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Director AI Engineering

 

MinterEllison is moving from experimentation to enterprise delivery. We've proven that AI can create value. The challenge now is building the engineering capability, platforms and standards that turn promising ideas into secure, trusted and scalable solutions across a highly regulated, high trust environment. We're seeking an exceptional technology leader to establish and lead our AI Engineering function and Centre of AI Enablement. This is a rare opportunity to shape how AI is engineered, governed and deployed across one of Australia's largest professional services organisations. 

The opportunity  

Reporting to our Chief AI Officer, you will build and lead the engineering discipline that sits behind MinterEllison's AI strategy. 

 You will create the platforms, architectures, reusable services, standards and guardrails that enable AI solutions to move from prototype to production and be adopted safely at scale. Importantly, this is not a role focused on delivering individual AI projects. 

You will build the pathway that allows teams across the firm to innovate confidently, while ensuring security, governance, quality and responsible AI practices are embedded by design. As a key member of our AI leadership team, you will play a critical role in defining the future of AI across the firm by collaborating closely with Managing Partner of AI and Directors of Technology across the firm. 

What you'll do 

Build enterprise AI capability 

  • Define and lead the firm's AI engineering strategy, standards and technical direction 

  • Establish a production-grade AI engineering capability that can reliably scale AI solutions 

  • Build and lead a high-performing team of AI engineers and platform specialists 

Create the platform for AI delivery 

  • Own the AI platform architecture, including model management, orchestration, retrieval services, evaluation frameworks and reusable components by working closely with key Digital leaders including CISO and Directors of Infrastructure and Technology. 

  • Define engineering patterns that enable AI to be embedded across enterprise and legal technology platforms 

  • Lead decisions on AI tools, models, platforms and strategic technology partnerships 

Lead the Centre of AI Enablement 

  • Create a Centre that empowers teams to build by best practices rather than building everything centrally 

  • Develop reference architectures, frameworks, guardrails and reusable assets 

  • Establish self-service capabilities that accelerate adoption across the business 

Engineer trusted AI 

  • Build evaluation, monitoring and observability capabilities that ensure AI solutions remain accurate, reliable and secure 

  • Embed responsible AI principles directly into engineering controls and workflows 

  • Partner with Cyber Security, Risk, Governance and Technology leaders to ensure robust safeguards are built into every solution 

Enable the future of agentic AI 

  • Develop the foundations required for trusted AI agents, including orchestration, governance, security and identity management 

  • Help shape the firm's future AI architecture and operating model 

About you 

You are an AI engineering leader who has moved beyond proof-of-concepts and pilots. You have built production AI systems that people depend on and understand what it takes to operate them safely and reliably at enterprise scale. You are equally comfortable discussing architecture with engineers, strategy with executives and governance with risk leaders. Collaboration is key to the success of this role. 

You'll likely bring: 

  • Significant experience leading software engineering, AI engineering or machine learning teams 

  • A track record of taking generative AI solutions from concept through to supported production 

  • Experience building platforms, developer enablement functions or shared engineering capabilities 

  • Deep understanding of modern AI architectures, including LLMs, retrieval systems, orchestration frameworks and AI lifecycle operations 

  • Experience establishing engineering standards, governance frameworks and operational excellence practices 

  • Strong stakeholder leadership across technology, data, security, risk and business functions 

  • Experience in regulated or high-trust environments such as professional services, financial services, government, healthcare or similar 

Why join MinterEllison? 

This is an opportunity to build something foundational. You'll join at a pivotal moment as the firm invests in the next phase of its AI journey. Rather than inheriting a mature function, you'll have the mandate to create the platform, operating model, team and standards that will define how AI is delivered across the organisation for years to come. You'll work alongside senior leaders who recognise the strategic importance of AI and are committed to building trusted, scalable and responsible capabilities that create lasting value for our people and clients. 

If you're excited by the challenge of building AI capability at enterprise scale, we'd love to hear from you. 
Location: 

Sydney, AU

Contract Type:  Permanent

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