Staff AIML Solutions Engineer

Credit Acceptance; United States; Hybrid; USD 154,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(K) match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Credit Acceptance is seeking a Staff AI/ML Solutions Engineer to lead AI/ML products across the auto lending ecosystem. You will own the problem framing, solution design, and roadmap, working across business, product, engineering, and data science to deliver tangible value.

You will serve as the single point of contact to the business, define success metrics, evaluate build-versus-buy options, and guide vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Data Science or related field (Master's preferred).
• 8+ years in technical product management, solution ownership, or business-facing solution roles in financial services, including AI/ML or data products.
• Strong understanding of AI/ML concepts and system design; ability to defend build-versus-buy decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to own a product outcome end to end, from framing through launch and monitoring.
• Working proficiency with Python, system design and SQL to engage credibly with technical teams.
• Knowledge of AI features including RAG, multi-agent systems, and LLM applications.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives without formal people management responsibility.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and stakeholder-communication skills with ROI focus.

Responsibilities

• Lead discovery: frame the business problem, size the opportunity, and validate need and feasibility.
• Own the product roadmap and prioritization; demonstrate value of pursued vs. non-pursued work.
• Define success metrics, KPIs, and roadmap per product.
• Translate framed problems into clear solution direction, specs, and delivery plans; partner with AI/ML teams.
• Own build-versus-buy recommendations with defensible rationale; lead vendor evaluation and integration design.
• Own the lifecycle from problem framing to delivery, adoption, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Python

SQL

AI/ML concepts

RAG

Multi-agent systems

LLM apps

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Databricks

Mlflow

AWS stack

Job description

Credit Acceptance is proud to be an award-winning company recognized both locally and nationally across multiple workplace categories. Our world-class culture is shaped by dedicated team members who are driven to succeed as professionals individually and together as a team. Backed by a strong product, exceptional people, and a stable financial foundation, we've grown into a leading provider of used and new car financing across the country.

Our Engineering and Analytics Team Members utilize the latest technology to develop, monitor, and maintain complex practices that help optimize our success. Our Team Members value being challenged, are encouraged to express their ideas, and have the flexibility to enjoy work life balance. We build intrinsic value by partnering with all functions of our business to support their success and make strategic business decisions. We focus on professional development and continuous improvement while enjoying a casual work environment and Great Place to Work culture!

Staff AI/ML Solutions Engineer is a senior individual contributor within the AI/ML organization, accountable end-to-end for AI/ML products across the auto lending ecosystem from the business problem and its prioritization through the solution design, recommending build versus buy decision, and the realized value.

This role operates at the intersection of business, product, engineering, and AI/ML, and serves as the single point of contact to the business for their assigned domains. The Staff AI ML Solutions Engineer partners closely with stakeholders across Business Operations, ML Engineering, Platform Engineering, Data Science, AI Operations, Analytics, and Marketing.

Outcomes and Activities

• This position will work from home; occasional planned travel to an assigned Southfield, Michigan office location may be required. However, this position is permitted to work at a Southfield, Michigan office location if requested by the team member.
• Serve as the single point of contact to the business for assigned AI/ML domains; understand business needs, identify AI/ML opportunities, and define solution direction.
• Lead discovery: frame the business problem, size the opportunity, and validate the need and feasibility before committing to a solution.
• Own the product roadmap and its prioritization, making and demonstrating value in what the organization should and should not pursue.
• Define success in measurable terms, the KPIs and the vision and roadmap perproduct.
• Translate framed problems into clear solution direction, technical specifications, and delivery plans in partnership with AI/ML Engineering and AI/ML Science teams.
• Own the buildversusbuy recommendation for assigned solutions, with a defensible rationale; lead vendor evaluation, commercial input, integration design, and proofofconcept scoping.
• Own the solution lifecycle from problem framing through delivery, adoption, and continuous improvement.
• Continually analyze operational signals from AI Operations viz. cost, quality, and usage and translate them into the roadmap and resolutioning work, including vendor renewal and trueup decisions.
• Establish, monitor, and analyze KPIs to evaluate effectiveness and drive iterative improvement.
• Act as a trusted advisor to business and technology leadership, influencing decisions through expertise, data, and clear communication, and protecting the roadmap from being captured by what is technically interesting rather than valuable.

