Manager, Software Engineering - AI and Data Platform

Blackbaud

Charleston (SC)

Hybrid

USD 133,700 - 173,800

Full time

14 days+

Get more replies from employers

Send a job-specific resume in minutes.

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Remote‑flexible workforce

Wellness Programs

401(k) program with employer match

Flexible paid time off

Generous Parental Leave

Tuition reimbursement program

Job summary

A leading tech company seeks an Engineering Manager for their Data & AI Platform in Charleston, SC. This role involves leading engineering teams to enhance the company's data platform, ensuring operational excellence and strategic alignment. Candidates should have extensive experience in platform engineering, team management in data, and modern tech solutions. The role provides a competitive salary and a flexible remote work option.

Qualifications

Proven ability to lead teams through ambiguous situations.
Hands-on experience with modern data platforms and APIs.
Strong understanding of platform engineering principles.

Responsibilities

Own the evolution of core Data & AI platform capabilities.
Drive platform decisions aligned with organizational strategy.
Lead teams on high-impact platform initiatives.

Skills

Software and platform engineering

Data engineering

Team management

Cloud data lakes

Education

8+ years of relevant experience

3+ years in managing data engineering teams

Tools

.NET

Azure

Databricks

Job description

The Engineering Manager, Data & AI Platform is responsible for leading teams that build, operate, and evolve Blackbaud’s enterprise Data & AI platform—the foundation that powers analytics, data products, machine learning, and agent‑based experiences across the company.

This role blends people leadership, platform ownership, and technical strategy. You will manage engineers working across modern data and AI infrastructure (Lakehouse, pipelines, feature services, ML enablement, observability, and governance), while ensuring the platform is scalable, secure, cost‑efficient, and product‑oriented.

Success in this role requires strong engineering judgment, the ability to operate in ambiguity, and a passion for building platforms that accelerate teams and unlock business outcomes for the nonprofit sector.

What You’ll Do

Own and evolve core Data & AI platform capabilities, including ingestion, transformation, lakehouse architecture, feature services, and AI/ML enablement layers.
Drive platform decisions aligned with Blackbaud’s Unified Data & AI Platform Strategy (modularity, interoperability, AI‑first design)
Partner with Architecture, Governance, and Security to ensure the platform meets trust, compliance, and Responsible AI standards.
Balance build vs. buy decisions, prioritizing core competencies while reducing operational complexity.
Lead teams to deliver high‑impact platform initiatives aligned to AOP priorities (legacy modernization, cloud migration, cost optimization, agent enablement).
Ensure platform reliability through operational excellence, including monitoring, incident management, and performance optimization.
Establish clear roadmaps, milestones, and success metrics for platform initiatives.
Hire, mentor, and grow high‑performing platform engineers across geographies.
Provide regular feedback, coaching, and career development aligned with Blackbaud’s people strategy.
Ensure every team member has clear goals, an active IDP, and opportunities to grow in modern Data & AI skills.
Collaborate closely with Product, Data Science, Analytics, and Product Engineering teams to ensure the platform accelerates—not blocks—delivery.
Influence standards and best practices across the Data Intelligence COE.

What We'll Want You To Have

8+ years of experience in software, data, or platform engineering (.NET, Azure, Databricks, ADO preferred)
3+ years of experience managing and developing data engineering teams.
Strong familiarity with
Hands‑on experience with modern data platforms, cloud data lakes/lakehouses, distributed processing, streaming, APIs
Strong understanding of platform engineering principles and operating production systems at scale.
Proven ability to lead through ambiguity and influence without authority.

Stay up to date on everything Blackbaud, follow us on Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

Blackbaud powers social impact through purpose‑driven technology and responsible AI. Guided by our Intelligence for Good® vision, we’re building a culture where innovation, trust, and human expertise come together to help organizations make a greater difference in the world.

Blackbaud is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

The starting base pay is $133,700.00 to $173,800.00. Blackbaud may pay more or less based on employee qualifications, market value, Company finances, and other operational considerations.

Benefits Include