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Head Of Ai Engineer Salary In Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Keybank

Lead AI Engineer

Buffalo, NY · On-site

$96K - $181K/yr

The Lead AI Engineer partners closely with product, platform, voice, and operations teams to ... COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS This position is eligible to earn a base salary in the range of $96,000 ...

Keybank

Lead AI Engineer

Pittsburgh, PA · On-site

$96K - $181K/yr

The Lead AI Engineer partners closely with product, platform, voice, and operations teams to ... COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS This position is eligible to earn a base salary in the range of $96,000 ...

Agilent

$196K - $306K/yr

The Head of AICoEOperations serves as the CAIO's strategic chief of staff and operating leader for ... What success looks like in year one * CAIO leadership cadence is running cleanly, with decisions ...

Vectra

Director of AI

San Jose, CA · On-site

... in the industry. Role Overview We're looking for a strategic and inspired Head of AI to lead our AI and data engineering teams, drive our AI business transformation strategy, and serve as a resident ...

Databricks

$182K - $234K/yr

The position is based in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia metropolitan area and includes ... AI engineers, and manage a portfolio of key accounts. You will report directly to the Head of ...

Ipsen

Head of Applied AI & Data Science

Cambridge, MA · On-site

... Head of Applied AI & Data Science to lead and strategize the technical direction for advanced ... in Data Science, Data Engineering and AI, including Machine Learning, Deep Learning, NLP ...

Pfizer

Head of AI Clinical Excellence

San Diego, CA · On-site

$84K - $115K/yr

PhD in Life Sciences, Clinical Research, Data Science, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Engineering ... The annual base salary for this position ranges from $176,600.00 to $294,300.00. In addition, this ...

Pfizer

Head of AI Clinical Excellence

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$87K - $119K/yr

PhD in Life Sciences, Clinical Research, Data Science, Biostatistics, Computer Science, Engineering ... The annual base salary for this position ranges from $176,600.00 to $294,300.00. In addition, this ...

Citizens Bank

Program Manager (Technical)

Charlotte, NC · On-site

$125K - $162K/yr

This role serves as a strategic partner to the Head of AI Engineering, acting as an extension of ... Represent leadership in meetings and stakeholder forums when needed. * Develop executive ...

F2 AI

Applied AI Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$130 - $170/hr

... of experience in machine learning, AI research, or applied AI engineering * Strong background in ... LLMs, RAG systems, and agentic AI workflows * Experience designing evaluation frameworks and ...

Viridien

Head of Applied AI Products

Houston, TX

This role sits at the intersection of engineering, research, and product architecture, defining the ... Develop domain-specific machine learning models in collaboration with subject matter experts.

Flexjet

Director of AI Engineering

Cleveland, OH

Combine strong engineering leadership with deep expertise in MLOps, cloud infrastructure, model lifecycle management, and Generative AI deployment. Lead a team of AI engineers and MLOps specialists ...

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All JobsHead Of Ai Engineer Salary In Jobs

Head Of Ai Engineer Salary In information

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$36.5K

$107.3K

$137.5K

How much do head of ai engineer salary in jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for head of ai engineer salary in in the United States is $107,282.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $88,500.00 and $136,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the average salary for a head of AI engineer?

The average salary for a Head of AI Engineer can vary widely depending on the region, company size, and the candidate's experience. In the United States, the salary typically ranges from $180,000 to over $300,000 per year, often including bonuses, stock options, and other benefits. Senior leadership roles in AI engineering, especially at large tech companies or startups with significant funding, can command even higher compensation packages. Factors such as industry, location, and company performance also play a significant role in determining salary.

What are some common challenges faced by a head of AI engineering in balancing technical leadership and team management?

As a Head of AI Engineering, one of the most common challenges is striking the right balance between staying hands-on with advanced AI technologies and focusing on strategic leadership and team management. This role often requires overseeing high-level project direction, mentoring engineers, and aligning AI initiatives with business goals, all while keeping up with rapid advancements in the AI field. Effective communication and delegation are crucial, as is fostering a collaborative culture where team members are empowered to innovate and solve complex problems. Navigating these demands successfully enables both personal growth and the long-term success of the AI team.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a head of AI engineering, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Head of AI Engineering, you need deep expertise in machine learning, data science, and software engineering, typically backed by an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with AI frameworks (such as TensorFlow or PyTorch), cloud platforms, and experience managing large-scale AI projects are essential, as are certifications like AWS Certified Machine Learning or Google Professional Machine Learning Engineer. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills set top candidates apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for driving innovation, aligning technical teams, and delivering impactful AI solutions that support organizational goals.

What is the difference between Head Of Ai Engineer Salary In vs Machine Learning Engineer?

RoleAverage SalaryKey Responsibilities
Head Of Ai Engineer$150,000 - $200,000Leading AI teams, strategic planning, overseeing AI projectsMachine Learning Engineer$90,000 - $130,000Developing ML models, data analysis, implementing algorithms

The main difference between the Head Of Ai Engineer and Machine Learning Engineer salaries lies in the seniority and scope of responsibilities. The Head Of Ai Engineer typically earns a higher salary due to leadership duties and strategic oversight, whereas Machine Learning Engineers focus on technical implementation and development. Both roles require strong credentials in AI and machine learning, but the leadership position commands a premium in compensation.

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Infographic showing various Head Of Ai Engineer Salary In job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $107,282 per year, or $51.6 per hour.

Director, Head of Software Engineering

HITT Contracting, Inc.

