Executive Director of Data Engineering (AI)

Location: Detroit, Michigan, United States; hybrid schedule with office attendance an average of four days per week.

Base salary: $155,000–$390,000 USD annually.

Company

hirify.global is a global creative company within WPP, combining brand experience, customer experience, commerce, data, and marketing intelligence across more than 55 markets.

What you will do

• Lead the architecture, infrastructure, and engineering standards supporting predictive, prescriptive, and generative AI use cases.
• Modernize AI and data engineering through AI-assisted development, reusable components, automation, and new technology evaluation.
• Establish global data taxonomies, architecture, quality, lineage, metadata, documentation, governance, privacy, and security standards.
• Advance MLOps, DataOps, DevOps, CI/CD, and reliable deployment of data products and models.
• Build and lead a high-performing, globally distributed engineering organization focused on technical excellence, velocity, and reliability.
• Partner with product, analytics, and agency teams across creative, CX/site, CRM, audience, and media data domains.

Requirements

• 20+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering.
• Experience leading global or distributed engineering teams at a senior level.
• Deep expertise in modern data infrastructure, cloud platforms, AI/ML engineering, scalable pipelines, and platform design.
• Proven success creating data taxonomies, standards, and governance frameworks across complex, multi-domain environments.
• Experience with automation, agile delivery, AI-assisted development, MLOps, DataOps, responsible AI, and data governance.
• Executive-level leadership, communication, and stakeholder-management skills; marketing and media data experience is expected, ideally in automotive, industry, or agency contexts.

Culture & Benefits

• Hybrid working model designed to support creativity, collaboration, and connection.
• Competitive benefits package provided through WPP.
• Equal opportunity workplace committed to respect, inclusion, and equal career opportunities.
• Accommodations or additional flexibility can be discussed during the interview process.