Senior Lead, Technical AI Project Manager

Blackline Systems Inc; Pleasanton (CA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 238,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development seminars

Inclusive affinity groups

Diverse workplace culture

Job summary

Blackline Systems Inc is seeking an experienced leader in Agile methodology to manage large-scale AI and Automation initiatives. The role involves architecting effective delivery models, ensuring seamless communication between technical teams and leadership, and addressing unique challenges in AI projects.

Ideal candidates have extensive experience in program management, a degree in a relevant field, and are familiar with cloud services. This position, located in Pleasanton, California, offers a competitive salary and a commitment to an inclusive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years in technical program management, with at least 5 years in AI or Automation programs.
• Experience as a Certified ScrumMaster or Professional Scrum Master.
• Strong familiarity with the AI development lifecycle and challenges.

Responsibilities

• Architect and orchestrate the Agile delivery model for AI & Automation.
• Serve as a strategic link among technical teams and leadership.
• Manage risks and governance unique to AI projects.

Skills

Agile methodology

Leadership

AI strategy

Technical program management

Risk management

Cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Master's degree in related field

Job description

What You'll Do

Lead Agile Ceremonies and Workflow

• Architect and orchestrate the Agile delivery model for AI & Automation initiatives—designing ceremony structures, team workflows, and operating rhythms that scale across teams and evolve as the program matures.
• Set the standard for Agile methodology within BlackLine’s AI organization, selecting, adapting, and continuously evolving frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid) to serve as the internal authority on how AI development teams operate.

Bridge Business and Technology

• Serve as the strategic link and thought leader among technical teams, business partners, and executive leadership—translating business strategy into technical direction, advising senior stakeholders on AI capabilities and risks, and shaping how the department approaches AI‑driven transformation.

Drive End-to-End Project Delivery

• Set objectives for and architect the end‑to‑end delivery of large‑scale AI & Automation programs—from concept through production deployment and long‑term business adoption—with accountability for outcomes that shape the business unit’s multi‑year strategic direction.
• Exercise independent discretion to resolve complex, unprecedented impediments—technical, organizational, or structural—making consequential decisions autonomously to protect program momentum and strategic outcomes.
• Manage AI‑specific risks and governance: identify, assess, and mitigate risks unique to AI projects, including data quality, model bias, ethical considerations, and performance degradation; drive adoption of responsible AI and data governance best practices across all project workflows.

Communicate with Senior Leadership

• Influence senior executives and cross‑functional leadership on AI strategy, investment priorities, and program direction—framing complex technical outcomes in terms of business impact and guiding the department’s strategic decision‑making.

Drive AI Innovation

• Anticipate emerging AI trends, tools, and delivery paradigms before the organization identifies the need—developing novel approaches through unprecedented challenges and architecting innovation or adaptation strategies that position BlackLine ahead of the curve.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics) or equivalent practical experience. Master’s degree in a related technical or business field is a plus.
• Minimum 10 years in technical program management, with at least 5 years setting objectives for and leading large‑scale AI or Automation programs from concept through long‑term business adoption.
• Deep hands‑on experience as a Scrum Master with demonstrated ability to lead Agile ceremonies and workflows. Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) is required; PMP is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to act as the bridge between technical teams, business partners, and executive leadership—translating complexity in both directions.
• Strong familiarity with the AI development lifecycle, core ML concepts, and the unique delivery challenges of AI projects.
• Demonstrated ability to develop novel paths through the organization’s most ambiguous and unprecedented AI challenges, exercising independent judgment to make consequential decisions with incomplete information.
• Experience with AI services on major cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, or Azure) is highly desirable.

We're Even More Excited If You Have

• Large‑Scale AI Program Leadership: 10+ years of progressive experience setting objectives for and governing multiple concurrent large‑scale AI/ML programs, with accountability for portfolio‑level outcomes that shape business unit strategy.
• Executive Influence: Demonstrated track record of influencing C‑level executives and shaping business unit strategic direction through AI program outcomes, with the ability to guide investment decisions and long‑term technology strategy.
• Advanced Agile Leadership: Experience scaling Agile and Scrum practices across multiple teams or an enterprise. Advanced certifications such as CSP or PMI‑ACP are highly desirable.
• FinTech or Enterprise SaaS Experience: Prior experience managing technical projects within FinTech or enterprise SaaS, providing foundational understanding of our business context and customer needs.
• Responsible AI Expertise: Strong command of ethical AI principles—fairness, accountability, transparency, and explainability—and practical experience applying them in production AI systems.
• Technical Literacy: Working knowledge of AI/ML languages to enable deeper collaboration with engineering and data science teams.

Benefits

• A technology‑based company with a sense of adventure and a vision for the future. Every door at BlackLine is open.
• A culture that is kind, open, and accepting—people can embrace what makes them unique, and the mix of cultural backgrounds and varying interests cultivates diverse thought and perspectives.
• A culture where BlackLiner’s continued growth and learning is empowered. BlackLine offers a wide variety of professional development seminars and inclusive affinity groups to celebrate and support our diversity.

Equal Opportunity Employer

BlackLine is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, age, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, ancestry, color, marital status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking, medical condition, genetic information, or any other protected class or category recognized by applicable equal employment opportunity or other similar laws.

Salary Range

USD $190,000.00/Yr. – USD $238,000.00/Yr.

Pay Transparency Statement

Placement within this range depends upon several factors, including the applicant’s prior relevant job experience, skill set, and geographic location. In addition to base pay, BlackLine also offers short‑term and long‑term incentive programs, based on eligibility, along with a robust offering of benefit and wellness plans.

Accommodations

BlackLine is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation that would better enable your success during the application or interview process, please complete this form.