Director of Artificial Intelligence – Machine Learning

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Define and guide Thorn’s Machine Learning and AI strategy alongside Build leadership, Product, and various cross-functional stakeholders.

• Recognize promising ML and AI technologies and convert research and experimentation into actionable recommendations for investments, partnerships, and product strategies.

• Support Thorn’s Technical Innovation Roadmap by exploring, prototyping, de-risking, and validating new capabilities.

• Ensure that ML systems and practices adhere to expectations for privacy, security, responsible AI, regulatory compliance, reliability, and operational excellence.

• Manage sensitive datasets, external data annotation partners, and CSAM reporting processes.

• Collaborate with Business Development and Strategic Impact to shape the technical research roadmap.

• Develop, recruit, empower, and retain a high-performing ML team.

• Lead, mentor, and nurture technical leaders and individual contributors.

• Forge strong partnerships across ML, Engineering, Product, BDSI, and other teams throughout the SDLC.

• Ensure that ML capabilities are designed, built, deployed, and operated as reliable, scalable, production-ready systems.

• Align ML priorities, dependencies, investments, and capacity with Build’s strategy and roadmap.

• Set priorities, expectations, and operating rhythms for reliable delivery.

• Collaborate on resource allocation, headcount planning, infrastructure investment, and budget management.

• Serve on Build’s leadership team, contributing to strategy, organizational planning, threat response, and investment choices.

• Represent Thorn’s ML initiatives externally with customers, strategic partners, funders, conferences, advisory groups, and the technical community.

⛳️ Requirements

• Extensive experience in leading ML, AI, Data Science, or similar technical teams responsible for significant production capabilities.

• Strong technical acumen in modern ML and AI.

• Profound understanding of AI/ML applications, content detection technologies, and software development.

• Experience in developing and maintaining ML capabilities with a focus on reliability, evaluation, monitoring, privacy, security, and responsible AI.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and enhance high-performing technical teams.

• Proven track record in attracting, hiring, and retaining top-tier talent.

• Experience in coaching technical leaders and individual contributors.

• Ability to appropriately delegate responsibilities, set clear expectations, and provide honest, constructive feedback.

• Capability to build trust within an established team and thoughtfully evolve its culture.

• History of collaboration with Engineering, Product, Research/BDSI, and other cross-functional partners.

• Proven experience in transitioning capabilities from research and experimentation to reliable production systems.

• Skill in navigating complex stakeholder environments and fostering alignment across teams.

• Ability to influence, initiate change, and calmly and strategically resolve complex issues.

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to represent technical work in external settings.

• Capacity to lead with empathy, humility, honesty, clarity, and a trauma-informed perspective.

• Dedication to prioritizing the needs of the children Thorn serves above all else.

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote-first work model primarily based around working from home.

• Company-wide gatherings.

• In-person team meetings and team-building activities.

• Opportunities for conference attendance.

• Comprehensive range of employee benefits.

• Reasonable accommodations available for candidates and employees with disabilities.