Technical Director of AI & Data

Overview

We are seeking a Technical Director of AI & Data (Deputy to VP) to partner directly with the Practice Lead in leading, scaling, and maturing the AI & Data Exploitation Practice. This role serves as the Practice Lead’s primary operational, technical, and strategic counterpart, helping ensure delivery excellence, workforce development, and sustained business growth across a broad portfolio of AI, data science, analytics, and data platforms programs.

The Deputy Practice Lead must be deeply conversant across the full spectrum of modern data and AI capabilities, including data engineering, data architecture, analytics, data science, MLOps/LLMOps, AI application development, governance, visualization, geospatial, and automation, and able to translate that understanding into effective delivery oversight, people leadership, and client engagement.

Contributions

Delivery Oversight & Technical Leadership

• Provide portfolio-level oversight for AI, data science, analytics, and data platforms delivery, ensuring consistency, quality, and alignment with practice standards and architectural best practices.

• Serve as a senior escalation point for complex delivery challenges spanning data platforms, AI systems, governance, performance, and integration.

• Partner with technical leaders (architects, SMEs, team leads, managers) to ensure delivery approaches align with modern architectures, security requirements, and client mission needs.

• Support and participate in architecture and design reviews for major data and AI initiatives, helping teams make sound technical and delivery decisions.

• Help standardize delivery playbooks, accelerators, and quality expectations across programs to improve repeatability and predictability.

Business Growth & Client Engagement

• Actively support business development efforts, including participation in client workshops, discovery sessions, solutioning discussions, and executive briefings.

• Contribute to and review RFI and RFP responses, ensuring technical approaches are sound, differentiated, and aligned with practice capabilities.

• Assist with code challenges, technical demonstrations, and proof-of-concept development to support capture and proposal efforts.

• Help shape and communicate the practice’s value proposition, reference architectures, and capability narratives to clients and partners.

• Build trusted relationships with client stakeholders, serving as a senior advisor on data and AI modernization strategies.

• Identify emerging opportunities for growth, such as new services, accelerators, or offerings, based on client demand and industry trends.

People Leadership & Career Development

• Partner with the Practice Lead to build, mentor, and retain high-performing talent across all AI & Data Exploitation career tracks.

• Support career pathing, role clarity, and skills development for engineers, data scientists, architects, analysts, and governance specialists.

• Serve as a coach and mentor to managers, team leads, and senior technical staff, helping them grow into broader leadership roles.

• Assist with workforce planning, staffing strategies, succession planning, and capability gap identification across the practice.

• Promote a strong culture of technical excellence, collaboration, learning, and mission-driven delivery.

Practice Strategy & Operations

• Support the Practice Lead in defining and executing practice strategy, including capability investments, tooling decisions, and operating models.

• Help track and communicate practice health metrics related to delivery performance, talent development, and growth.

• Represent the practice internally and externally as a senior leader and thought partner.

• Stay current on industry trends in AI, data platforms, governance, and automation to inform practice direction and client guidance.

• You will play a critical role in shaping the future of the AI & Data Exploitation Practice and enabling its long-term success.

Qualifications

• Ability to hold a position of public trust (or higher clearance as required).

• Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, AI/ML, or a related technical field.

• 10+ years of experience delivering complex data, analytics, and AI solutions, with demonstrated leadership at the portfolio or practice level.

• Broad, working knowledge across modern data and AI domains, including:
  • Data engineering and cloud data platforms
  • Data architecture and modeling
  • Analytics, visualization, and decision-support systems
  • Data science, ML, and generative AI
  • MLOps/LLMOps and AI operations
  • Data and AI governance, security, and compliance
  • Automation and workflow technologies

• Proven experience leading multi-team, multi-program delivery in complex environments (preferably federal or regulated industries).

• Strong client-facing presence with experience facilitating workshops, presenting to executives, and supporting capture efforts.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor senior technical leaders and managers.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing and executive storytelling.

• Experience balancing hands-on technical understanding with strategic leadership responsibilities.
• Local to DMV with a requirement to be in the office 3 days per week

About steampunk

Steampunk relies on several factors to determine salary, including but not limited to geographic location, contractual requirements, education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience. The projected compensation range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000. The estimate displayed represents a typical annual salary range for this position. Annual salary is just one aspect of Steampunk’s total compensation package for employees. Learn more about additional Steampunk benefits here.

Identity Statement

As part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.

Steampunk is a Change Agent in the Federal contracting industry, bringing new thinking to clients in the Homeland, Federal Civilian, Health and DoD sectors. Through our Human-Centered delivery methodology, we are fundamentally changing the expectations our Federal clients have for true shared accountability in solving their toughest mission challenges. If you want to learn more about our story, visit http://www.steampunk.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Steampunk participates in the E-Verify program.