Senior Director, AI Engineering

Benchmark Electronics; Tempe (AZ); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Travel up to 20%

Job summary

Benchmark Electronics seeks a seasoned leader to drive enterprise AI strategy and governance. You will oversee a cross-functional AI Council spanning manufacturing, compliance, HR, engineering, sales, and more, balancing in-house tools with licensed solutions to maximize cost efficiency and performance.

You will manage budgets, define success metrics, and report outcomes to executives while promoting an ethical AI culture and adoption across the organization.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in software, data, or AI/ML environments, with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional technology initiatives and managing budgets in a global organization.
• Working knowledge of modern AI/ML methods, LLMs, and platforms like Copilot.
• Intermediate knowledge of cloud, data, and MLOps practices for home-grown AI systems.
• Effective communication skills, written and verbal for technical and executive audiences.
• Ability to present technical material in clear, executive-ready form.
• Strong management skills for a geographically distributed team.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains the enterprise AI strategy and roadmap.
• Leads a cross-functional AI Council across multiple functions.
• Researches emerging AI practices and determines future investments.
• Manages AI budget, forecasts, business cases, and ROI analyses.
• Directs design, development, and deployment of home-grown AI tools and when to build vs buy.
• Establishes governance, data privacy, security, and responsible-AI standards.

Skills

Leadership

Cross-functional

Strategic thinking

AI/ML knowledge

Communication

Budget management

Education

Bachelor of Science in CS/EE/Data Science

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Copilot

GitHub Copilot

Job description

At Benchmark, we are driven by our purpose: to innovate for a healthier, safer, and better-connected world to create a brighter future. When you join us, you become part of a team passionate about making a meaningful impact across various sectors, including commercial aerospace, defense, advanced computing, next-generation communications, complex industrials, medical, and semiconductor capital equipment. We prioritize career growth, fostering a culture that ensures you reach your full potential. At Benchmark, your work is purpose-driven, enabling you to create a positive impact on the world and make your career truly meaningful. You'll be part of a collaborative and inclusive team that values your ideas and contributions.

Summary:

Provides strategic and operational leadership for the company's artificial intelligence initiatives. This individual creates the enterprise AI strategy, leads a cross-functional AI Council to assess and prioritize projects, researches and determines future AI investments, and ensures effective management of AI budget allocations. The role balances the growth of home-grown AI tools with the company's portfolio of licensed third-party solutions to save costs and optimize AI performance for company-specific applications, while setting and maintaining a healthy AI culture across the organization.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

AI Strategy, Governance & Portfolio Leadership

• Develops, owns, and maintains the company's enterprise AI strategy and roadmap, aligned to corporate objectives and the priorities of the Chief Technology Officer and the AI Steering Committee.
• Leads a cross-functional AI Council to intake, assess, and prioritize AI projects spanning manufacturing operations, trade and compliance, human resources, legal contract review, engineering design, sales and reporting, supply chain analysis, and other functions.
• Researches emerging AI practices, models, and platforms to determine future AI investments, balancing commercial third-party solutions with home-grown systems that reduce cost and optimize performance for company-specific applications.

AI Execution, Budget & Value Realization

• Manages the AI budget and capital allocations, providing forecasts, business cases, and return-on-investment analyses to leadership for prioritized initiatives.
• Directs the design, development, and deployment of home-grown AI tools and systems, and defines when to build versus buy across the portfolio of licensed third-party AI solutions.
• Defines success metrics, tracks value realization, and reports portfolio status, risks, and outcomes to the Chief Technology Officer and executive stakeholders on a regular basis.

Responsible AI, Security & Adoption

• Establishes AI governance, data privacy, security, and responsible-AI standards in partnership with IT, Legal, and Cybersecurity, including model risk management and compliance controls.
• Sets and maintains a healthy, ethical AI culture across the company, championing adoption, upskilling, and change management for tools such as Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot.
• Ensures released Benchmark process instructions and applicable regulatory requirements are followed in the development and operation of AI systems.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

AI Strategy, Governance & Portfolio Leadership

• Develops, owns, and maintains the company's enterprise AI strategy and roadmap, aligned to corporate objectives and the priorities of the Chief Technology Officer and the AI Steering Committee.
• Leads a cross-functional AI Council to intake, assess, and prioritize AI projects spanning manufacturing operations, trade and compliance, human resources, legal contract review, engineering design, sales and reporting, supply chain analysis, and other functions.
• Researches emerging AI practices, models, and platforms to determine future AI investments, balancing commercial third-party solutions with home-grown systems that reduce cost and optimize performance for company-specific applications.

