Engineering Director, AI

Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 150,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.

Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 1,700 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$6.2 billion and backed by world-leading investors including Visa, Airtree, Blackbird, Sequoia, DST Global, Greenoaks, Salesforce Ventures, Lone Pine, and Square Peg, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.

Role and Project Scope:

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Engineering Director to lead our AI team in SF. The AI team’s purpose is to make Airwallex an AI-driven company by leveraging cutting-edge AI and machine learning technologies to drive innovation, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer experience.

Responsibilities:

1. Team Leadership:

   • Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing team of software engineers, machine learning engineers, and AI specialists.

   • Foster a culture of collaboration, creativity, and technical excellence.

2. Strategy & Vision:

   • Develop and execute the strategy for the AI team in alignment with Airwallex’s overall business objectives.

   • Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies to ensure Airwallex remains at the forefront of AI innovation.

3. Project Management:

   • Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of AI projects, ensuring they meet business requirements and deadlines.

   • Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product, Design, and Operations to prioritize and deliver high-impact solutions.

4. Technical Expertise:

   • Provide technical guidance and expertise in AI and machine learning including model development, deployment, and maintenance.

   • Ensure the scalability, reliability, and security of AI solutions.

5. Stakeholder Engagement:

   • Work closely with key stakeholders to understand business challenges and opportunities where AI can add value.

   • Communicate progress, insights, and outcomes to executive leadership and other stakeholders.

6. Continuous Improvement:

   • Promote a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the team.

   • Identify opportunities to optimize processes and implement best practices in AI and machine learning.

Qualifications:

• Educational Background: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related field. Advanced degrees would be an advantage.

• Experience: Minimum 10+ years of experience in software engineering or AI/ML development, with at least 4 years in a leadership role managing high-performing teams.

• Technical Skills:

  • Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Scala.

  • Strong understanding of generative AI/ML frameworks and libraries (e.g.,Langchain, LlamaIndex, etc).

  • Experience with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).

• Leadership Skills: Proven ability to build, lead, and inspire a diverse team with a strong focus on delivering business-driven outcomes.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to understand complex business problems and propose effective technical solutions.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Innovation Mindset: Passionate about AI and technology with a keen interest in staying updated on the latest trends and advancements in the field

Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.

Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters.  Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s).  Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.

Compensation Range: $220K - $350K