Senior Manager - Data & AI

The Senior Manager, Data & AI is Rocketdyne's subject matter expert and owner for data platforms and AI/ML capabilities and directs the outsourced delivery partners who administer and operate them day to day. This role sets data platform architecture and AI capability strategy, and partners closely with the Enterprise Architect to own master data management (MDM) and the analytics platform landscape, including consolidating the duplicative or inherited platforms Rocketdyne carries from the L3Harris TSA relationship into a single, right-sized data and analytics stack. This is a hands-on architecture and strategy role, not a people-management role, but it carries real authority to direct outsourced delivery partners and set technical standards enforced across the data and AI platform footprint. Key Responsibilities Data Platform Ownership Own architecture and strategy for Rocketdyne's data platforms including environment design, workload placement, performance, and cost governanceOwn the vendor relationships from a data/technical standpoint — architecture, integration with source systems, and alignment to Rocketdyne's broader data strategyDefine data platform governance standards: data quality, access control, environment segmentation, and lifecycle managementDirect outsourced delivery partners on data platform administration, pipeline development, and operations against the architecture this role sets AI/ML Capability Ownership Own AI/ML capability strategy and roadmap across the enterprise, including current platforms in use — Microsoft Copilot, Codex, and Palantir and evaluation of future AI tooling and use casesDefine governance and acceptable-use standards for AI tooling, particularly where AI capabilities touch CUI, ITAR-controlled data, or source code, in partnership with cyber architecture/complianceIdentify, prioritize, and business-case AI/ML use cases in partnership with engineering, manufacturing, and business stakeholdersDirect outsourced delivery partners on AI platform administration, model/prompt governance, and rollout support Master Data & Analytics Platform Consolidation Partner with the Director of Applications as the application-side technical counterpart on golden-source data domain definitions across ERP, PLM, and MES — ensuring MDM designations reflect how each system actually enforces data integrity, not just the ideal data model Own the analytics platform landscape (BI/reporting tools) jointly with the Enterprise Architect, identifying overlap and redundancy inherited from the L3Harris environmentLead consolidation of duplicative data and analytics platforms into a single, right-sized stack as part of the TSA exit, including migration planning and decommissioning of redundant toolsDefine enterprise data architecture standards (data domains, integration patterns, data flow) jointly with the Enterprise Architect, ensuring data platform decisions align to the broader enterprise architecture Outsource Partner Management Direct and manage outsourced data/AI delivery partners performing day-to-day platform administration, pipeline development, and operationsOwn technical acceptance of outsourced partner deliverables — review, test, and approve data models, pipelines, and AI tooling configuration before production useEscalate and manage partner performance issues (quality, schedule, cost) in partnership with vendor management/procurementEvaluate outsourced partner statements of work and architecture proposals for technical soundness before commitment Required Qualifications 7+ years in data architecture, data platform engineering, or AI/ML strategy roles, with demonstrated ownership of platform strategy (not just administration)Deep hands-on expertise with Snowflake and/or DatabricksDirect experience with Palantir or comparable data integration/analytics platforms in a complex enterpriseExperience with enterprise AI tooling (Microsoft Copilot, GitHub Copilot/Codex, or comparable) including governance and acceptable-use considerationsExperience owning or co-owning master data management (MDM) strategy and analytics platform architectureWorking knowledge of CMMC, ITAR, and/or DFARS requirements as they apply to data platforms and AI tooling, and demonstrated ability to partner effectively with cyber/compliance teamsU.S. Person status required (ITAR data access)Demonstrated experience directing and managing outsourced/AMS delivery partners — assigning work, reviewing deliverables, and holding partners accountable for quality and schedule without formal supervisory authority over them Preferred Qualifications Prior experience in aerospace, defense, or another export-controlled manufacturing environmentExperience consolidating redundant data/analytics platforms in a carve-out, M&A, or divestiture contextExperience defining AI governance frameworks for regulated or export-controlled environmentsRelevant certifications (Snowflake SnowPro, Databricks Certified Data Engineer, or equivalent)