Falls Church, VA • On-site

$269K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 11 days ago

Job description

Every day, our team members do amazing things in pursuit of our shared purpose to build trust with our clients, partners, subcontractors, and teammates. No matter your background, education, or career path, if you share our vision to create extraordinary experiences, you belong at HITT.
Director, Head of Software Engineering
Job Description:
HITT is seeking a Head of Software Engineering to build a modern, AI-native software engineering practice from the ground up. This is a senior leadership role for an engineering executive with a builder's mindset: someone who has seen firsthand how agentic, AI-enabled development is changing the way software gets made - and who knows how to turn that shift into a durable advantage for one of the nation's largest general contractors. They bring the vision, technical depth, and people leadership to define how software gets built at HITT as the firm scales.
Reporting to the Chief Information Officer, the Head of Software Engineering will establish HITT's agentic engineering practice from scratch - setting the technical vision, standing up lean, agile product teams, and creating the standards, workflows, and culture that let small teams of AI-fluent engineers deliver high-quality software at a pace traditional development organizations cannot match. This leader understands that tools are only half the story: lasting change comes from people, and they will be as invested in recruiting and developing talent as in technology itself.
The Head of Software Engineering is accountable for the structure and growth of the engineering organization, the delivery of applications and platforms that serve HITT's project teams and jobsites nationwide, and the development of a new generation of AI-enabled engineering talent - hiring builders who already work this way and training HITT's existing developers in new methods. The role partners closely with senior leaders across the firm and serves as a visible champion for the responsible, high-leverage use of AI in how HITT builds.
Responsibilities
Agentic Engineering Practice
  • Design, launch, and lead HITT's agentic engineering practice from the ground up, defining the operating model, team structure, and software development lifecycle for AI-enabled delivery

  • Establish standards, guardrails, and best practices for agentic development - including AI coding agents and assistants, prompt and context engineering, human-in-the-loop review, automated testing, and evaluation

  • Select, implement, and evolve the AI development toolchain (coding agents, LLM platforms, orchestration frameworks, and integrations), reassessing regularly as the landscape advances

  • Partner with the CIO on the enterprise technology, data, and AI roadmap, ensuring the engineering practice accelerates HITT's broader digital transformation

  • Ensure the software the practice ships are reliable, fast, and usable in high-velocity, decentralized field environments with users of many backgrounds

Talent, Recruiting & Enablement
  • Recruit and hire engineers and engineering leaders who thrive in lean, agile, AI-augmented teams, and position HITT as a destination for top AI-native engineering talent

  • Design and deliver training and enablement programs that upskill HITT's existing developers in AI-enabled development methods: from hands-on workshops and pairing to internal playbooks and certification

  • Build a deep talent bench and clear career paths within the engineering function to ensure succession for senior roles

  • Foster a culture of experimentation - fail fast and pivot - while managing risk responsibly

Delivery & Engineering Excellence
  • Bring structure, accountability, and delivery discipline to the software engineering function, balancing execution (≈60%) with innovation (≈40%)

  • Implement lean, agile delivery practices built on small batches, rapid iteration, continuous integration and deployment, and measurable outcomes

  • Engineer security, quality, and compliance into every product, in alignment with HITT's zero trust cybersecurity strategy and NIST-aligned frameworks

  • Define engineering KPIs and provide ongoing transparency to the executive team on velocity, quality, adoption, and business value delivered

  • Leverage external partners strategically while avoiding over-reliance on consultants, building enduring in-house engineering capability

Executive Leadership & Cross-Functional Influence
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to executive and operational leaders on what modern, AI-enabled software development makes possible for the business

  • Partner with operations, virtual design and construction (VDC), preconstruction, and corporate functions to identify high-value opportunities for custom software, automation, and agentic workflows

  • Represent HITT's engineering practice externally, in recruiting, industry forums, and the broader technology community, to attract talent and partnerships

  • Champion responsible AI use, model governance, and data stewardship across the software portfolio

Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree preferred

  • 12+ years of progressive software engineering experience, including 5+ years leading engineering teams or organizations; experience building a team, practice, or product organization from scratch is strongly preferred

  • Current, hands-on experience with AI-enabled and agentic software development, including AI coding agents and assistants (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor), LLM APIs, agent frameworks and orchestration, retrieval-augmented generation, and evaluation practices

  • Demonstrated success recruiting strong engineers and training existing developers in new tools, methods, and ways of working

  • Proven track record leading lean, agile teams that ship, balancing innovation with operational discipline in a complex enterprise

  • Deep grounding in modern software engineering practice: cloud-native architecture, APIs and integration, CI/CD, DevSecOps, and test automation

  • Strong product sense and user empathy; experience delivering software for field-based or operational users (construction, engineering, manufacturing, logistics) is a plus

  • Executive-level communication and presentation skills; able to build conviction with C-suite audiences and translate deep technical topics for business leaders

  • Financial and vendor management acumen, with experience owning budgets and managing platform and tooling ecosystems

In accordance with Virginia Senate Bill 215 (SB 215), the base salary range for this position is:
$130,000.00 - $210,000.00
Compensation in other cities and states may vary. HITT Contracting offers a competitive total benefits and compensation package including performance-based bonuses, premium health care coverage including vision and dental, employer-matched 401(k), wellness reimbursement program, paid holidays and time-off, and other voluntary benefits and leave types. The determination of salary is based on the candidate's individual professional experience, qualifications, education, skills, and training.
HITT Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring and developing the most qualified individuals based on job-related experience, skills, and merit. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We value a respectful, inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. HITT Contracting maintains a drug-free workplace, consistent with applicable local, state, and federal laws.

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