Lead AI Solutions Systems Engineer

About the role

Airbus Digital is looking for a Lead AI Solutions Systems Engineer to join the team. This role can be based in Herndon, VA, Atlanta, GA, Sunnyvale, CA or Mobile, AL. As a multinational company with a global footprint, our business needs protection from security threats and assurance that our end-users (employees, customers and suppliers) have access to the tools and data they need, when they need it.

Responsibilities

The Lead AI Solutions Systems Engineer is the lead technical architect and solution designer in the North America AI and Advanced analytics Product Service Line. This role will support the Head of digital AI and Advanced analytics to drive the technical strategy, data modeling, and high-level solution design from proof-of-concept (PoC) to industrialization.

• Technical Solution Strategy & Opportunity Framing: Evaluate the technical feasibility, data readiness, and infrastructural viability of proposed AI initiatives.
• High-Level Solution Architecture & Prototyping: Shape the technical response, design solution blueprints, evaluate build-vs-buy trade-offs, and design staging plans.
• Technology Evolution & Platform Governance: Support the technical maturity ramp-up of the team, raising the engineering and algorithmic capabilities of team members.
• Additional Responsibilities: Other duties as assigned (10% of the time)

Requirements

• Master's degree in AI (ML / Data Science), Computer Science, or a highly quantitative field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in advanced analytics initiatives, including mandatory hands-on, production-grade architecture and engineering experience in AI.
• Significant experience across several business branches-Corporate (e.g., HR, Finance, Facilities) AND Operations (e.g., Procurement, Supply Chain, Logistics) at a minimum, with manufacturing experience highly preferred.
• Proven technical leadership in designing and delivering production-ready system architectures, with experience in database modeling and implementing microservices.

Skills

• Technical & Scientific Rigor: Mastery of the mathematical, statistical, and algorithmic foundations of AI.
• Software Engineering Blueprinting: Deep, practical expertise in software development lifecycles (SDLC), API contract design, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), regression testing, and deployment pipelines.
• Value-Driven Mindset: Prioritizes real-world business outcomes and ROI over algorithmic sophistication.
• Open-Mindedness: Willingness to revisit established solutions when new, cheaper, or more efficient options emerge.
• Organizational Tolerance: Highly comfortable navigating complex, global corporate structures, data governance constraints, and dependencies tied to Europe-led solution deployments.

Qualifications

• Active Listening: Exceptional active listening capabilities, with highly didactic and illustrative communication skills to guide business teams toward shared understanding.
• Influence & Collaboration: Strong ability to defend a solution choice credibly with both business and technical stakeholders, build consensus, and bring teams along.
• Coaching & Delegation: Able to delegate responsibilities and actively coach junior/younger talents to build overall team capability.
• Technical Systems Proficiency: Advanced Analytics & ML Platform, PyTorch, TensorFlow, Devops & Cloud, AI-Assisted Coding Tools.

Working Environment

The Washington, D.C. metro area is home to multiple Airbus offices. The Lead AI Solutions Systems Engineer will work in a hybrid environment, with 4 days in the office and 1 day remote.

• Vision: Daily able to see and read computer screen and other electronic equipment with screens.
• Hearing: Daily able to hear to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone.
• Speaking: Daily able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications.
• Equipment Operation: Daily use of personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment.