Director of AI Transformation & Engineering Excellence

Job Details: Job Description: About the Role Altera is seeking a visionary and hands‑on Director of AI Transformation & Engineering Excellence to lead enterprise‑wide AI initiatives that accelerate productivity, modernize engineering workflows, and drive innovation. In this role, you will architect advanced AI/ML solutions, build and scale Altera’s AI Office, and elevate engineering excellence across the organization. This position is ideal for a deeply technical leader who thrives at the intersection of strategy, execution, and organizational transformation. Key Responsibilities Lead the strategic planning, design, and execution of AI‑driven transformation initiatives across Altera. Architect scalable, production‑grade AI/ML systems that improve engineering throughput and business productivity. Build and mentor an AI Office team focused on innovation, enterprise enablement, and continuous improvement. Partner with technology, product, and business leaders to identify and develop AI opportunities with measurable ROI. Champion engineering excellence—coding standards, MLOps best practices, automation, and performance optimization. Stay ahead of advancements in AI, LLMs, generative models, and intelligent automation to guide technology direction. Engage in hands‑on prototyping, model development, and technical reviews. Define KPIs, metrics, and dashboards to track the impact of AI transformation efforts. Foster a culture of collaboration, experimentation, and a strong can‑do attitude. Salary Range The pay range below is for Bay Area California only. Actual salary may vary based on a number of factors including job location, job-related knowledge, skills, experiences, trainings, etc. We also offer incentive opportunities that reward employees based on individual and company performance. $206,400 - $290,000 USD We use artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants for the position. Applicants must be eligible for any required U.S. export authorizations. Qualifications: Required Qualifications 10+ years of hands‑on AI/ML engineering or applied research leadership. MS or PhD in Machine Learning, AI, Computer Science, or related field. Deep expertise in designing, developing, and deploying large‑scale AI/ML solutions. Strong proficiency in Python, and frameworks such as PyTorch, TensorFlow, and Scikit‑learn. Experience leading technical teams and building AI capabilities from the ground up. Proven track record in driving AI‑enabled productivity improvements or engineering transformations. Excellent communication, cross‑functional leadership, and stakeholder alignment skills. A collaborative mindset, high ownership, and a team‑first, can‑do approach. Preferred Qualifications Experience launching or leading an AI Center of Excellence (CoE). Expertise in LLMs, generative AI, RAG systems, and vector retrieval technologies. Familiarity with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) and scalable distributed systems. Publications, patents, or research contributions in ML/AI. Job Type: Regular Shift: Shift 1 (United States of America) Primary Location: San Jose, California, United States Additional Locations: Posting Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by local law, regulation, or ordinance. About Altera Altera: Accelerating Innovators Altera provides leadership programmable solutions that are easy-to-use and deploy in applications from cloud to edge, offering limitless AI possibilities. Our end-to-end broad portfolio of products including FPGAs, CPLDs, Intellectual Property, development tools, System on Modules, SmartNICs and IPUs provide the flexibility to accelerate innovation. Altera is helping to shape the future through pioneering innovation that unlocks extraordinary possibilities for everyone on the planet. Don't see the dream job you are looking for? Click "Get Started" below to drop off your contact information and resume and we will reach out to you if we find the perfect fit.