Sr. Director of AI & Data Platforms

Title: Senior Director of AI & Data Platforms
Location: Either Houston, TX or Dallas, TX (Hybrid)
Duration: Direct Hire
Compensation: $250K - $280K per year
Work Requirements: , Holders or Authorized to Work in the U.S.

Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Senior Director of AI and Data Platforms to architect, scale, and operate our enterprise AI and data platforms while driving full-stack delivery of AI and data science solutions. You will build and lead a team across AI Architecture, Data Architecture, Data Engineering, and Data Science, delivering a robust platform foundation (AI platform engineering, data architecture, LLMOps/MLOps, operations) and innovative solutions, including our enterprise AI assistant, specialized agents, and advanced data science models. This role sets strategy, mentors diverse functions, and ensures secure, reliable, and cost-efficient platforms and models that drive measurable business impact through AI and data science innovation.

This is a high-visibility opportunity to shape how our company embeds AI across its global operations. You'll work at the intersection of architecture, innovation, and enterprise value creation, helping to define both near-term solutions and long-term strategy.

Key Responsibilities:
1. Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and drive AI and data platform strategy, roadmap, and KPIs (e.g., availability, cost, adoption).
• Lead and mentor a team of AI architects, data engineers, and data scientists.
• Partner with stakeholders to align platforms with business goals.

2. Data Architecture & Engineering

• Oversee data architects in building and scaling enterprise data platforms (e.g., lakehouse, catalogs, feature stores) to power AI and analytics.
• Guide data architects in setting and enforcing standards for data quality, governance, and pipeline design.
• Manage platform operations, ensuring security, cost-efficiency, and performance through support and monitoring.

3. Data Science

• Build high-performing data science teams focused on delivering measurable impact.
• Create standards and toolkits for predictive, prescriptive, and optimization models.
• Operationalize models using MLOps, observability, and retraining to drive business value.

4. AI Architecture & Platform

• Oversee AI architects in designing AI architectures (e.g., model gateways, RAG, vector stores, CI/CD) with protocols like MCP and A2A for integration.
• Guide AI architects on agentic platforms, environments, standards, and best practices for intelligent systems.
• Ensure secure, compliant, and cost-effective AI operations with robust support and monitoring.

5. Enterprise AI Solutions

• Liaise with or oversee product managers to ensure high-quality, high-velocity delivery of product vision, roadmaps, and success metrics for enterprise AI solutions (e.g., assistants, workforce tools).
• Develop and enhance AI solutions with robust testing, guardrails, and iterative improvements based on user feedback.
• Collaborate with business units to identify, prioritize, and scale high-value AI use cases.
• Promote reusable patterns, APIs, and documentation to accelerate delivery and adoption.

Qualifications
Minimum Requirements:
Technical Experience

• 10+ years of experience architecting and operating large-scale AI and data platforms in enterprise environments.
• Proven success in delivering high-adoption enterprise AI solutions, including AI assistants, specialized agents, and advanced data science models.
• Deep expertise in modern AI/ML platforms and frameworks (e.g., cloud-based AI services, LangChain, or equivalent) and data platforms (e.g., data lakes, lakehouses, or feature stores).
• Strong skills in designing AI architectures, including RAG, multi-agent orchestration, and protocols like MCP and A2A for seamless integration.
• Demonstrated ability to implement secure, scalable AI and data systems with a focus on governance, compliance, and cost optimization (e.g., least privilege, data masking).

Leadership Experience

• 10+ years leading multi-disciplinary teams (AI architects, data architects, data engineers, data scientists, and product managers) to deliver transformative AI and data solutions.
• Proven track record of defining and executing enterprise-wide AI and data platform strategies, roadmaps, and operating models that ensure reliability, scalability, and measurable business impact.
• Experience mentoring and scaling high-performing teams to drive high-velocity delivery of AI and data science solutions.
• Exceptional communication and influence skills to align technical teams and business stakeholders on strategic goals and high-value use cases.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in modern data platforms (e.g., Databricks, Snowflake, Delta Lake, or Apache Iceberg) and governance tools (e.g., Microsoft Purview, Collibra) to enable AI and data science workloads.
• Proven experience in FinOps and cost optimization for AI/ML and data pipelines, ensuring efficient resource utilization.
• Deep knowledge of AI architecture, including multi-agent orchestration, RAG, and protocols like MCP and A2A for scalable, interoperable systems.
• Strong expertise in data science practices, including MLOps, model lifecycle management, and building predictive or agentic models for enterprise impact.
• Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD pipelines, and observability frameworks to support robust platform operations.
• Knowledge of Responsible AI practices, including AI ethics, compliance, and emerging techniques like federated learning.

About INSPYR Solutions
Technology is our focus and quality is our commitment. As a national expert in delivering flexible technology and talent solutions, we strategically align industry and technical expertise with our clients' business objectives and cultural needs. Our solutions are tailored to each client and include a wide variety of professional services, project, and talent solutions. By always striving for excellence and focusing on the human aspect of our business, we work seamlessly with our talent and clients to match the right solutions to the right opportunities. Learn more about us at inspyrsolutions.com.

INSPYR Solutions provides Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, INSPYR Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.

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