ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc

Sr Manager, AI Platform Architecture

ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc • $143K — $190K *
Bolingbrook, IL 60440In-Person
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
More than 3 months ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field, or equivalent experience
  • 10+ years in software development or architecture; 3+ years in leadership role
  • Deep knowledge of AI/ML ecosystems
  • Experience designing MLOps and AI Ops frameworks at enterprise scale
  • Strong understanding of cloud-native architecture (AWS, Azure, Databricks, GCP)
  • Experience with multi-agent architecture concepts
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams

Responsibilities

  • Drive strategic platform architecture and technical roadmaps for AI systems
  • Collaborate with various teams to define AI architecture frameworks
  • Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies for platform improvements
  • Establish AI/ML operational strategy and standards
  • Lead design of foundational AIML platform components
  • Oversee compliance with enterprise architecture and regulatory standards
  • Manage and mentor a team of AI engineers and architects

Benefits

  • Paid time off including health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Opportunity for additional compensation through bonuses
  • Full-time positions eligible for comprehensive benefits package
  • Support for career development and technical upskilling
Full Job Description
THE IMPACT YOU CAN HAVE:

The Senior Manager, AI Platform Architecture is a hands-on leader responsible for the architecture and evolution of our core AI platforms. In this role, you will manage a team of skilled engineers and architects, collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, and help set the strategic direction of platform architecture to ensure scalability, performance, and reliability across our systems. Your expertise in platform architecture, cloud technologies, automation, and AIML Ops practices will be critical in driving our strategy and ensuring the reliability and efficiency of our systems.

YOU'LL ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS BY: Strategic Platform Leadership
  • Translate enterprise AI strategy defined by the AI Architect Principal, Enterprise Architecture, Enterprise AI Tech Leaders (AI Engineering, DS/ML Engineering, AI Emerging Tech), AI Product Teams into actionable platform roadmaps and technical priorities.
  • Partner with data, cloud, security, and infrastructure teams to define the end-to-end AI architecture framework, including compute, model lifecycle, and deployment strategies.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend platform enhancements to improve model performance, scalability, and sustainability.
  • Define and deliver AI/ML/Agentic operations strategy - including tool suite, standards, and technology/capability roadmap.
  • Establish POV on key evaluations - including, but not limited to "buy v. build", platform assessments, tool comparisons, cost/performance optimizations
  • Drive the technical strategy for the platform, balancing short-term needs with long-term scalability and reliability.
  • Design, implement, and scale cloud-based infrastructures (GCP and Databricks) to support internal and external applications.
  • Oversee platform architecture decisions, ensuring that the platform is robust, efficient, and capable of supporting growing business needs.

Architecture Design and Governance
  • Lead the design of core AIML platform components-data pipelines, model training and inference engines, orchestration workflows, and monitoring frameworks.
  • Design for continuous training pipelines and promote automation capabilities where possible
  • Establish architectural best practices, patterns, and standards for AI/ML development and deployment.
  • Oversee design reviews and ensure compliance with enterprise architecture and regulatory requirements.
  • Design and build platform to meet AI Governance requirements (including application of controls and measurement of controls). Ensure observability requirements can be met.

Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with product, data science, engineering, and security teams to operationalize AI/ML capabilities across the enterprise.
  • Partner with the AI Architect Principal and AI Solution Architects to align agentic platform evolution with organizational priorities and technology roadmaps.
  • Collaborate with security and operations teams to ensure the platform is secure, compliant, and maintains high uptime and reliability.
  • Engage with leadership to align technical initiatives with organizational objectives.

Team Leadership and Talent Development
  • Manage and mentor a team of AI engineers, AI architects, and AI Ops engineers.
  • Foster a high-performance culture emphasizing innovation, collaboration, and agile delivery.
  • Support career development, technical upskilling, and diversity in AI technology roles, specifically those aligned into the Architecture space. Mentor and guide junior team members.
  • Conduct regular performance reviews, provide career development guidance, and support team members' growth and skill development.
  • Own hiring, onboarding, and team-building activities to ensure the team has the right talent and skills.
  • Provide hands-on technical leadership, leading by example in designing and building robust, scalable systems.
  • Drive high standards of code quality, testing, and engineering practices.
  • Advocate for platform engineering best practices, ensuring systems are maintainable, extensible, and documented.

Operational Excellence
  • Oversee platform scalability, reliability, and cost optimization across cloud and on-prem environments.
  • Implement observability and monitoring tools to proactively identify performance or security issues.
  • Ensure platform compliance with responsible AI, data privacy, and ethical ML principles.
  • Build and develop architecture audit process, and execute
  • Identify opportunities for automation, process improvements, and tooling that enhance platform reliability and efficiency.
  • Stay current with emerging technologies and industry best practices and incorporate relevant trends into the platform strategy.
  • Lead incident response and post-mortem reviews to continuously improve platform resilience.

