[Remote] Director, Engineering, Agentic Content
Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Avalara is building the Agentic Content Studio Platform (ACSP), a next-generation platform designed to improve how global tax and compliance content is sourced, maintained, validated, and consumed across the business. The Director of Engineering, Agentic Content will lead the strategy, architecture, and execution of this platform, focusing on expanding into new content domains and enhancing operational efficiency through automation and AI-assisted workflows.ResponsibilitiesDefine and execute the engineering vision, architecture, and delivery roadmap for the Agentic Content Studio PlatformBuild scalable platform capabilities that support onboarding and maintenance of global compliance content across multiple domainsLead development of AI-assisted workflows that automate sourcing, extraction, transformation, validation, and maintenance of contentEstablish reliable human-in-the-loop operating models that combine AI-driven automation with researcher review and oversightDesign secure, observable, and resilient platform services spanning orchestration, APIs, workflow automation, integrations, and content systemsEnable downstream products and services such as AvaTax, ATC, and ATR to interact with platform capabilities through modern integration interfaces, including MCP where appropriateDefine measurable engineering and operational metrics tied to platform reliability, quality, productivity, adoption, and business impactPartner closely with Product, Content Research, Applied AI, Architecture, and business stakeholders to align platform investments with company prioritiesBuild and develop a high-performing engineering organization with strong technical depth, accountability, and execution disciplineDrive pragmatic adoption of AI across engineering workflows, planning, delivery operations, observability, and decision-making processesEnsure governance, security, and responsible AI practices are incorporated into platform design and operational processesDeliver and operationalize a clear ACSP platform roadmap aligned to Avalara’s content expansion and productivity objectivesLaunch foundational platform capabilities supporting the first wave of new content domains and workflow automation initiativesDeliver production-ready AI-assisted workflows for sourcing and extracting international lodging content in targeted countriesDeliver scalable workflows supporting generation and maintenance of VAT advanced section content across multiple countriesImprove operational efficiency by reducing manual content research and maintenance effort through automation and reviewer-assisted workflowsEstablish reliable production integrations enabling downstream systems to consume platform capabilities through standardized interfacesImplement measurable operational metrics for reliability, automation coverage, quality, cycle time, and platform adoptionBuild a strong engineering leadership team with clear ownership, high accountability, and strong execution standardsApply AI to improve automation, scalability, quality, and operational efficiencyDesign agent-based workflows capable of coordinating multi-step content tasks with appropriate escalation and human review mechanismsLeverage AI to improve engineering execution, planning, observability, and operational workflowsDrive adoption of AI capabilities as part of core platform functionality and engineering operations rather than isolated experimentationEnsure responsible use of AI through governance, transparency, monitoring, and risk controlsRaise engineering team capability through coaching, standards, and practical implementation guidanceSkillsBachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field12+ years of software engineering experience, including large-scale platforms or distributed systems5+ years of experience leading engineering managers and senior engineers in complex cross-functional organizationsProven experience leading platform strategy, architecture, and execution with measurable business outcomesExperience applying AI and automation to improve operational scale, quality, productivity, or customer impactStrong experience with distributed systems, APIs, workflow orchestration, integrations, and event-driven architecturesExperience building platforms that support automation, operational observability, and human-in-the-loop workflowsStrong cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to align engineering investments to business prioritiesExcellent execution rigor, technical judgment, communication skills, and organizational leadershipExperience with LLMs, agent-based systems, RAG architectures, or equivalent AI platformsStrong engineering background in Python and modern AI application frameworksExperience building cloud-native systems on AWS, Azure, or GCPFamiliarity with MLOps practices including CI/CD, evaluation pipelines, monitoring, and model lifecycle managementStrong platform and systems design experience focused on reliability, scalability, and operational excellenceDemonstrated ability to build and mentor high-performing engineering organizationsStrong product and platform mindset with a focus on customer and business outcomesAbility to communicate effectively with senior technical and executive stakeholdersPragmatic, execution-oriented leader capable of operating strategically while remaining technically engagedBenefitsPaid time offPaid parental leaveMany Avalara employees are eligible for bonusesPrivate medical, life, and disability insuranceAvalara strongly supports diversity, equity, and inclusion8 employee-run resource groups, each with senior leadership and exec sponsorshipCompany OverviewAvalara is a cloud-based platform that provides tax compliance software and automated solutions. It was founded in 2004, and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA, with a workforce of 5001-10000 employees. Its website is http://www.avalara.com.Company H1B SponsorshipAvalara has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 4 in 2026, 26 in 2025, 33 in 2024, 35 in 2023, 37 in 2022, 39 in 2021, 26 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.