Principal Engineer – Innovations (Gen AI) Full-time

Job Title:
Principal Engineer – Innovations (Gen AI)

Location:
Block 23

What you’ll do:
The principal engineer in the Innovations (Gen AI) group, is accountable for defining and executing aspects related to AI engineering and development, in accordance with banks AI strategy supporting it products, services and objectives. The engineer will help shape our AI strategy and prove out the value & ROI by showcasing potential for AI through early-stage solutions. The role provides an opportunity to take advantage of emerging trends and technologies and make a real-world difference. This will be a hands-on role to develop PoC, execute on pilots, while also being responsible for interacting with various stakeholders across the bank (business and technical) to build and execute on a pipeline of AI efforts while also maturing the AI program. The role requires active engagement with business & technical stakeholders and an ability to understand banking products and services. You need to be a driven, self-motivated, hands-on individual with a passion for working on newer technologies, learn and conduct research to stay up to date with the latest advancements in AI, ML space; work closely with architects, data scientists, data stewards, product managers and other stakeholders to design, build, and deploy AI-powered solutions that enhance our products and services.

What we are looking for:

Responsibilities:

• Understand business processes and capabilities within and across business segments with an eye toward applying innovative solutions leveraging Gen AI capabilities to realize business value.
• Identify, design, develop, and implement AI programs primarily using Azure services and platforms with a primary focus on Generative AI.
• Evaluate and select appropriate AI tools and models for tasks, as well as build and train working versions of those models using Azure services and OpenAI models.
• Understand banks data environment and eco-system; select appropriate datasets, databases, and data representation methods in support of AI programs.
• Curate and build AI pipelines, run machine learning tests, implement programs to identify model drifts and ensure appropriate controls are in place to address risks identified.
• Stay current with the latest market trends in AI space, and determine their potential impact on the enterprise, pipelines, and existing artifacts.
• Facilitates the evaluation and selection of PoC/ Pilot candidates. Compare and contrast usage of different Gen AI models across multiple modalities.
• Monitor the current-state solution portfolio to identify potential candidate for Gen AI enablement.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to identify & define AI project requirements and objectives, ensuring alignment with overall business goals.
• Evangelize & support efforts to drive delivery functions towards Agile & DevOps/FinOps delivery models.
• Contribute to establishing best practices and standards for Gen AI development within the organization.

Qualifications:

Required:

• 10 years of information technology experience; with at least 3+ years of experience in application design and delivery. Knowledge of Financial Services is a plus.
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information-technology, engineering, system analysis or a related study, or equivalent experience. Master’s degree preferred.
• Have a technology upbringing with strong software development and design background.
• Full stack development knowledge and background with recent development and implementation experiences with LLM Models and/ or predictive AI/ Gen AI
• Proficient with Prompt Engineering, Azure services such as Azure AI Search, Azure Open AI, Azure Functions, App Services etc., especially in context of developing AI applications.
• Strong knowledge of data, databases, data structures – structured, semi-structured and unstructured
• Deep understanding of strategic and new and emerging technology trends, and the practical application of existing, new, and emerging technologies to new and evolving business and operating models.
• Understanding of agile principles and development methodologies; understanding of Azure DevOps.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and creatively, to develop innovative AI solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; able to develop content for & communicate with various architecture, engineering & scrum teams.
• Ability to build trust and respect as a thought leader who can influence and persuade business and IT leaders and development teams.
• ‘Enterprise First’ mindset with decisions made based on data, analysis, & POC results.
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment & lead cross-functional teams.

Preferred:

• Gen AI Implementation experience with expertise in Azure technologies and services such as Azure AI Search, Co-Pilots, Azure OpenAI etc.
• Good understanding of Prompt Engineering
• Understanding of the various LLM models in market and its applicability

Benefits you’ll love:
We offer all the important things you’d want – like competitive salaries, an ownership stake in the company, medical and dental insurance, time off, a great 401k matching program, tuition assistance program, an employee volunteer program, and a wellness program. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to bolster your business knowledge, learning the ins and outs of how successful companies operate and manage their finances, giving you invaluable hands-on experience to help grow your career!

About the company:

Western Alliance Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Alliance Bancorporation. Alliance Bank of Arizona, Alliance Association Bank, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank, and Torrey Pines Bank are divisions of Western Alliance Bank; Member FDIC. AmeriHome Mortgage is a Western Alliance Bank company.

Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to equal employment and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, color, religion, age, nation origin, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or genetic information. Western Alliance Bancorporation is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process and/or need an alternative method of applying, please email HR@westernalliancebank.com or call 602-386-2488. When contacting us, please provide your contact information and state the nature of your accessibility issue. We will only respond to inquiries concerning requests that involve a reasonable accommodation in the application process.

© Western Alliance Bancorporation