Engineering Director – Data & AI 

The job at a glance 

As Engineering Director for Data, AI & Machine Learning Platforms, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of how we use data and AI across Stepstone. 
 
You’ll lead distributed teams responsible for building our global data and AI infrastructure — empowering our products, customers, and colleagues to make smarter, more human decisions with data. 

You’ll manage a group of talented Engineering Managers and Staff Engineers, ensuring they have the clarity, resources, and support to thrive. 
You’ll work hand in hand with the VP of Architecture, other Engineering Directors, and Product Directors to define and execute our data and AI strategy — combining technical excellence with a clear business vision. We’re looking for a leader who thrives on collaboration, curiosity, and empowerment — someone with strong technological credibility who can influence architectural and strategic change across the organisation, while creating a culture where diverse voices and ideas are celebrated. 
 

What you’ll do 

• Lead and support the area of data and AI engineering teams in building scalable, secure, and impactful data products and machine learning platforms. 

• Guide Engineering Managers and Staff Engineers to deliver on ambitious goals while nurturing their growth and leadership skills. 

• Co-create the technical vision and roadmap for Data, ML, and AI across Stepstone, aligned with our broader business and technology strategy. 

• Collaborate closely with the VP of Architecture and Product Directors to ensure technology decisions support long-term value creation and innovation. 

• Partner with Product leadership to design Data Mesh and Data as a Service (DaaS) solutions that make data accessible and valuable across the organisation. 

• Shape a strong foundation in data quality, governance, and ethics, ensuring our use of AI is responsible and inclusive. 

• Foster collaboration between engineering, data science, and product teams to turn research and experimentation into real-world solutions. 

• Champion technological excellence and innovation, influencing engineering practices and architectural decisions across teams. 

• Mentor and empower engineering leaders, helping them build confidence, autonomy, and technical depth. 

• Promote a culture where data-informed decision-making and continuous learning are part of everyday work. 

What you’ll bring 

• Solid experience in senior engineering leadership roles leading data, AI, or machine learning engineering teams. 

• Proven track record of influencing strategic change across multiple teams or domains. 

• Deep understanding of modern data architectures (e.g. data mesh, streaming, lakehouse) and experience with cloud data platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure). 

• Strong grasp of the AI/ML lifecycle — from data preparation to model deployment and monitoring. 

• Familiarity with technologies such as Kafka, Spark, Databricks, Airflow, or MLflow is a plus, but we value your ability to learn, adapt, and lead more than specific tools. 

• High technological credibility that allows you to earn trust and influence peers, engineers, and executives alike. 

• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills — you listen first, lead with empathy, and inspire through clarity. 

• A strategic, data-driven mindset with a focus on measurable outcomes and team empowerment. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience leading data platform transformation or Data Mesh initiatives. 

• Background in AI/ML research-to-production transitions (e.g. recommendation systems, NLP, or generative AI). 

• Experience in global, distributed technology environments. 

• Awareness of ethical and responsible AI practices. 

Why you’ll love working with us 

We care deeply about our people — and we know that life outside of work matters too. 
At Stepstone, flexibility, balance, and wellbeing are part of how we work. 

Here’s what you can expect: 

• Private medical and dental care 

• Life insurance 

• Benefit platform budget 

• Employee Referral Program 

• Hackathons and Knowledge Sharing Hours 

• In-house innovation projects 

• Team events and integration activities 

• Charity initiatives and two extra volunteer days 

• English/German language classes 

• Game room and chillout zone 

We also believe strongly in equal opportunities, psychological safety, and inclusive leadership — and we actively support women in tech and leadership at every level. 

Our commitment 

Diversity makes us stronger. 
We’re proud to be an employer that welcomes everyone — regardless of gender identity, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, background, or life stage. 

If you don’t tick every box but feel excited about this role, we’d still love to hear from you. 
We know that talent and potential come in many forms — and we’re committed to giving you the support and flexibility you need to succeed.