Director, Applied AI/ML Platform Principal

Your opportunityAt Schwab, you’re empowered to make an impact on your career. Here, innovative thought meets creative problem solving, helping us “challenge the status quo” and transform the finance industry together.We believe in the importance of in-office collaboration and fully intend for the selected candidate for this role to work on site in the specified location(s).Schwab Data is advancing the next-generation roadmap for AI and data science platforms, enabling scalable, secure, and governed capabilities across multiple business domains. This includes expanding predictive analytics platforms and generative AI capabilities on Cloud, supporting use cases such as customer analytics, risk analytics, internal productivity, and operational decisioning.As part of this evolution, we are scaling AI/ML platform and engineering capabilities on Cloud to support broader adoption. This includes standardizing platform architecture, enabling reusable development and deployment patterns, strengthening model lifecycle capabilities, and integrating platform services to support both predictive and generative AI workloads in a regulated environment.We are seeking an Applied AI/ML Platform Services Principal to provide senior technical leadership across AI/ML platforms and engineering. This role will drive cross-platform architecture, define engineering standards, and enable scalable, production-grade AI capabilities. That role partners closely with platform engineering, AI/ML engineering, and data & enterprise architecture teams to align delivery, improve engineering maturity, and accelerate AI adoption.Position ResponsibilitiesAI/ML Platform Architecture & StrategyDefine and drive the architecture for AI/ML platforms and services spanning predictive and generative AI domainsEstablish standardized, reusable platform patterns to support scalable, reliable, and governed AI workloadsLead integration strategies that connect AI/ML capabilities across the broader enterprise data ecosystemAI/ML Engineering Standards & EnablementDefine and implement AI/ML engineering best practices across development, deployment, and lifecycle managementEnable consistent and effective use of platform capabilities for model development and evaluationPartner closely with engineering teams to improve platform reliability, scalability, and operational maturityCross-Functional Technical LeadershipServe as a senior technical authority across platform engineering, AI/ML engineering, and architecture teamsDrive alignment on platform direction, priorities, and execution across multiple organizationsInfluence key technical decisions related to platform evolution and AI/ML engineering practicesPlatform Adoption & Delivery AccelerationEnable onboarding and scaling of AI use cases through standardized platform capabilitiesIdentify and remove technical or process bottlenecks impacting delivery velocity and scalabilitySupport high-priority AI initiatives through hands-on technical leadership and guidanceGovernance, Risk, and Compliance AlignmentEnsure AI/ML platforms align with enterprise governance, risk, and regulatory requirementsDrive consistent implementation of controls across the AI/ML lifecycle and platform servicesPartner with risk, compliance, and control functions to support compliant, transparent, and auditable AI usageWhat you haveRequired QualificationsBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field15+ years of experience in platform architecture/engineering, software engineering, or AI/ML engineering5+ years operating at a Principal Engineer or equivalent senior technical leadership levelStrong experience designing and scaling AI/ML platforms and services in cloud environments (GCP preferred)Hands-on experience with AI/ML platforms such as Vertex AI, Dataiku, SageMaker, or equivalentDeep understanding of the AI/ML lifecycle including model development, training, deployment, and monitoringExperience working within large-scale data ecosystems and integrating with data platformsFamiliarity with distributed systems, platform architecture, and scalable service designProven ability to define and implement engineering standards and platform patterns across teamsExperience driving cross-functional technical alignment across multiple engineering groupsStrong understanding of platform scalability, reliability, and operational excellence principlesDemonstrated ability to reduce vendor dependency and build internal engineering capabilityPreferred QualificationsExperience in financial services or regulated environmentsFamiliarity working within centralized data organizations (CDO structures)Experience supporting Data & AI platforms at scalePrior experience driving cloud-based platform expansion (GCP preferred)Strong background in cross-domain platform integration and architecture collaborationIn addition to the salary range, this role is also eligible for bonus or incentive opportunities.What’s in it for youAt Schwab, you’re empowered to shape your future. We champion your growth through meaningful work, continuous learning, and a culture of trust and collaboration—so you can build the skills to make a lasting impact. Our Hybrid Work and Flexibility approach balances our ongoing commitment to workplace flexibility, serving our clients, and our strong belief in the value of being together in person on a regular basis.We offer a competitive benefits package that takes care of the whole you – both today and in the future:401(k) with company match and Employee stock purchase planPaid time for vacation, volunteering, and 28-day sabbatical after every 5 years of service for eligible positionsPaid parental leave and family building benefitsTuition reimbursementHealth, dental, and vision insurance