Lead Engagement Director

DataRobot; California (MO); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

Flexible Time Off

Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Global Employee Assistance Program (E‑

and more

Job summary

DataRobot is seeking an experienced Forward Deployed Engagement Manager to lead enterprise AI delivery, focusing on GenAI agent deployment and predictive solutions. You will translate business goals into technical requirements and manage risk across data infra and API integrations.

You will work at the intersection of business strategy and engineering, guiding client executives and DataRobot engineers to deliver measurable ROI while maintaining high delivery velocity in a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years delivering complex software or data products for enterprise clients.
• Hybrid background with technical roles and client-facing leadership roles.
• Experience managing data science or machine learning projects.
• Technical undergraduate degree; MBA preferred.
• PM/CSM or cloud certifications preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery for complex AI engagements including GenAI agents.
• Bridge client stakeholders and DataRobot's delivery teams.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks in data infrastructure and APIs.
• Manage scope, timeline, budget, and execution.
• Drive adoption of Agentic workflows and change management.
• Run Agile ceremonies to maintain velocity and direction.

Skills

System architecture understanding

SDLC discussions with engineering

GenAI/Agentic familiarity

ROI-driven business sense

Consulting mindset

Education

Technical undergrad degree (CS/Engineering)

MBA preferred

PMP/CSM/cloud certifications preferred

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

Job Description:

DataRobot delivers AI that maximizes impact and minimizes business risk. Our platform and applications integrate into core business processes so teams can develop, deliver, and govern AI at scale. DataRobot empowers practitioners to deliver predictive and generative AI, and enables leaders to secure their AI assets. Organizations worldwide rely on DataRobot for AI that makes sense for their business - today and in the future.

DataRobot's Forward Deployed Engagement Manager leads the delivery of our most advanced customer initiatives. In this high-impact role, you will be the captain of the ship for enterprise customer engagements, specifically focusing on the deployment of Agentic AI and Generative AI solutions.

You are not just a project manager; you are a technical translator and a strategic partner. You will sit at the intersection of business strategy and engineering execution, guiding our customers through the complexities of adopting autonomous AI agents. Drawing on a background in software engineering or solution architecture, you will effectively manage technical risk while using your business acumen to ensure every project delivers measurable ROI.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Complex AI Engagements: Own the end-to-end delivery lifecycle for high-stakes professional services engagements. You will manage the scope, timeline, budget, and execution of projects building GenAI agents and predictive solutions.
• Bridge Business & Technology: Act as the primary translation layer between client business stakeholders (up to the C-suite) and DataRobot's technical delivery team (AI Engineers and Data Scientists). You will ensure business goals are accurately translated into technical requirements.
• Technical Risk Management: Leverage your technical background to identify implementation risks early-whether related to data infrastructure, API integrations, or agent logic-and work with the engineering team to mitigate them before they impact the critical path.
• Stakeholder Management: cultivate strong, trusted relationships with client sponsors. You will manage expectations, handle escalations, and navigate complex organizational dynamics to ensure project success.
• Drive Adoption & Change: Go beyond delivery by helping customers understand how to operationalize and adopt Agentic workflows, advising on process changes required to integrate AI agents into their daily operations.
• Agile Delivery: Run agile sprints, stand-ups, and sprint reviews, ensuring the delivery team maintains high velocity and clear direction.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Technical Fluency

• Understanding of system architectures, API integrations, and cloud infrastructure
• Ability to engage in discussions on the software development lifecycle (SDLC) with engineering teams
• Familiarity with GenAI and Agentic systems (e.g., non-deterministic behavior, latency trade-offs, MCP servers, RAG architectures)

Business Acumen

• Ability to define KPIs, measure ROI, and align technical outputs with strategic business objectives

Consulting Mindset ("Consulting DNA")

• Disciplined approach to project governance, documentation, and client communication

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

Related Experience

• 7+ years of professional experience, including delivery of complex software or data products for enterprise clients

Hybrid Background

• Experience in technical roles (e.g., Software Engineer, Solution Architect, Technical Lead) with progression into client-facing leadership roles (e.g., Engagement Manager, Technical Program Manager, Product Owner)

AI/ML Experience

• Experience managing data science or machine learning projects

Education

• Technical undergraduate degree (Computer Science, Engineering, or similar); MBA preferred

Certifications

• PMP, Scrum Master (CSM), or cloud certifications (AWS, Azure, GCP) preferred

Consulting Experience

• Experience working within a management consulting or technology consulting environment (Big 4 or boutique)

Compensation Statement

The U.S. annual on-target earnings (OTE) range for this full-time position is between $180,000 and $220,000 USD/year. This range represents a combination of annual base pay and targeted commission. Actual offers may be higher or lower than this range based on various factors, including (but not limited to) the candidate's work location, job-related skills, experience, and education.

The talent and dedication of our employees are at the core of DataRobot's journey to be an iconic company. We strive to attract and retain the best talent by providing competitive pay and benefits with our employees' well-being at the core. Here's what your benefits package may include depending on your location and local legal requirements: Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance, Flexible Time Off Program, Paid Holidays, Paid Parental Leave, Global Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and more!