Director, AI Product Definition & Execution

Director, AI Product Definition & ExecutionMastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart, and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible.Core Services powers Mastercard's foundational payment platforms, including Consumer Credit, Debit, Prepaid, Commercial, Integrated Processing Solutions, Enterprise Gateway Solutions (EGS), Account Level Management (ALM), MPGS, and Security Services.Within Core Services, Product Management Technical (PMT) plays a critical role in translating product strategy and business intent into execution-ready work that engineering teams can reliably deliver. This role sits at the intersection of product, engineering, and architecture, and is central to evolving how we scale quality, clarity, and predictability across highly complex, regulated platforms.We are seeking a director to redefine and modernize the Product Management Technical (PMT) operating model by applying an AI-first lens to how product intent is shaped, refined, and delivered to engineering.This is not a traditional product ownership or delivery leadership role. The leader will enter an existing operating model, observe and assess how PMT functions today, and identify systemic sources of ambiguity, rework, and execution of friction leveraging AI and PMT skills to resolve the same.This leader will redesign how product ideas become buildable software by owning the operating model, the PMT practices, decision frameworks, and AI-enabled workflows that drive clarity, speed, and predictability across our engineering organization.Success will be measured not by artifact production, but by improved delivery outcomeshigher backlog readiness, reduced iteration churn, fewer clarification cycles, stronger engineering trust, and more predictable execution across platforms.The mission is to transform PMT from a documentation layer into a high-leverage, AI-enabled product definition engine that produces clear, testable, execution ready Features and Stories, reduces ambiguity, improves delivery outcomes, and scales quality through operating mechanisms and AI-Driven Workflows not individual heroics.Primary Accountabilities:Product Definition Operating ModelAI-Enabled Product Definition SystemQuality System & Feedback LoopsPMT Functional TransformationCross-Functional AlignmentFuture-State Workflow:Business intent is collaboratively framed by Product and PMT with explicit outcomes, constraints, and success measures.AI-assisted workflows generate Features, Stories, and acceptance criteria aligned to defined standards.AI-based quality scoring ensures that Definition of Ready is met prior to engineering intake.PMT validates outputs for accuracy, completeness, and delivery of readiness (Strict PMT acceptance)Engineering executes with fewer clarification cycles.Delivery outcomes continuously feed back into standards, workflows, and AI models.Success Metrics:Feature & Story Quality ?80%Backlog readiness ?85% across teamsReduced rework and defectsImproved delivery predictabilityIncreased PMT leverageHigher engineering satisfactionRequired Experience:10+ years in product, engineering, or technical leadershipStrong engineering/architecture fluencyExperience designing operating modelsHands-on AI usage in workflowsSystems thinking and ability to scale qualityPreferred Qualifications:Experience with large-scale platforms and APIsPayments or regulated industry experienceOperating model transformation experienceExposure and use of AI-driven toolingWhat You Bring:Engineering-grade rigor in product definitionAI-first mindsetSystems thinkingLeadership in ambiguityExecutive communication skillsMastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.Corporate Security Responsibility:Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;Report any suspected information security violation or breach, andComplete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.Pay Ranges:O'Fallon, Missouri: $156,000 - $265,000 USDPurchase, New York: $179,000 - $305,000 USD