Head, AI Engineering

Running a large, fast-growing, and high-performing network of public charter schools takes a village — families, children, teachers, staff and faculty, advocates, and supporters alike. We are growing fast in New York and expanding to Florida. We work tirelessly every day to ensure children have access to a fun, rigorous, whole-child education regardless of zip code or economic status. When you join Success Academy, you play a part in giving every student who walks through our doors a fair shot at reaching his or her potential.

As the fastest-growing, highest-performing charter school network in New York State, Success Academy is reimagining K-12 public education. Nationally recognized for our innovative, whole-child school model and outstanding academic results, Success Academy educators empower children from all backgrounds with the knowledge, skills, and self-belief to succeed in college and in life.

About the role

Success Academy is seeking a results-driven Head of AI Engineering to join our Technology team. Working within our central Network office and reporting to the CTO, you will lead the development and implementation of AI/ML solutions tailored to the unique needs of a K-12 school environment. The Technology team manages a modern cloud and SaaS-based environment, operating networking and in-school technologies across 59 school locations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of AI developers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Architect, design, and oversee the development of scalable and robust AI/ML models and applications.
• Define and implement best practices for AI development, MLOps, model deployment, and performance monitoring.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, data scientists, and other engineering teams to identify opportunities for AI integration and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Manage the full lifecycle of AI projects, from conceptualization and research to deployment and ongoing optimization with production support.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and deep learning, evaluating and recommending new technologies.
• Provide management with high-level updates and understanding of technological advancements and roadmap accomplishments.
• Ensure the quality, security, and ethical considerations of all AI solutions.
• Communicate technical concepts and project progress effectively to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Contribute to the strategic vision for AI within Success Academy and help shape the future of our technological landscape.
• Work with the Cloud Engineering team to deploy products in AWS infrastructure using Terraform and multiple other deployment strategies.
• Leverage Google Cloud AI tools (Vertex AI, AutoML, BigQuery ML, Document AI, and Generative AI APIs).
• Ensure responsible AI use, bias mitigation, and compliance with data privacy laws (FERPA, GDPR, etc.).
• Understand and apply the AWS cloud security framework to AI governance.
• Act as a trusted advisor to executives, school administrators, and non-technical stakeholders.
• Present AI concepts, project updates, and business impacts in a clear and compelling manner.
• Translate technical AI capabilities into practical use cases that drive adoption.
• Work cross-functionally with engineering, data science, and education experts to ensure AI solutions are user-centric.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in AI/ML development, with a strong portfolio of successfully delivered AI projects.
• 7+ years of experience in a leadership or management role, leading and mentoring AI or software development teams.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing end-to-end AI/ML solutions in a production environment.
• Experience with various machine learning techniques (e.g., supervised, unsupervised, reinforcement learning) and deep learning frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch).
• Familiarity with cloud platforms, preferably AWS, and working knowledge of GCP and their AI/ML services.
• Experience with MLOps principles and tools for model versioning, deployment, and monitoring.

Skills

• Expertise in programming languages commonly used in AI development, such as Python.
• Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and software design principles.
• Deep knowledge of machine learning algorithms, statistical modeling, and data science methodologies.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate a team.
• Ability to translate complex business problems into technical AI solutions.
• Strong problem-solving abilities and a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Knowledge of open-source AI/ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, LangChain, Hugging Face, LlamaIndex).
• Passion for education and a commitment to Success Academy's mission.

Pay

Compensation Range: $280,000 - $300,000 USD

Benefits

Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.