Platform Performance & Reliability:
  • Define, implement, and monitor key platform performance metrics, including system uptime, latency, and resource utilization.
  • Ensure the platform is scalable and cost-efficient, optimizing for performance and operational cost management.
  • Lead efforts to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve platform performance issues or outages.
ESSENTIALS FOR SUCCESS:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, a related field, or applicable work experience.
  • 10+ years of experience in software development or architecture; minimum of 3+ years in a leadership role
  • Deep knowledge of AI/ML ecosystems
  • Experience designing MLOps pipelines and AI Ops frameworks at enterprise scale
  • Strong understanding of cloud-native architecture (AWS, Azure, Databricks or GCP), MLOps frameworks, and CI/CD principles
  • Experience with multi-agent architecture concepts: orchestration patterns, tool/skill registry, memory and state management, and agent observability
  • Experience setting technical standards and coordinating across distributed engineering teams
  • Proven ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams and deliver enterprise-scale AI solutions.
  • Comfortable navigating new, novel technology solutions and managing ambiguity to deliver in evolving domains
  • Familiarity with security and compliance standards for platform operations.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset.
  • Excellent communication, project management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
  • Comfortable with presenting up to senior leadership (VP+ level); able to present technical concepts to non-technical and executive levels
#LI-JK1

The pay range for this position is $143,000.00 - $190,000.00 / Year with the opportunity for eligible associates to earn additional compensation pursuant to the Company's bonus plan. Exact pay will be based on factors including, but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, level, shift, geographic location, and business and organizational needs. Full-time positions are eligible for paid time off, health, dental, vision, life and disability benefits. Part-time positions are eligible for dental, vision, life, and disability benefits. For additional information concerning our benefits, visit our Benefits and Career Development page: https://learn.bswift.com/ulta

About ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc

ULTA Beauty is the beauty retailer in the United States and the premier beauty destination for cosmetics, fragrance, skin, hair care products and salon services. Since opening its first store 25 years ago, ULTA Beauty has grown to become the top national retailer providing All Things Beauty, All in One Place™. The Company offers more than 20,000 products from over 500 well-established and emerging beauty brands across all categories and price points, including ULTA Beauty's own private label. ULTA Beauty also offers a full-service salon in every store featuring hair, skin and brow services. ULTA Beauty is recognized for its commitment to personalized service, fun and inviting stores and its industry-leading Ultamate Rewards loyalty program.

ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Careers

Join the vibrant team at ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc., a leader in the beauty industry, where innovation meets diversity and professional growth. As a company renowned for its inclusive culture and commitment to employee development, there has never been a better time to explore job opportunities with us. Work You’ll Do At ULTA, we empower our team to bring beauty to life, providing unparalleled opportunities for career advancement and professional enrichment. Whether you are looking for a position in our retail stores, at our corporate headquarters, or within our distribution network, ULTA offers a dynamic work environment where your skills will be honed and your achievements recognized. Join our team and contribute to an industry-leading company known for its commitment to innovation, leadership, and diversity. ULTA is not just about beauty products; it's about elevating the beauty in everyone. Our team’s diversity is our strength, and we continuously strive to foster an inclusive environment through comprehensive diversity training programs. Internship and Employment Opportunities Start your career journey with an internship at ULTA, where you can gain hands-on experience in a thriving retail environment. Our internships provide a robust foundation in the beauty industry, offering insights into various aspects of business operations, from marketing to supply chain management. For those seeking full-time roles, ULTA is hiring across a range of departments. We look for passionate, creative, and solution-driven team players. Explore open positions that match your skills and interests on our Careers page. Benefits and Culture At ULTA, we believe in rewarding our employees for their hard work and commitment. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being and financial security of our team members and their families. Benefits include health coverage, retirement plans, employee discounts, and more. Our company culture champions personal and professional growth, encouraging every team member to reach their full potential. Through leadership training and continuous learning opportunities, we prepare our employees to lead and innovate in the beauty industry. Networking and Professional Development Stay connected and advance your career through ULTA’s networking events, where you can meet industry leaders and like-minded professionals. Enhance your resume and interview skills through our career development workshops and receive personalized advice from our experienced hiring managers. Future-Proof Your Career With ULTA, the trajectory of your career is boundless. Embrace the opportunity to grow with a company that is as committed to your professional journey as it is to leadership in the beauty industry. Explore Discover how ULTA is transforming the beauty landscape and leading the way in retail innovation. Read more about our latest projects and the impact they have on our customers and industry. Join Our Team Search for job opportunities that align with your career aspirations. We are excited to see how your vision and expertise can contribute to our ongoing success. Stay Up to Date Keep ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here. Job Alert Emails Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. See what exciting and rewarding opportunities await at ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. Join us and be part of a company where innovation, leadership, and beauty move forward together.
Learn more about ULTA Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc
Size
16,500 employees
Market Cap
$23.6 billion
Industry
Retail & Consumer Goods
Net Income
$175.8 million
Founded
1990
5 Year Trend
+12.2%
Revenue
$6.1 billion
NASDAQ
ULTA
* Ladders Estimates

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