Senior Director, AI Engineering Transformation

SharkNinja is a global product design and technology company with a diversified portfolio of 5-star rated lifestyle solutions that positively impact people’s lives in homes around the world. Powered by the trusted Shark and Ninja brands, the company drives disruptive innovation across multiple product categories, achieving significant growth and market share gains. Headquartered in Needham, Massachusetts, SharkNinja employs over 4,100 associates and sells products through key retailers and distributors worldwide.

About the Role

This is a high-impact leadership role at the intersection of AI, engineering, product quality, and organizational transformation. You will own the strategy and execution of AI integration across SharkNinja's Engineering organization, spanning the full development lifecycle—from concept and architecture through design, validation, and production—into reliability engineering, DFM/DFT, test data, and manufacturing engineering.

You will build the data foundation, deploy AI capabilities, and transform workflows to enable faster, smarter, and higher-quality product development. This role carries a dual mandate: drive current AI initiatives to measurable completion while partnering with Engineering leadership to shape future AI capabilities. You will report directly to the VP, Chief of Staff to the CEO, with a dotted line to the CTO/Chief Engineering Officer.

Responsibilities

• Data Foundation & Infrastructure:
  • Architect and implement a unified data infrastructure across Engineering to resolve fragmented, siloed data.
  • Map data assets (schematics, CAD/PCB design files, test results, FMEAs, DVT/EMC results, lessons learned, field return data, quality metrics) and build ingestion pipelines for AI usability.
  • Partner with IT and data engineering to integrate Engineering’s data infrastructure with enterprise systems (Snowflake, AWS).
• Engineering Transformation:
  • Define and execute the AI transformation roadmap across the full engineering lifecycle, identifying new AI opportunities as capabilities evolve.
  • Reimagine program management by replacing manual, PowerPoint-based workflows with AI-powered tooling for real-time visibility, automated accountability, and permission-based dashboards.
  • Deploy AI-powered planning intelligence using historical engineering data to improve forecasting accuracy and reduce late-stage surprises.
  • Transform reliability and quality capabilities, including failure prediction, DVT/EMC outcome analysis, and field-return pattern detection at scale.
  • Reimagine design and test workflows by making lessons learned, test results, and FMEAs accessible through AI to inform future product development.
  • Strengthen Engineering’s contribution to product requirements by surfacing relevant historical data (prior test failures, field issues, quality patterns) during design and requirements processes.
• Team Building & Change Management:
  • Build, lead, and scale a team of AI Fellows embedded in Engineering teams to drive hands-on AI adoption.
  • Drive change management across global engineering teams, focusing on director-level and below adoption.
  • Translate complex AI capabilities into practical, adoptable solutions for engineers, program managers, and cross-functional teams.
  • Establish success metrics, track adoption, and report measurable outcomes to executive leadership.
  • Champion a culture of experimentation: fast iteration, learning from failure, and scaling what works.

Requirements

• 10+ years of professional experience in AI/ML, engineering leadership, program management, data architecture, quality engineering, or technology transformation roles.
• Strong technical fluency in AI/ML and data infrastructure, including evaluating tools, assessing platforms, and understanding data pipelines.
• Proven track record leading large-scale transformation or change management initiatives, ideally in engineering, R&D, or consumer products.
• Deep understanding of engineering development lifecycles in hardware or consumer electronics, including stage-gate processes, DVT/EVT/PVT builds, and cross-functional launch execution.
• Ability to both build (hands-on implementation) and think strategically—connecting technical capabilities to business outcomes for non-technical stakeholders.
• Exceptional leadership skills: attracting talent, building high-performing teams, and influencing without authority in a matrixed organization.
• Decisive and action-oriented: making decisions with imperfect information, moving fast, and course-correcting as needed.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and high-velocity environments where speed matters more than perfection.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at an AI-native company or within an engineering organization where AI was core to development.
• Background bridging technical build teams and business stakeholders, translating requirements in both directions.
• Experience productionalizing AI prototypes (moving from proof-of-concept to enterprise-grade tools with proper back-end infrastructure).
• Familiarity with engineering quality concepts: FMEAs, DVT, EMC/regulatory compliance, reliability testing, field-return analytics.
• Ability to speak Mandarin.

Additional Requirements

• Travel required (domestic and international, including China manufacturing sites).
• On-site at Boston HQ or New York office full-time.

Why This Role Matters

SharkNinja’s CEO has made AI transformation a top company priority. This role sits at the center of a company-wide movement to fundamentally change how SharkNinja’s Engineering organization designs, builds, tests, and ensures product quality. You will have direct visibility and support from the highest levels of the organization and work alongside engineering teams to build the data foundation, prove what works, and scale AI adoption.

Pay

The annual salary range for this position is $225,000—$250,000 USD.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts (HSA) with company contribution.
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching.
• Employee stock purchase program.
• Life insurance, AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability insurance.
• Generous paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave.
• Identity theft protection, pet insurance, pre-paid legal insurance, and back-up child and eldercare days.
• Product discounts and referral bonus program.
• Wellness programs and high-impact learning opportunities.

Our Culture

At SharkNinja, we push past boundaries and tackle the impossible with an Outrageously Extraordinary mindset. We thrive on breaking out of our swim lanes and empower personal and professional growth through bold learning programs. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are vital to our global success, blending unique voices and skills to strengthen innovation.