Data and AI Associate Director
At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient's mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.
As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered and recognised.
What You Can Expect
The Associate Director of Artificial Intelligence provides strategic, technical, and people leadership for AI initiatives across the organization. This role leads teams of AI Researchers, Applied Scientists, MLOps Engineers, and Data Scientists to design, build, and operationalize advanced AI solutions that deliver measurable business impact.
The role balances research innovation, applied delivery, and platform maturity, ensuring AI capabilities are scalable, governed, and aligned with enterprise strategy.
Work Location: Bangalore
Work Mode: Hybrid (3 Days in office)
Shift Timing - 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
How You'll Create Impact
AI Strategy & Technical Leadership
Define and execute AI strategy aligned with business priorities and long-term technology roadmaps
Lead development of advanced AI capabilities including machine learning, generative AI, and advanced analytics
Translate emerging research into practical, scalable AI solutions
Partner with Architecture and Platform teams to evolve AI infrastructure and tooling
People Leadership & Talent Development
Lead, coach, and develop high-performing teams of AI professionals
Set clear goals, performance expectations, and career development plans
Drive hiring, workforce planning, and capability growth across AI disciplines
Foster a culture of innovation, rigor, and responsible AI
Delivery & Execution Oversight
Oversee delivery of AI initiatives from experimentation through production
Ensure quality, reliability, and scalability of AI solutions
Manage dependencies across Data Engineering, Cloud, Security, and Product teams
Monitor outcomes, KPIs, and value realization
MLOps, Platform & Governance
Ensure strong MLOps practices including model lifecycle management, monitoring, and retraining
Establish AI governance, risk management, and responsible AI practices
Partner with Security, GRC, and Legal to ensure compliance and ethical AI usage
Stakeholder & Executive Engagement
Act as a trusted advisor to senior business and technology leaders
Communicate AI strategy, progress, and risks to executive audiences
Represent AI capabilities in enterprise planning and prioritization forums
What Makes You Stand Out
Core Competencies
Strategic thinking and technical depth
Strong people leadership and talent development
Ability to translate research into business outcomes
Executive-level communication and influence
Ownership mindset for scalable and responsible AI
Your Background
Education
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field required
Master's degree or Ph.D. in AI, Machine Learning, or related field preferred
Years of Experience
10-14 years of progressive experience in AI, machine learning, or advanced analytics
5+ years in people management or technical leadership roles
Experience leading production AI systems in enterprise environments
Demonstrated experience scaling AI teams and platforms
Technologies & Tools
Machine Learning & AI
Machine learning frameworks: PyTorch, TensorFlow, JAX
Classical ML and deep learning techniques
Generative AI and foundation model concepts
Model evaluation, explainability, and bias mitigation techniques
MLOps & AI Platforms
MLflow, Kubeflow, or equivalent ML lifecycle tools
Feature stores and model registries
Model monitoring and drift detection solutions
Data & Engineering
Data processing frameworks (e.g., Spark)
SQL and data warehousing platforms
Data pipelines and orchestration tools (Airflow, Dagster, Prefect)
Cloud & Infrastructure
Cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, or GCP
Containerization: Docker
Orchestration: Kubernetes
Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, ARM/Bicep, CloudFormation)
DevOps, Security & Governance
CI/CD pipelines for ML and data workloads
Identity, access control, and secrets management
Responsible AI, model governance, and auditability frameworks
Preferred Qualifications
12+ years total experience in AI or data science
Experience leading cross-functional AI programs
Experience in regulated or enterprise-scale environments
Publications, patents, or open-source leadership in AI (preferred)
Cloud, AI, or leadership certifications (preferred)
EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability
Employment Type: OTHER