Onsite
Overview
The Director of AI Engineering manages the activities and strategic direction of multiple departments, including indirectly managing diverse Engineering and Architecture teams and enterprise AI Engineering platform teams. This role is responsible for budgets across multiple cost centers spanning concurrent development streams and provides both long- and short-term strategic direction in partnership with Engineering, Architecture, and Technology senior management.
The Director serves as a primary contact to Divisional peers, Management Group members, Bank-wide senior management, and business partners. As a technology leader and industry expert, this role focuses on establishing AI (including Generative AI) as a governed, scalable, and value-driven enterprise capability embedded within modern software delivery.
This position leads the strategic direction, operating model, and execution of enterprise AI Engineering, GenAI platforms, and AI-enabled SDLC capabilities. The role is accountable for defining and operationalizing an end-to-end AI operating model spanning platform engineering, governance, security, and delivery, enabling consistent enterprise adoption while meeting risk, compliance, and regulatory requirements.
Primary Responsibilities
Divisional Strategy, Leadership & Operating Model
Build Technology divisional strategy across departments in partnership with peers and Technology senior management, positioning AI and GenAI as core enterprise engineering capabilities
Define and execute enterprise AI strategy and adoption roadmaps aligned to business outcomes and measurable value realization
Establish and operationalize an end-to-end AI operating model spanning platform engineering, delivery execution, governance, and risk
Partner with senior leaders outside of Technology to build strong client relationships supporting delivery of complex technology initiatives, including AI-enabled transformation
Serve as a primary interface to Technology leadership, business partners, and risk stakeholders, ensuring alignment, performance, and organizational development across AI engineering and platform teams
AI Platform & Engineering Enablement (GenAI, LLMs, AI-Enabled DevEx)
Lead enterprise AI platform capabilities including GenAI platforms, LLM integration patterns, model and tool onboarding, and AI-enabled developer experience
Drive automation-first SDLC transformation by embedding AI into development, testing, security, quality, and delivery workflows
Oversee standardization of repositories, CI/CD pipelines, and engineering tooling to enable scale, reuse, and consistent governance
Ensure integration of AI capabilities across enterprise platforms and delivery pipelines in alignment with Divisional standards and long-range plans
Monitor industry trends and vendor offerings relevant to AI engineering and SDLC modernization and initiate change when appropriate
Delivery Execution, Adoption & Change Management
Oversee systems development activities of assigned teams, including staff assignments and ensuring timely completion within budget
Define and manage AI delivery roadmaps, adoption models, success metrics, dependencies, milestones, and KPI/OKR reporting
Implement maturity-based adoption models (e.g., sandbox, controlled pilot, production) to scale usage while maintaining appropriate guardrails
Drive enterprise adoption, enablement, and change management to increase developer productivity and accelerate delivery outcomes
Governance, Risk, Compliance & Responsible AI
Define and operationalize AI standards, policies, and guardrails that balance enablement with compliance through automated controls and documentation
Partner with Risk, Security, and Compliance teams to embed controls and regulatory alignment into AI platforms, pipelines, and AI-enabled SDLC workflows
Maintain internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit requirements and remediation of regulatory findings
Ensure adherence to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards in alignment with the Company’s Risk Appetite
Design, implement, maintain, and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk and escalate issues as appropriate
Ensure activities comply with all Department and Technology standards, procedures, and documentation requirements
Metrics, Performance & Optimization
Establish enterprise metrics for AI adoption, SDLC impact, platform performance, reliability, and value delivery
Drive continuous improvement through data-driven insights and outcome-based reporting to senior management
Optimize AI platform cost, licensing, utilization, and vendor spend across multiple cost centers
Technology, Vendor & Financial Management
Manage multiple Technology departments with responsibility for financial, compliance, HR, and risk operations
Lead vendor and product evaluations to ensure delivery of optimal solutions within available resources and budget
Manage strategic vendor and professional relationships to remain current on AI trends, best practices, and emerging capabilities
People Leadership & Culture
Exercise full managerial authority related to staffing, performance management, promotions, compensation, and terminations
Build and lead enterprise AI engineering and platform organizations, establishing clear accountability across platform, delivery, and governance functions
Promote an inclusive environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand
Encourage teamwork and serve as a role model in leadership and collaboration
Scope of Responsibilities
Oversees teams primarily composed of engineers, architects, Engineering Supervisors, Team Leads, Managers, and Senior Managers
Includes enterprise AI engineering and platform teams enabling GenAI and LLM adoption and AI-enabled SDLC capabilities
Supervisory / Managerial Responsibilities
50–100 employees (direct and indirect), including potential contractor resources aligned to delivery and platform needs
Education, Skills, and Experience Required
A combined minimum of 15 years of higher education and/or work experience
Minimum 4 years of engineering and/or architecture experience
Minimum 11 years of large technology management or program leadership experience, including people management
Proficiency with project management, word processing, and spreadsheet applications
Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
Experience with large system enhancements, conversions, and production issue resolution
Complete understanding of the system development life cycle
Strong problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making skills
Familiarity with application development platforms, software, and hardware
Strong understanding of supported business domains and terminology
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Confidence leading large, geographically distributed teams (100+ employees)
Expertise presenting to senior management
Demonstrated experience defining enterprise AI and GenAI strategies, operating models, and adoption roadmaps
Extensive experience leading enterprise-scale AI engineering, GenAI/LLM platforms, and developer platforms
Proven ability to drive cross-functional alignment across engineering, business, risk, security, and compliance
Experience leading large-scale platform modernization and AI-enabled SDLC transformation initiatives
Experience establishing AI governance guardrails, operational controls, audit readiness, and regulatory compliance
Education and Experience Preferred
Master’s degree
Minimum of 14 years of technology management or large program leadership experience
Extensive application and product domain expertise within the technology area being led
Subject matter expert understanding of supported applications and integrated systems
Understanding of multiple business functions
Proven mentoring and leadership capabilities across multiple management layers
Extensive experience leading enterprise developer platforms or engineering enablement organizations
Subject matter expertise in developer tooling, CI/CD, reliability, and quality engineering
Strong expertise in GenAI and LLM platforms and enterprise adoption patterns
Strong understanding of the Bank’s application framework and strategic objectives
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M&T Bank is committed to fair, competitive, and market-informed pay for our employees. The pay range for this position is $201,200.00 - $335,300.00 Annual (USD). The successful candidate’s particular combination of knowledge, skills, and experience will inform their specific compensation.Want to know if this job is worth applying to?