AI Engineering Manager

The above represents the full salary range for this job requisition. Ultimately, in determining your pay and job title, we'll consider your location, education, experience, and other job-related factors, and will fall within the stated range. Your recruiter can share more information about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

Encova Insurance is seeking an AI Engineering Manager for a new role where you will be pivotal in shaping the organizations AI strategy and delivering measurable business value. This hybrid role is based in Columbus, Ohio but we are open to well qualified candidates who could work a hybrid schedule from our Charleston, WV office as well.

Are you a Referral?

If you know a current Encova Insurance associate and would like to apply as a referral, please encourage them to submit your referral information before you submit your application. You will receive an email with a direct URL link to the Job Posting of interest. Applying through this URL link will create your referral relationship for our Talent Acquisition Team.

Unique residence requirements are listed in each job posting, please review closely for details.

Encova is only able to employ associates who reside and work within specific U.S. states. Our current policies are based on the laws in states in which we are registered for payroll. Our current footprint includes:

Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.

The AI Engineering Manager will build and lead a high- performing team responsible for designing, developing, and deploying AI solutions that drive meaningful business impact. This role combines deep technical expertise in machine learning and AI with strong people leadership, strategic thinking, and cross-functional partnership. You will guide the team in delivering scalable, reliable, secure, and responsible AI systems while shaping the organizations long-term AI strategy.

The AI Engineering Manager will work closely with key stakeholders to identify high-value AI opportunities and to plan, design, and oversee the delivery of secure AI capabilities that provide measurable business value.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of AI/ML engineers, and MLOps specialists.

• Create a culture of innovation, ownership, inclusivity, and excellence.

• Provide technical leadership through code reviews, architectural guidance, hands-on problem solving, and the execution of proofs of concept (POCs).

Technical Strategy & Delivery

• Define the technical roadmap for AI initiatives aligned with business priorities.

• Design and optimize end-to-end operational workflows by embedding automation, AI-driven workflow orchestration, intelligent decisioning, a nd continuous feedback loops to accelerate processes and reduce overall cycle times.

• Oversee the development, deployment, and maintenance of machine learning models, LLM-based solutions, p rompt Engineering, and AI-driven applications.

• Ensure AI architectures are scalable, secure, and compliant with organizational and regulatory standards.

• Drive adoption of best practices in AI/ML engineering, including versioning, testing, monitoring, CI/CD for ML, prompt design, and evaluation methodologies for LLMs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with product, engineering, data, and business stakeholders to identify and evaluate AI opportunities.

• Collaborate with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, compliance, governance, privacy, business, and IT teams to advocate for and align on AI strategies, standards, and best practices .

• Communicate progress, risks, and results clearly to senior leadership.

Governance & Responsible AI

• Collaborate with cross-functional leaders to establish an AI governance framework, including standards and best practices for security, privacy, and observability.

• Ensure model performance, reliability, and compliance with Encovas policies and regulatory requirements.

• Monitor and assess emerging data and AI threats, and design resilient architectures and controls to mitigate risks.

• Championing the adoption of Data & AI best practices across teams.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelors degree in computer science , Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, required.

• 5+ years of experience in AI/ML engineering, with at least 2+ years in a technical leadership or people management role.

• Proficiency in Python, ML frameworks, and modern LLM tooling.

• E xperience in designing GenAI solutions, with experience in MLOPS, LLM, AWS Bedrock, SageMaker, Snowflake Cortex is a plus .

• Experience with LLM fine-tuning, vector databases, RAG architecture , and prompt engineering. Prior insurance industry experience is a plus

• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills, with the ability to design scalable solutions for complex business needs.

• Ability to foster a sense of purpose among the team and create a culture of transparency with clear acc ountabilities and metrics

• Demonstrated ability to foster a culture of innovation and a high-agency mindset

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across teams and with business stakeholders.

This position has been evaluated in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Encova Insurance makes every effort to reasonably accommodate disabilities to permit performance of the essential functions and candidates who need such accommodation are encouraged to seek it. This description reflects the nature and level of work performed by associates in this position. It is not an all-inclusive inventory of duties, responsibilities and qualifications required. It provides an accurate overview of the work and skills needed to perform this position. Because job content may change from time to time, Encova Insurance reserves the right to add and/or delete functions from this job as it deems necessary for business reasons.

Ready to join our team?
At Encova Insurance, we firmly believe that our associates drive our company's success by delivering unrivaled service to our customers. With success in mind, we make an ongoing effort to provide an environment that offers challenging, stimulating, and financially rewarding opportunities. Join us to discover a work experience where you can learn and grow to your fullest potential.

What you can expect from us

In addition to a competitive compensation package, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the well-being and growth of our associates. Available benefits (subject to any policy or plan changes) include, but are not limited to:

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

• Company-provided life and income protection plans

• Eligibility to participate in a company incentive bonus program

• 401(k) Retirement Plan - 100% company match up to 7% on annual salary

• Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays

• Flexible Work Arrangements - Hybrid and remote depending on the role

We believe that happy, healthy associates are the foundation of great work. Join us and thrive both professionally and personally.

Encova Insurance is an EOE/E-Verify employer.