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Lead Ai Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead AI Engineer

Arlington, VA ยท On-site

$117K - $155K/yr

Title and Summary Lead AI Engineer Overview: This role seeks an established AI engineering subject-matter expert who applies deep domain and technical expertise to drive critical business outcomes.

Lead AI Engineer

New York, NY ยท Remote

$150K - $155K/yr

Lead AI & Analytics Engineer US Remote * Experience: 6-9 years * AI experience is a must (agentic AI, LangChain, RAG, chatbots, etc.) and should clearly demonstrate hands-on projects or at least 1-2 ...

Lead AI Engineer

O Fallon, MO

$95K - $126K/yr

Title and Summary Lead AI Engineer Overview: This role seeks an established AI engineering subject-matter expert who applies deep domain and technical expertise to drive critical business outcomes.

Lead AI Engineer

Manhattan, NY ยท On-site

$112K - $148K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer ( Agentic AI)

Richardson, TX ยท On-site

$93K - $122K/yr

Lead AI Engineer ( Agentic AI) Location: Richardson TX (Hybrid) Duration: Long Term contract Key Responsibilities Knowledge Graph & Ontology (Neo4j / App Orchid) * Design and implement ontology ...

Lead AI Engineer (ML Ops)

Stamford, CT ยท Hybrid

$109K - $143K/yr

Lead AI Engineer We are seeking a Lead AI Engineer to spearhead the end-to-end productionalization of AI initiatives across Gartner. This pivotal role blends deep expertise in AI engineering with ...

Lead AI Engineer

New York, NY ยท On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer

New York, NY

$112K - $147K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

New York, NY ยท On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

Mclean, VA

$103K - $136K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $158K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA

$112K - $147K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer

New York, NY ยท On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

San Jose, CA

$120K - $158K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer

Mclean, VA ยท On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer

San Jose, CA ยท On-site

$120K - $158K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

Manhattan, NY

$112K - $148K/yr

Lead AI Engineer Overview: At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning ...

Lead AI Engineer

Mclean, VA ยท On-site

$103K - $136K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

Cambridge, MA ยท On-site

$112K - $147K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

Lead AI Engineer

Manhattan, NY

$112K - $148K/yr

Lead AI Engineer At Capital One, we are creating responsible and reliable AI systems, changing banking for good. For years, Capital One has been an industry leader in using machine learning to create ...

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Showing results 1-20

Lead Ai Engineer information

See salary details

$42.5K

$123.8K

$180.5K

How much do lead ai engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 23, 2026, the average yearly pay for lead ai engineer in the United States is $123,784.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $102,500.00 and $135,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a $900,000 AI job?

A $900,000 AI job typically refers to a high-level position such as Lead AI Engineer or senior AI executive roles that offer compensation in that range, including salary, bonuses, and stock options. These roles usually require advanced expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and AI development, along with extensive experience and leadership skills.

What is a Lead AI Engineer?

A Lead AI Engineer is a senior professional responsible for overseeing the design, development, and deployment of artificial intelligence solutions within an organization. They lead a team of AI engineers and data scientists, set project goals, and ensure the quality and scalability of AI systems. Their role often includes collaborating with stakeholders, selecting appropriate technologies, and providing technical guidance to solve complex problems using machine learning and AI techniques. Lead AI Engineers play a key role in shaping an organization's AI strategy and ensuring successful project delivery.

What are some common challenges Lead AI Engineers face when managing cross-functional teams?

Lead AI Engineers often coordinate with data scientists, software engineers, and product managers, which can present challenges in aligning priorities and communication styles. Balancing the technical depth required for AI development with the broader business objectives requires strong project management and interpersonal skills. Additionally, ensuring that AI models are scalable, ethical, and production-ready while meeting tight deadlines can be demanding. Successful Lead AI Engineers foster open communication, set clear expectations, and facilitate collaboration across diverse teams to overcome these challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead AI Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead AI Engineer, you need advanced knowledge of machine learning, deep learning, and data science concepts, typically supported by a degree in computer science or a related field and relevant industry experience. Proficiency with programming languages like Python, frameworks such as TensorFlow or PyTorch, and cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure) is essential, along with familiarity with MLOps tools. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills distinguish top candidates, enabling them to guide teams and translate business needs into technical solutions. These skills ensure the successful development and deployment of AI solutions that drive innovation and business value.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in high-demand fields such as software engineering, data engineering, and AI engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills in machine learning, and leadership roles. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in large tech companies or startups with significant funding.

What does a lead AI engineer do?

A lead AI engineer designs, develops, and oversees artificial intelligence systems and algorithms, often leading a team of data scientists and engineers. They are responsible for implementing machine learning models, ensuring system performance, and integrating AI solutions into products or services, typically requiring strong programming skills and knowledge of AI frameworks. They also coordinate project timelines and communicate technical concepts to stakeholders.

How much does a lead AI engineer make?

A lead AI engineer typically earns between $120,000 and $180,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. Senior roles often include responsibilities such as developing AI models, managing teams, and working with advanced tools like machine learning frameworks.

