Machine Learning/AI Engineering Manager

Vanguard; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a Machine Learning Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team responsible for building, operating, and evolving production AI, ML, and GenAI solutions across Personal Wealth Technology. You will partner with Data Scientists, Product Owners, and ISG teams to transform research into reliable, scalable production systems.

This is a highly technical leadership role that combines solution architecture, design, and Agile delivery while developing the next generation of AI

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years data analytics, programming, database administration, or data management experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Machine Learning Engineers delivering scalable, secure, reliable, and extensible AI solutions
• Develop, maintain, support, and evolve a portfolio of production machine learning and generative AI models
• Partner with Investment Strategy Group methodology teams to operationalize financial advice, portfolio construction, and personalization models
• Ensure production readiness through monitoring, alerting, validation, testing, observability, and incident management practices
• Drive engineering excellence, DevOps, MLOps, LLMOps, and FinOps disciplines
• Shape AI and ML roadmaps alongside Data Scientists, Product Owners, and stakeholders
• Provide technical direction and architectural guidance for complex AI and ML initiatives
• Build trusted relationships across technology and business teams to influence strategy and delivery outcomes
• Establish standards and best practices that enable safe, trustworthy, explainable, and scalable AI solutions
• Drive adoption of GenAI and agentic solutions within the engineering organization to improve efficiency, automation, and delivery quality
• Hire, coach, mentor, and develop future technical leaders

Skills

Leadership experience

Production AI/ML systems

Cloud-native engineering

MLOps

LLMOps

AI engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

Cloud platforms

Job description

Applying AI Engineering to Improve the Lives of Investors Advice is the fullest manifestation of Vanguard's mission. Our goal is to deliver high-quality, trusted, and personalized financial advice at scale.

Achieving that vision requires world-class Data & AI Engineering capabilities that transform advanced analytics, machine learning, and generative AI into production solutions used by advisors, clients, and business partners every day. Within Personal Wealth Technology (PWT), we are building and operating the next generation of AI-powered capabilities that drive personalized financial advice, portfolio construction, and investor outcomes. This is a unique opportunity to lead the engineering team responsible for some of Vanguard's most critical AI and machine learning platforms and products.

We are seeking a Machine Learning Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team of Machine Learning Engineers responsible for building, operating, and evolving Vanguard's production AI, ML, and Generative AI solutions.

This leader will oversee engineering for a portfolio of traditional machine learning and GenAI capabilities that power investor personalization, financial planning, and advice experiences across Personal Wealth Technology. You will partner closely with Data Scientists, Product Owners, Architects, and Vanguard's Investment Strategy Group (ISG) methodology teams to transform sophisticated models and research into reliable, scalable, and trusted production solutions.

This is a highly technical leadership role. The successful candidate will be expected to actively participate in solution architecture, technical design, engineering strategy, model operations, production support, and Agile delivery while developing the next generation of AI engineering talent.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Machine Learning Engineers delivering scalable, secure, reliable, and extensible AI solutions
• Develop, maintain, support, and evolve a portfolio of production machine learning and generative AI models
• Partner with Investment Strategy Group methodology teams to operationalize financial advice, portfolio construction, and personalization models
• Ensure production readiness through monitoring, alerting, validation, testing, observability, and incident management practices
• Drive engineering excellence, DevOps, MLOps, LLMOps, and FinOps disciplines
• Shape AI and ML roadmaps alongside Data Scientists, Product Owners, and stakeholders
• Provide technical direction and architectural guidance for complex AI and ML initiatives
• Build trusted relationships across technology and business teams to influence strategy and delivery outcomes
• Establish standards and best practices that enable safe, trustworthy, explainable, and scalable AI solutions
• Drive adoption of GenAI and agentic solutions within the engineering organization to improve efficiency, automation, and delivery quality
• Hire, coach, mentor, and develop future technical leaders

What You'll Own

• Delivery, operation, and continuous improvement of Vanguard's production AI, ML, and GenAI platforms and solutions
• Engineering ownership along with ISG Methodology for the Vanguard Financial Advice Model (VFAM) and Risk-Based Research Engine (RBRE)
• Model health monitoring, observability, availability, and operational excellence across all production models
• Reliability and support processes ensuring production AI systems remain resilient, trusted, and available
• Technical leadership for Machine Learning Engineering, MLOps, LLMOps, DevOps, and FinOps practices
• Team leadership, coaching, and development for a high-performing Machine Learning Engineering organization
• Stakeholder relationships across Technology, Methodology, Product, and Analytics teams

Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years data analytics, programming, database administration, or data management experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proven experience leading Machine Learning, AI Engineering, or Software Engineering teams
• Strong technical depth in production AI/ML systems and cloud-native engineering
• Experience establishing operational excellence for production AI platforms
• Demonstrated success partnering with product, analytics, and business stakeholders
• Passion for developing engineering talent and building high-performing teams
• Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on technical engagement
• Interest in advancing modern engineering practices, including MLOps, LLMOps, FinOps, and agentic AI

Why This Role

• Directly influence how Vanguard delivers personalized financial advice at scale
• Lead engineering for some of Vanguard's most strategic AI and machine learning capabilities
• Work at the intersection of financial methodology, applied AI, and large-scale engineering
• Shape the future of GenAI, agentic systems, and AI engineering practices within Personal Wealth Technology
• Develop a talented team while driving meaningful outcomes for millions of investors
• Join a leadership team committed to innovation, engineering excellence, and investor-centric outcomes

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission—we're on a mission.

To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.