Hiring: Principal AI Platform Operations Engineer Company: Western Governors University Location: Raleigh, NC Job Posted Time: 2026-09-11 10:43:01 Employment Type: Full-time Target Skills & Keywords : AWS, CloudFormation, Databricks, Deep Learning, GDPR, Kubernetes, MLOps, Machine Learning, REST, Risk Management, Spark, Terraform, Workday About the job Experience: •7+ years of hands-on experience deploying and operating ML/AI systems in production at scale. •5 years of experience working in an AI/ML context alongside Data Scientists or ML Engineers •3 years of experience in building large-scale machine learning or deep learning models on a cloud platform •Demonstrated experience setting operational strategy or architectural vision at an organizational level. •Demonstrated success in delivering transformative AI platform or operations programs that produced measurable business impact. Required Skills: •Defines the multi-year AI operations and platform technical vision and strategy for WGU, aligned to organizational mission and emerging technological opportunity. •Establishes the foundational reference architectures and engineering principles that govern how AI/ML systems are deployed, operated, and governed across the organization. •Leads the evaluation and adoption of frontier AI operations paradigms, tooling, and infrastructure; authors technical strategy documents and architectural decision records that guide org-wide direction. •Drives the most complex, highest-stakes AI operations programs in the organization, including large-scale platform, migration, and reliability initiatives. •Advises executives such as the Chief Technology Officer, VP of Engineering or Security, and senior product leadership on AI operations strategy, risk, and investment priorities. •Defines AI operations governance including responsible AI standards, model risk management, security, cost accountability, and compliance frameworks for the organization. •Identifies and incubates emerging operational capabilities; sponsors proof-of-concept initiatives that create future organizational leverage. •Serves as the primary external technical spokesperson for WGU's AI operations work; represents the organization at industry conferences, in partnerships, and with strategic vendors. Qualifications: •Recognized expertise across the full spectrum of AI operations: deployment, platform engineering, observability, reliability engineering, governance, and LLMOps/MLOps at enterprise scale. •Demonstrated capacity to define and communicate multi-year technical strategy; translate organizational goals into architectural vision and operational roadmaps. •Deep expertise in frontier AI operations practices and the ability to assess, adapt, and productionize emerging techniques at organizational scale. •Expert-level knowledge of AI safety, responsible AI, model risk, security, and enterprise AI governance including regulatory and compliance considerations. •Proven ability to influence organizational direction at the executive level; able to build consensus across competing priorities and stakeholders. •Strong platform and systems thinking: ability to design AI infrastructure that enables teams to move faster and build more reliably. •Track record of establishing engineering culture, standards, and practices that durably improve organizational capability. •Exceptional written and verbal communication; able to author technical strategy documents, present to boards and executives, and represent the organization externally. •Deep familiarity with the AI operations vendor landscape, open-source ecosystem, and technology frontier; able to make informed, timely, well-reasoned bets. •Strong cross-functional leadership; comfortable driving alignment across engineering, product, data science, legal, and executive stakeholders. Compensation: •$202,000 - $313,000 / year Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!