Manager, Software Engineering - AI and Data Platform

Blackbaud is hiring a Manager, Software Engineering - AI and Data Platform to lead teams building, operating, and evolving its enterprise Data & AI platform. The role owns platform capabilities and technical strategy, ensures reliability, security, and compliance, and develops engineers while partnering across product and data teams.

Responsibilities

• 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, AI‑first 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 high‑impact 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 high‑performing 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 accelerates—not blocks—delivery
• Influence standards and best practices across the Data Intelligence COE

Preferred

• Azure, Databricks, ADO preferred
• Azure
• Databricks
• Azure DevOps

Benefits

• 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

Company

• AI-powered software for nonprofits and social impact organizations
• Charleston, South Carolina, USA
• https://www.blackbaud.com/
• Founded in 1981
• 1001-5000 employees

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in software, data, or platform engineering
• 3+ years of experience managing and developing data engineering teams
• Hands‑on 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
• Azure, Databricks, ADO preferred
• 3+ years of experience managing and developing data engineering teams.

Required skills

• .NET, API Development, Azure, Azure DevOps, Cloud Data Lakes and Lakehouses, Data Platforms, Databricks, Distributed Processing, Platform Engineering

Preferred skills

• Azure, Databricks, ADO preferred

Experience

• 8+ years