Senior Lead, Technical AI Project Manager

BlackLine•Pleasanton, CA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

BlackLine is seeking a Senior Lead Technical AI Project Manager to architect and lead high-impact Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Automation programs. This role requires deep expertise across the AI development lifecycle, the ability to set the strategic direction for AI delivery at an organizational level, and the independent discretion to navigate the organization’s most unprecedented challenges. The ideal candidate operates as an influencer, architect, and orchestrator—defining how AI programs are built and governed, shaping the department’s strategic direction, and anticipating emerging trends before the organization identifies the need. This person bridges technical teams and business partners while driving consequential outcomes.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative discipline (Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Applied Mathematics) or equivalent practical experience.
Minimum 10 years in technical program management, with at least 5 years setting objectives for and leading large-scale AI or Automation programs from concept through long-term business adoption.
Deep hands-on experience as a Scrum Master with demonstrated ability to lead Agile ceremonies and workflows.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) or Professional Scrum Master (PSM) is required.
Demonstrated ability to act as the bridge between technical teams, business partners, and executive leadership—translating complexity in both directions.
Strong familiarity with the AI development lifecycle, core ML concepts, and the unique delivery challenges of AI projects.
Demonstrated ability to develop novel paths through the organization’s most ambiguous and unprecedented AI challenges, exercising independent judgment to make consequential decisions with incomplete information.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in a related technical or business field is a plus.
PMP is a plus.
Experience with AI services on major cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, or Azure) is highly desirable.
10+ years of progressive experience setting objectives for and governing multiple concurrent large-scale AI/ML programs, with accountability for portfolio-level outcomes that shape business unit strategy.
Demonstrated track record of influencing C-level executives and shaping business unit strategic direction through AI program outcomes, with the ability to guide investment decisions and long-term technology strategy.
Experience scaling Agile and Scrum practices across multiple teams or an enterprise.
Advanced certifications such as CSP or PMI-ACP are highly desirable.
Prior experience managing technical projects within FinTech or enterprise SaaS, providing foundational understanding of our business context and customer needs.
Strong command of ethical AI principles—fairness, accountability, transparency, and explainability—and practical experience applying them in production AI systems.
Working knowledge of AI/ML languages to enable deeper collaboration with engineering and data science teams.

Responsibilities

Architect and orchestrate the Agile delivery model for AI & Automation initiatives—designing ceremony structures, team workflows, and operating rhythms that scale across teams and evolve as the program matures.
Set the standard for Agile methodology within BlackLine’s AI organization, selecting, adapting, and continuously evolving frameworks (Scrum, Kanban, or hybrid) to serve as the internal authority on how AI development teams operate.
Serve as the strategic link and thought leader among technical teams, business partners, and executive leadership—translating business strategy into technical direction, advising senior stakeholders on AI capabilities and risks, and shaping how the department approaches AI-driven transformation.
Set objectives for and architect the end-to-end delivery of large-scale AI & Automation programs—from concept through production deployment and long-term business adoption—with accountability for outcomes that shape the business unit’s multi-year strategic direction.
Exercise independent discretion to resolve complex, unprecedented impediments—technical, organizational, or structural—making consequential decisions autonomously to protect program momentum and strategic outcomes.
Identify, assess, and mitigate risks unique to AI projects, including data quality, model bias, ethical considerations, and performance degradation.
Drive adoption of responsible AI and data governance best practices across all project workflows.
Influence senior executives and cross-functional leadership on AI strategy, investment priorities, and program direction—framing complex technical outcomes in terms of business impact and guiding the department’s strategic decision-making.
Anticipate emerging AI trends, tools, and delivery paradigms before the organization identifies the need—developing novel approaches through unprecedented challenges and architecting innovation or adaptation strategies that position BlackLine ahead of the curve.