AI Systems & Innovation Manager

KAI MING INC•San Francisco, CA

2d•$150,000 - $250,000•Onsite

About The Position

Kai Ming Head Start is seeking a hands-on, mission-driven leader to oversee and modernize the organization’s internal technology systems while helping build the next generation of AI-enabled operational tools for the nonprofit and early childhood education sector. This role is responsible for maintaining and evolving Jupiter, Kai Ming’s internal database built on ASP.NET platform supporting operations, reporting, and program management, while leading the development of AI conversational agent, an AI-powered knowledge and workflow platform designed to improve information access, automate workflows, and support smarter decision-making. The ideal candidate is both highly technical and operationally minded — someone who can stabilize and improve existing systems while strategically planning for scalability, product growth, and future external applications. This role requires a builder mentality, strong AI fluency, and the ability to translate complex technology into practical, user-centered solutions.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience in software engineering, systems management, or application development, including ownership of production systems.
Strong technical knowledge of ASP.NET Webforms with VB.NET code-behind (C# /.NET background acceptable), Python, FastAPI, MySQL, Postgres databases, React, MySQL databases, web applications, API integrations, and Google Cloud Platform or equivalent (AWS, Azure).
Experience leveraging AI coding tools and 2+ years building production LLM applications — RAG pipelines, vector databases, and major LLM APIs.
Experience with MCP server design and LLM orchestration frameworks.
Knowledge of system architecture, cybersecurity best practices, access management, and data governance principles.
Ability to independently manage technical projects, troubleshoot complex issues, and balance multiple priorities in fast-paced environments.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
Annual Physical exam and TB Clearance
Criminal Background and Child Abuse Index Clearance
Adherence to the Confidentiality Agreement and Child Abuse Reporting Mandate
Adherence to the Kai Ming Code of Conduct and all internal policies and procedures
Accountable for the health, safety, and supervision of all children, families, and staff interactions
Proof of COVID-19 vaccination record

Nice To Haves

Experience in nonprofit, education, or public-sector organizations preferred.
Bilingual English and Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin) preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain and oversee Internal Jupiter system operations, uptime, performance optimization, bug triage, deployment coordination, and data integrity.
Lead gradual modernization of legacy ASP.NET/MySQL architecture using modern engineering practices and AI-assisted development tools.
Improve system usability, automation, and workflow efficiency for internal users across administrative and program teams including education, family services and workforce development programs.
Design scalable architecture and technical roadmaps that support future multi-program or external partner adoption.
Identify opportunities to consolidate fragmented workflows, reduce manual processes, and improve operational visibility through technology.
Strategize for scalable infrastructure, product development, and prospective third-party integrations
Lead development and governance of the AI conversational agent platform, including: retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) systems vector databases and embeddings MCP integrations citation-based AI responses internal AI search and workflow automation
Evaluate and implement practical AI solutions that improve staff productivity, reporting, knowledge management, onboarding, and operational decision-making.
Develop AI governance standards, prompt management practices, access controls, and responsible-use guidelines.
Research and pilot emerging AI tools and frameworks relevant to nonprofit and education program operations.
Utilize AI coding tools such as Cursor, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, and related platforms to accelerate development, debugging, refactoring, and documentation.
Oversee code quality, version control, CI/CD pipeline standards, testing procedures, and technical documentation.
Establish sustainable development workflows and engineering practices suitable for a small but growing technology team.
Support API integrations, automation pipelines, reporting systems, and interoperability between platforms.
Oversee security, compliance & risk management in collaboration with an external contractor.
Establish and maintain security protocols including: Access reviews Secrets management Audit logging and incident response planning Patch management, backup and recovery procedures
Manage external technology, hosting, and security vendors including vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
Develop disaster recovery and business continuity procedures.
Collaborate closely with leadership and operational teams to translate organizational needs into technical solutions and follow through on implementation.
Supervise and coordinate the work of software engineers, UI/UX designers, IT support staff and any other staff or contractors that are involved in the work.
Communicate technical concepts clearly to non-technical stakeholders.
Prepare reports, dashboards, presentations, and strategic recommendations for executive leadership and the Board of Directors.