Manager, Software Engineering - AI and Data Platform

Blackbaud; United States; Remote; USD 133,700 - 173,800; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Wellness programs

401(k) program with employer match

Flexible paid time off

Generous parental leave

Tuition reimbursement program

Pet insurance

Job summary

Blackbaud is seeking an experienced platform engineer to own and evolve core Data & AI platform capabilities. You will lead teams, manage platform initiatives, and ensure reliable operations while collaborating with various teams within the organization.

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in data engineering and platform engineering, particularly with a focus on cloud technologies and team leadership. Compensation includes a base pay range of $133,700.00 to $173,800.00 and various benefits.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in software, data, or platform engineering.
• 3+ years of experience managing and developing data engineering teams.
• Hands-on experience with modern data platforms and cloud data lakes.
• Strong understanding of platform engineering principles.

Responsibilities

• Own and evolve core Data & AI platform capabilities.
• Drive platform decisions aligned with Blackbaud’s strategy.
• Partner with Architecture, Governance, and Security.
• Lead teams to deliver high-impact platform initiatives.

Skills

Software engineering

Data engineering

Platform engineering

.NET

Azure

Databricks

APIs

Job description

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

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

Compensation and Benefits

Base pay: $133,700.00 to $173,800.00.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Remote‑flexible workforce
• Wellness programs
• 401(k) program with employer match
• Flexible paid time off
• Generous parental leave
• Donations for Doers
• Pet insurance, legal and identity protection
• Tuition reimbursement program

Equal Opportunity Employer

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, veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.