Univar USA Inc

Director, AI Engineering

Univar USA Inc$200K — $250K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in software engineering, with at least 5 years in engineering leadership roles
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
  • Experience in shipping AI or ML products at scale with commercial impact
  • Strong executive presence and ability to represent AI engineering to senior leadership
  • Proven ability to translate business goals into technical strategies

Responsibilities

  • Drive the technical roadmap for AI engineering, leading a team of ~15 engineers
  • Define architecture for next-gen AI products, focusing on model selection
  • Collaborate with Product, Design, and Research to realize AI capabilities into customer value
  • Oversee technical execution across AI systems, ensuring scalability
  • Establish engineering standards and best practices for safe AI feature delivery
  • Engage in design reviews and make critical technical decisions
  • Build and mentor a high-performing engineering team

Benefits

  • Health, vision, and dental insurance
  • 401k matching for retirement
  • Flexible time off options
Full Job Description
About the Role:

The primary purpose of the Director, AI Engineering is to lead the team that designs, builds, and scales the AI-powered products and features our customers use every day.

This is a hands-on leadership role:
  • The Director sets the technical direction for AI architecture, model selection, evaluation, and inference across the product portfolio, while remaining close enough to the code and design reviews to make critical decisions firsthand.
  • The role requires strong executive presence - translating ambiguous business goals into clear technical strategy, representing AI engineering to senior leadership and the board, and driving cross-functional alignment with Product, Research, Security, and Compliance.
  • The Director owns the AI engineering roadmap, organizational design, and outcomes, ensuring the company can deliver AI features safely, responsibly, and at scale.
  • The Director leads product-facing AI engineering, partnering closely with the VP of Data & AI, who oversees enterprise data strategy and the MLOps platform.


What You'll Do:
  • Own and drive the technical roadmap for AI engineering, leading a team of ~15 engineers delivering production AI features such as agents, copilots, and retrieval systems
  • Define architecture for next-generation, customer-facing AI products, including model selection and build-vs-buy decisions
  • Partner closely with Product, Design, and Research to translate AI capabilities into measurable customer value
  • Lead technical execution across LLM/agent systems, inference, and retrieval pipelines, ensuring scalable and reliable delivery
  • Establish engineering standards, tooling, and best practices for shipping AI features safely and at enterprise scale
  • Stay hands-on with design reviews and key technical decisions, unblocking teams and maintaining high quality
  • Build and grow a high-performing engineering team through strong hiring, mentorship, and leadership
  • Translate ambiguous business goals into clear technical strategy and represent AI engineering to senior leadership and the board


What You'll Need:
  • 10+ years in software engineering, with at least 5 years in engineering leadership roles
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent professional experience
  • Demonstrated track record shipping AI or ML products at scale, with real users, real revenue, and real operational consequences


Where You'll Work:
  • This is a hybrid-based role that will report out of our headquarters in Downers Grove, IL


Pay & Benefits:
  • The salary range is $200,000 - $250,000. This role is also eligible for incentive pay.
  • The specific salary offered to a candidate may be motivated by a variety of factors including the candidate's meaningful experience, education, training, certifications, qualifications, and work location.
  • Available employee benefits include health, vision, and dental. We also provide 401k matching for retirement and flexible time off.

About Univar USA Inc

Univar Solutions sells acids, additives, modifiers, chelants, enzymes, essential chemicals, ingredients, oleochemicals, oxides, peroxides, polymers, resins, process aids, silicates, silicones, sodium, solvents, surfactants, and more.

Univar USA Inc Careers

Join the dynamic team at Univar USA Inc, a leading distributor of chemicals and ingredients, and be part of a company that thrives on innovation, leadership, and diversity. At Univar, we are committed to providing unparalleled opportunities for professional growth and development in an environment that values each individual’s contribution.

Work You’ll Do

At Univar USA Inc, you will collaborate with some of the industry's most knowledgeable minds to help drive progress in various sectors through our expertise in chemical and ingredient distribution. Our commitment to innovation and sustainability makes us a unique leader in the marketplace, where technology and expertise create solutions that advance our customers' ambitions.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Univar USA Inc is not just a company; it's a community where you can build a career. With a culture that fosters diversity and inclusion, we believe in empowering our employees to achieve their full potential. Whether you are looking for job opportunities, internships, or leadership roles, Univar offers a path to success.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that matters with a team that values bold ideas and proactive solutions. Our employees are encouraged to lead projects that redefine industry standards and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Career Development

Future-proof your career at Univar USA Inc with continuous learning and development opportunities. From diversity training to leadership workshops, we provide the tools and resources necessary for career advancement and personal growth. Our robust benefits package supports the well-being of our team members and their families, ensuring a rewarding work-life balance.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, Univar offers a range of employment options to match your skills and interests. Explore positions in sales, logistics, research, and more. Our internships provide a fantastic opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience and develop essential industry skills.

Be Part of a Great Team

Join a team where collaboration and networking are at the heart of our operations. At Univar, you are part of a global network of professionals dedicated to making a positive impact on the world around us.

Stay Connected

- **Search Univar Jobs**: Discover open positions that align with your career goals. We are always on the lookout for passionate, curious, and innovative team players. - **Keep Up to Date**: Stay informed with the latest company news, career tips, and industry insights—all from the people who work here. - **Job Alert Emails**: Customize your subscription to receive job alerts and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Explore the exciting and rewarding career opportunities that await at Univar USA Inc. Join Univar USA Inc and be part of a company where your career can thrive in an environment of respect, integrity, and endless possibilities.
Learn more about Univar USA Inc
Size
9,450 employees
Market Cap
$5.2 billion
Industry
Net Income
$52.9 million
Founded
1924
5 Year Trend
+3.4%
Revenue
$8.2 billion
NASDAQ

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