Director of Engineering AI/ML

Nordstrom•Seattle, WA

About The Position

At Nordstrom, we’re more than a luxury retailer – we’re a company built on a foundation of customer service, innovation, and a relentless commitment to delivering the best experiences for our customers. Technology is at the heart of our ability to create these experiences, and we’re on an exciting journey to leverage AI and machine learning to make those moments even more personalized, seamless, and impactful. The Opportunity We’re looking for a collaborative and forward-thinking Director of Engineering, AI/ML Enablement to lead the strategy, development, and delivery of scalable tools and platforms that empower our teams to harness the full potential of AI and machine learning. In this role, you’ll have the chance to shape how we use data and technology to drive smarter decisions, elevate our customer experiences, and enable our teams to innovate faster. You’ll work closely with engineering, data science, and product teams to create frameworks and platforms that simplify AI/ML adoption, while ensuring scalability, reliability, and operational excellence. This is a leadership role where you’ll not only build technology but also cultivate a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.

Requirements

Bring 10+ years of software engineering experience, with at least 5 years in leadership roles, including experience leading AI/ML or data engineering teams.
Have a strong technical background in AI/ML lifecycle management, data engineering, and cloud-based architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
Are a natural collaborator and communicator, able to translate complex technical concepts for a variety of audiences and build strong partnerships across teams.
Have a proven track record of hiring, mentoring, and growing engineering teams, with an ability to inspire and motivate others.
Are passionate about using data and AI to solve meaningful problems and create exceptional customer experiences.
Hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field (advanced degrees are a plus).

Nice To Haves

Have experience in retail, e-commerce, or customer-focused industries, especially in luxury or high-touch environments.
Have familiarity with MLOps practices and tools.
Have hands-on experience with AI/ML frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, or Scikit-learn.
Are knowledgeable about ethical AI principles and best practices.

Responsibilities

Set the Vision: Define the strategy and roadmap for AI/ML enablement, aligning platform capabilities with Nordstrom’s broader business and technology goals.
Build Scalable Platforms: Lead the development of reusable AI/ML tools, frameworks, and infrastructure to accelerate the deployment of machine learning models across the organization.
Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with Data Science, Engineering, Product, and Infrastructure teams to identify opportunities, prioritize initiatives, and ensure seamless integration of AI/ML capabilities into our systems.
Lead with Innovation: Stay ahead of industry trends and explore new technologies to ensure Nordstrom remains at the forefront of AI/ML advancements.
Grow the Team: Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing engineering team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and growth.
Drive Operational Excellence: Establish best practices for the end-to-end AI/ML lifecycle, including model development, deployment, monitoring, and governance, with an emphasis on scalability, security, and ethical AI principles.