What is the difference between Lead Ai Engineer vs Data Scientist?

AspectLead Ai EngineerData Scientist
Required CredentialsBachelor's/Master's in CS, AI, or related; experience with AI frameworksBachelor's/Master's in CS, Statistics, or related; strong analytical skills
Work EnvironmentDevelops AI models, leads AI projects, collaborates with engineering teamsAnalyzes data, builds statistical models, interprets data insights
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, AI startups, R&D departmentsTech firms, finance, healthcare, research institutions

While both roles require a strong background in data and AI, Lead Ai Engineers focus on leading AI development and integrating AI solutions into products, whereas Data Scientists primarily analyze data to generate insights and build models. The Lead Ai Engineer role is more project and team leadership-oriented, often involving deployment and scaling of AI systems.

More about Lead Ai Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Lead Ai Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Lead Ai Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Lead Ai Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Lead Ai Engineer jobs include:
Lead AI Engineer

Lead AI Engineer

MasterCard

Arlington, VA โ€ข On-site

$117K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 26 days ago


Job description

Our Purpose

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're helping build asustainableeconomy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactionssecure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

Title and Summary

Lead AI EngineerOverview:
This role seeks an established AI engineering subject-matter expert who applies deep domain and technical expertise to drive critical business outcomes.
In this role, you will lead the design and deployment of complex, productiongrade agentic systems-particularly multiagent, multitool solutions that automate and enhance how the Services business operates.
You will be responsible to build intelligent agents capable of reasoning, planning, and safely invoking tools; managing memory; and continuously improving through systematic evaluation and feedback.
About D&PE AI Solutions Team:
The Data & Productivity Engineering (D&PE) organization builds the data infrastructure, automation, and AI solutions that enable datadriven decisionmaking and scalable, efficient business processes across the Services division.
Within D&PE, the AI Solutions team focuses specifically on improving productivity and employee experience by combining modern AI capabilities with existing and emerging data assets and platforms.
Key Responsibilities:
Design, develop, and operate highimpact AI solutions that address complex business problems while improving productivity, efficiency, employee experience, and cost outcomes across the Services organization.
Deeply understand requestor needs, impacted personas, underlying business processes, and jobstobedone to recommend the most effective solution approach. Evaluate whether a given request is best addressed through agentic AI, process redesign, tactical automation, or improved documentation and governance.
Define and enforce safe, scalable tooluse patterns for agentic systems, including structured outputs, robust error handling, permissioning and auditability, guardrails, and appropriate humanintheloop (HITL) approval workflows for sensitive actions.
Own production observability and operational readiness for agentic solutions, including trace capture, cost and token telemetry, latency and reliability monitoring, and incident response for agent failures.
Drive continuous improvement in system effectiveness, safety, and efficiency by defining clear success metrics such as task success rate, human intervention rate, policy violations, cost per task, and latency, and expanding evaluation coverage over time.
All About You:
Agentic System Architecture: Handson experience designing multiagent systems, goal decomposition and planning, tool and function calling, context engineering, harness design, memory and retrieval patterns, evaluations, etc.
AI Platforms and Tooling: Practical experience with platforms such as Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, Salesforce Agentforce, and Microsoft Power Platform.
Production Engineering: Strong background in scalable deployment architectures, highavailability runtime design, failure handling, and overall operational excellence.
CrossFunctional Leadership: Proven ability to collaborate with platform, security, governance, and business stakeholders; clearly communicate tradeoffs; and drive adoption of shared standards and best practices.
Communication and Stakeholder Management: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable guidance for diverse audiences.Mastercard is a merit-based, inclusive, equal opportunity employer that considers applicants without regard to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disabled or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We hire the most qualified candidate for the role. In the US or Canada, if you require accommodations or assistance to complete the online application process or during the recruitment process, please contact reasonable_accommodation@mastercard.com and identify the type of accommodation or assistance you are requesting. Do not include any medical or health information in this email. The Reasonable Accommodations team will respond to your email promptly.

Corporate Security Responsibility


All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks comes with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security and must:

  • Abide by Mastercard's security policies and practices;

  • Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed;

  • Report any suspected information security violation or breach, and

  • Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard's guidelines.

In line with Mastercard's total compensation philosophy and assuming that the job will be performed in the US, the successful candidate will be offered a competitive base salary and may be eligible for an annual bonus or commissions depending on the role. The base salary offered may vary depending on multiple factors, including but not limited to location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Mastercard benefits for full time (and certain part time) employees generally include: insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance); flexible spending account and health savings account; paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave); 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire; 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays; 401k with a best-in-class company match; deferred compensation for eligible roles; fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities; eligibility for tuition reimbursement; and many more. Mastercard benefits for interns generally include: 56 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time; jury duty leave; and on-site fitness facilities in some locations.

Pay Ranges

O'Fallon, Missouri: $140,000 - $231,000 USDArlington, Virginia: $161,000 - $266,000 USDPurchase, New York: $161,000 - $266,000 USD