Blackbaud
Manager, Software Engineering - AI and Data Platform
Edtech.com's Summary
- Lead teams responsible for modern data and AI infrastructure including lakehouse architecture, data ingestion, transformation, feature services, and AI/ML enablement.
- Drive platform decisions aligned with Blackbaud’s Unified Data & AI Platform Strategy emphasizing modularity, interoperability, and AI-first design.
- Collaborate with Architecture, Governance, and Security teams to ensure trust, compliance, and Responsible AI standards.
- Balance build versus buy strategies to optimize operational complexity and focus on core competencies.
- Deliver platform initiatives supporting legacy modernization, cloud migration, cost optimization, and agent enablement.
- Ensure platform reliability through operational excellence, monitoring, incident management, and performance tuning.
- Establish clear roadmaps, milestones, and success metrics for platform projects.
- Hire, mentor, and grow high-performing platform engineers across different geographies.
- Provide regular feedback, coaching, and career development in alignment with company’s people strategy.
- Require 8+ years in software, data, or platform engineering and 3+ years managing engineering teams, with hands-on experience in cloud data lakes/lakehouses, distributed processing, streaming, and APIs.
- Salary range between $133,700 and $173,800, with benefits including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) with match, flexible PTO, parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.
- The role supports nonprofit sector outcomes and demands strong engineering judgment and ability to lead through ambiguity.
Manager, Software Engineering - AI and Data Platform Full Description
The Engineering Manager, Data & AI Platform is responsible for leading teams that build, operate, and evolve Blackbaud's enterprise Data & AI platformâthe foundation that powers analytics, data products, machine learning, and agentâbased experiences across the company.
This role blends people leadership, platform ownership, and technical strategy. You will manage engineers working across modern data and AI infrastructure (Lakehouse, pipelines, feature services, ML enablement, observability, and governance), while ensuring the platform is scalable, secure, costâefficient, and productâoriented.
Success in this role requires strong engineering judgment, the ability to operate in ambiguity, and a passion for building platforms that accelerate teams and unlock business outcomes for the nonprofit sector.
What You'll Do
- Own and evolve core Data & AI platform capabilities, including ingestion, transformation, lakehouse architecture, feature services, and AI/ML enablement layers.
- Drive platform decisions aligned with Blackbaud's Unified Data & AI Platform Strategy (modularity, interoperability, AIâfirst design)
- Partner with Architecture, Governance, and Security to ensure the platform meets trust, compliance, and Responsible AI standards.
- Balance build vs. buy decisions, prioritizing core competencies while reducing operational complexity.
- Lead teams to deliver highâimpact platform initiatives aligned to AOP priorities (legacy modernization, cloud migration, cost optimization, agent enablement).
- Ensure platform reliability through operational excellence, including monitoring, incident management, and performance optimization.
- Establish clear roadmaps, milestones, and success metrics for platform initiatives.
- Hire, mentor, and grow highâperforming platform engineers across geographies.
- Provide regular feedback, coaching, and career development aligned with Blackbaud's people strategy.
- Ensure every team member has clear goals, an active IDP, and opportunities to grow in modern Data & AI skills.
- Collaborate closely with Product, Data Science, Analytics, and Product Engineering teams to ensure the platform acceleratesânot blocksâdelivery.
- Influence standards and best practices across the Data Intelligence COE.
What we'll want you to have:
- 8+ years of experience in software, data, or platform engineering.
- 3+ years of experience managing and developing engineering teams.
- Handsâon experience with modern data platforms (cloud data lakes/lakehouses, distributed processing, streaming, APIs).
- Strong understanding of platform engineering principles and operating production systems at scale.
- Proven ability to lead through ambiguity and influence without authority.
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Blackbaud powers social impact through purposeâdriven technology and responsible AI. Guided by our Intelligence for Good® vision, we're building a culture where innovation, trust, and human expertise come together to help organizations make a greater difference in the world.
Blackbaud is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive work environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
The starting base pay is $133,700.00 to $173,800.00. Blackbaud may pay more or less based on employee qualifications, market value, Company finances, and other operational considerations.
Benefits Include:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Remote-flexible workforce
Wellness Programs
401(k) program with employer match
Flexible paid time off
Generous Parental Leave
Donations for Doers
Pet insurance, legal and identity protection
Tuition reimbursement program
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