AI Execution, Budget & Value Realization

• Manages the AI budget and capital allocations, providing forecasts, business cases, and return-on-investment analyses to leadership for prioritized initiatives.
• Directs the design, development, and deployment of home-grown AI tools and systems, and defines when to build versus buy across the portfolio of licensed third-party AI solutions.
• Defines success metrics, tracks value realization, and reports portfolio status, risks, and outcomes to the Chief Technology Officer and executive stakeholders on a regular basis.

Responsible AI, Security & Adoption

• Establishes AI governance, data privacy, security, and responsible-AI standards in partnership with IT, Legal, and Cybersecurity, including model risk management and compliance controls.
• Sets and maintains a healthy, ethical AI culture across the company, championing adoption, upskilling, and change management for tools such as Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot.
• Ensures released Benchmark process instructions and applicable regulatory requirements are followed in the development and operation of AI systems.

Leadership & Team Development

• Partners closely with leaders in Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Human Resources, IT, and Engineering, and with international manufacturing operations leaders, to translate business needs into prioritized AI solutions.
• Coordinates with regional Directors of Engineering in the United States, the Netherlands, and Malaysia, and with the VP of Program Management, to align AI initiatives with regional and program roadmaps.
• Represents the company's AI capabilities in support of customer engagements, technical exchanges, and sales activities as needed.
• Builds, mentors, and grows a team of AI engineers and data scientists, including guidance for career path planning, technical mentoring, and performance appraisals.
• Recommends and selects external partners as needed.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Bachelor of Science degree, preferably in computer science, data science, electrical engineering, or related studies; advanced degree preferred.
• Must have 8+ years of experience in software, data, or AI/ML environments, with 3+ years in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional technology initiatives and managing budgets in a global organization preferred.
• Working knowledge of modern AI/ML methods, LLM's, and platforms such as Microsoft Copilot and GitHub Copilot.
• Intermediate knowledge of cloud, data, and MLOps practices for building and operating home-grown AI systems.
• Capability to teach complex AI concepts and procedures in an easy-to-understand method.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with ability to write to technical and executive audiences
• Ability to assemble and present technical presentations in support of technology exchange and Benchmark sales activities.
• Strong management skills, leading a diverse, geographically distributed team of individuals.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 5 pounds 5% or less of the workday.
• Must be able stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl 5% or less of the workday.
• Must be able to talk, see, hear, concentrate, think, and reason.
• Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time throughout the workday.
• Must be able to use a keyboard and do manual tasks for prolonged periods of time throughout the workday.
• Office work environment with hybrid flexibility.
• Will be able to travel up to 10% - 20% of the time, including international, day and/or overnight travel.

Education:

Geographical Location: Arizona:Tempe

Physical Location: Tempe, AZ - Headquarters

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: M-F 08:00am-5:00pm

Full Time

In our innovative environment, you'll work with cutting-edge technology, leading the way in engineering design and delivering world-class manufacturing services for products that make a real difference in the lives of others. At Benchmark, your career is more than just a job. It's an opportunity to be part of something bigger, where your work matters and helps shape a brighter future for everyone. Together, we will achieve extraordinary things.

Export Control:

This job position may include access to controlled information or technology covered under applicable U.S. export control laws. As such, employment for this job position may be contingent on either verification that an applicant falls under the definition of a "U.S. Person" (which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. lawful permanent residents, and those granted U.S. asylum or refugee status) or on the Company timely obtaining any necessary export license required under federal laws. The Company evaluates such export license situations on a case-by-case basis and may decline to proceed with a job applicant in its sole discretion since export license applications can take many weeks to be processed.

Benchmark is an equal opportunity employer. We are bringing together a dynamic workforce with unique talents, life experiences, cultures, and perspectives to promote an innovative, collaborative, and creative place to work. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at [e-mail] .