

• Develop comprehensive, future‑proof data taxonomies and data standards that bring consistency and interoperability across domains and regions.

• Set and govern global data standards — architecture, quality, lineage, documentation, and metadata — that scale across the network and agency partners.

• Embed data governance, privacy, and security by design, ensuring compliance with global regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and responsible AI practices.

• Create a single, trusted foundation for data that improves accuracy, accessibility, and reuse across teams.

Delivery Excellence & AI Integration

• Drive continuous progress toward agile, automated, and effective data delivery, embedding DevOps/DataOps practices and CI/CD across engineering workflows.

• Define and uphold best‑in‑class standards for AI integration, from data pipelines through model deployment and monitoring.

• Build and lead a high‑performing, globally distributed engineering organization, raising the bar on technical excellence, velocity, and reliability.

• Partner with product, analytics, and agency teams to ensure infrastructure and standards translate into faster, higher‑quality outcomes.

What You’ll Bring

• 20+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering, including senior leadership of global or distributed engineering teams.

• Deep expertise in modern data infrastructure, cloud platforms, and AI/ML engineering, with hands‑on command of scalable pipeline and platform design.

• Proven success establishing data taxonomies, standards, and governance frameworks across complex, multi‑domain environments.

• Experience modernizing engineering practices toward automation, agile delivery, and AI‑assisted development.

• Strong understanding of marketing and media data domains — creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media — ideally within automotive, broader industry, or agency/media agency contexts.

• Track record of integrating AI responsibly and at scale, with fluency in MLOps, DataOps, and data governance.

• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder‑management skills at the executive level.

The base salary range for this position at the time of this posting is indicated below. Individual compensation varies based on job-related factors, including location, business needs, level of responsibility, experience, and qualifications. We offer a competitive benefits package, click WPP Benefits for more details.

_$155,000—$390,000 USDWe believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.