Competencies

• Customer Empathy: Customer Empathy is the ability to understand the perspectives, pain points, and experiences of customers. It involves actively putting oneself in the customer's shoes, comprehending their needs and challenges, and using that understanding to provide a better, more customer‑centric experience.
• Engineering Excellence: Engineering Excellence is about bringing great craftsmanship and thought leadership to deliver an outstanding product that delights customers and solves for the business. This involves the pursuit and achievement of high standards, best practices, innovation, and superior solutions.
• One Team: A One Team mindset refers to a collaborative approach across the organization, where individuals work together seamlessly, without boundaries, as a single, cohesive team. Shared goals, open communication and mutual support create a sense of collective purpose. This enables teams to navigate challenges and pursue shared objectives more effectively.
• Owner's Mindset: Owner's Mindset involves adopting a set of behaviors that reflect a sense of responsibility, accountability, strategic thinking, and a proactive approach to managing your domain. As an owner, you understand the business and your domain(s) deeply and solve for the right outcome for the domain(s) and the business.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Business, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics or a related field (Master's degree preferred).
• 8+ years of experience in technical product management, solution ownership, or businessfacing solution roles, preferably within financial services, and including AI/ML or data products.
• Strong understanding of AI and machine learning concepts and system design, ability to set realistic expectations, and make defensible buildversusbuy decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to own a product outcome end to end, from problem framing through launch and post launch monitoring.
• Working proficiency with Python, system design and SQL sufficiently to engage credibly with technical teams and reason about feasibility.
• Strong understanding of AI features and capabilities including RAG, multi-agent systems, agentic AI, LLM applications, etc.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, crossfunctional initiatives without formal people management responsibility.
• Excellent problemsolving, analytical, and stakeholdercommunication skills, including ability to communicate value and ROI to senior leadership.
• Comfortable operating with significant autonomy, accountability, and ambiguity.

Preferred

• Experience defining metrics and KPI frameworks for AIML or data products.
• Experience implementing solutions using Databricks, Mlflow, AWS technology stack.
• Experience owning vendor relationships, commercial negotiations, or integration design.
• Experience working in at least two of the following areas: Product, Data Science, Machine Learning, Data Engineering, Software Engineering.
• Strong working knowledge of Agile and Scrum methodologies.

Knowledge and Skills

• Ability to translate fuzzy business needs into both a measurable definition of success and a feasible solution shape.
• Strong systems thinking and ability to solve problems at the root cause with practical, scalable solutions.
• Strong prioritization skills and the ability to say no, when required.
• Ability to communicate complex technical and analytical information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, including senior and executive leadership.
• Ability to build trust, credibility, and strong relationships across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to prioritize effectively and execute in a fast‑paced, high‑pressure environment.

Target Compensation

A competitive base salary range from $153,760 - $225,514. This position is eligible for an annual variable bonus of cash and equity, between 10-20%. Bonus amounts are based on individual performance. Final compensation within the range is influenced by many factors including role‑specific skills, depth and experience level, industry background, relevant education and certifications.

Candidates who reside in the following major metropolitan areas may be eligible for a premium on top of the posted range based on their specific zone: San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, New York City, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Benefits

• Excellent benefits package that includes 401(K) match, adoption assistance, parental leave, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive medical/ dental/vision and many nonstandard benefits that make us a Great Place to Work

Our Company Values

• Positive by maintaining resiliency and focusing on solutions
• Respectful by collaborating and actively listening
• Insightful by cultivating innovation, accumulating business and role specific knowledge, demonstrating self‑awareness and making quality decisions
• Direct by effectively communicating and conveying courage
• Earnest by taking accountability, applying feedback and effectively planning and priority setting

Expectations

• Remain compliant with our policies processes and legal guidelines
• All other duties as assigned
• Attendance as required by department

Credit Acceptance is dedicated to providing a safe and inclusive working environment for all. As part of our Culture of Compliance, we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and value our culturally diverse workforce. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of the person's age, race, color, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, criminal history, or any other legally protected characteristic.

California Residents: Please click here for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) notice regarding the personal information Credit Acceptance may collect from you.

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