Director of Data Science

Why Great Gray?

At Great Gray Group, we strive to set the bar for the retirement services industry. Our goal is to deliver advanced retirement solutions that combine our core fiduciary services with robust investment options, innovative technology, and dedicated client service. We focus on making choices clearer, transitions smoother, and the client experience more delightful. Complacency isn't in our vocabulary. Every day, we look for opportunities to better serve our clients, be an excellent business partner, and earn the trust of those who rely on us. 

The Role

Great Gray is looking to add a Director of Data Science to our Technology Team.

We are looking for an accomplished and technically adept Director of Data Science and AI to join our technology leadership team, reporting directly to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO). This pivotal role will own all data-related activities within our organization, combining strategic vision with hands-on technical expertise to drive innovation and deliver actionable business insights.

This role will oversee the design, implementation, and optimization of our data infrastructure and AI/ML frameworks while collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with business goals. This role demands an individual who thrives at the intersection of technology and business, with deep expertise in data systems, a passion for AI/ML advancements, and the ability to lead both strategy and execution.

Location

This position will be remote. Candidate may work where they live anywhere in the United States.

Visa sponsorship or transfer of an existing visa is not available for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work directly for any employer in the United States without visa sponsorship or transfer.

• Define and implement a scalable, efficient data architecture that supports both transactional and analytical systems.
• Serve as the Product Owner for the organization’s data ecosystem, prioritizing its roadmap to align with business needs.
• Develop detailed data flow models, architectural diagrams, and actionable roadmaps for continuous optimization.
• Partner with the CTO and other executives to align data strategy with organizational objectives and long-term growth.
• Architect and lead the deployment of cloud-native data platforms (SQL and NoSQL) with a focus on reliability, scalability, and performance.
• Build and maintain robust pipelines and workflows to support AI/ML workloads, analytics, and business intelligence initiatives.
• Stay hands-on with coding and engineering to support immediate project needs while mentoring and growing the data engineering team.
• Drive the adoption and integration of cutting-edge AI/ML models (e.g., OpenAI, Meta LLaMA, Anthropic Claude) into the organization’s data infrastructure.
• Collaborate with data science teams to design architectures and workflows that optimize the use of AI/ML for automation and decision-making.
• Ensure the infrastructure supports efficient deployment, monitoring, and management of AI workloads.
• Act as the primary advocate for data-driven decision-making, partnering with stakeholders across product, business, and analytics teams.
• Translate business challenges into technical solutions, ensuring alignment between technical capabilities and organizational priorities.
• Maintain an agile approach to balancing long-term architectural goals with short-term business needs.
• Establish best practices for data security, governance, and scalability across platforms.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies, particularly in AI, cloud platforms, and advanced data systems (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks, BigQuery).
• Build and develop a high-performing team of data engineers and scientists, fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Guide the team in adopting modern tools, frameworks, and methodologies to drive efficiency and scalability.
• Complete other related duties as assigned

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering and AI/ML systems, with a strong track record of delivering enterprise-level data solutions.
• Expertise in both SQL-based transactional systems (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL) and NoSQL databases.
• Proven experience designing and managing data lakes, warehouses, and platforms for AI/ML workloads.
• Hands-on knowledge of AI/ML frameworks and large language models (e.g., GPT, LLaMA, Claude) with practical implementation experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead both strategy and execution, balancing technical depth with business acumen.
• Exceptional communication and documentation skills to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience scaling and managing technical teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in programming languages like Python, Scala, and SQL, along with data processing tools (e.g., Spark, Kafka, Airflow).
• Certifications in leading cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud).
• Familiarity with data governance frameworks and compliance standards.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity.
• Entrepreneurial mindset to bring best practice ideas to the team.
• Exhibits our Great Gray attributes: Results-Driven, Innovative, Resilient, and Decisive.

Benefits

We have a comprehensive and competitive benefits package at Great Gray. Some of the highlights are:

·       Be an integral part of an early-stage, high-growth organization!

·       Hybrid work environment

·       Competitive compensation package including 401(k) with elective and non-elective match opportunities

·       Lifestyle spending allowance program

·       Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

·       Employer-paid life and disability insurance

·       Generous paid time off program

Company Background 

Great Gray is the leading independent provider of trustee and administrative services to Collective Investment Trusts (“CITs”), with over $185 billion in CIT assets, across more than 700 funds. We proudly work with 75 subadvisors, including leading firms such as Alliance Bernstein, American Funds, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, MetLife, Neuberger Berman, PGIM, PIMCO and Raymond James. 

CITs are more than just an investment vehicle. They represent a forward-thinking approach to retirement planning. These tax-exempt, pooled investment vehicles are offered to employer-sponsored retirement plans, like 401Ks. CITs are comparable to mutual funds, but, because they are tailored for the institutional retirement market, they can offer distinct advantages, including efficient administration and cost-effectiveness. CITs have a history dating back over 90 years; but they have gained favor over the past decade, driven by innovations, and Great Gray has been at the forefront.

Great Gray has consistently delivered year-over-year growth at an above market rate and is investing in the continued development of its core CIT business as well as complementary administrative services and technology solutions for the retirement market.

Madison Dearborn Partners (“MDP”) purchased Great Gray from Wilmington Trust in April 2023. As a result, Great Gray is an independent company owned by funds affiliated with MDP.

Investor Background 

MDP is a leading private equity investment firm based in Chicago. Since MDP's formation in 1992, the firm has raised aggregate capital of over $28 billion and has completed over 150 platform investments. MDP invests across five dedicated industry verticals, including basic industries; business and government software and services; financial and transaction services; health care; and telecom, media, and technology services.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Great Gray, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or other non-merit factor.