AI Infrastructure Director

About the role

Kirkland & Ellis is seeking an AI Infrastructure Director to lead the design and management of the firm's AI infrastructure. This position focuses on optimizing both on-premise GPU setups and Microsoft Azure-based platforms to support enterprise-level AI and automation initiatives. The role involves collaborating with various teams to ensure the delivery of secure and scalable AI solutions.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Oversee the management of all AI environments, including on-premise GPU clusters and Azure AI services, ensuring their reliability and scalability.
• Take charge of Azure environments that host AI workloads, including services like Azure OpenAI and Azure Kubernetes Service.
• Work closely with Cloud Engineering and AI Engineering teams to establish best practices for platform operations and governance.
• Develop secure environments that facilitate rapid experimentation for innovation teams.
• Lead a multi-disciplinary engineering team focused on operational excellence in AI platforms, providing mentorship and career development.
• Manage the design and deployment of AI platforms that meet security and governance requirements.
• Implement governance and privacy standards in collaboration with Risk and Security teams.
• Ensure operational excellence through reliable platform performance and incident response readiness.
• Oversee cloud budgets, vendor relationships, and capacity planning for Azure services and GPU infrastructure.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related discipline is required; a Master's degree or MBA is preferred. Advanced Microsoft Azure certifications are strongly desired.
• Experience: At least 12 years in infrastructure, platform, or cloud engineering roles within complex organizations, including a minimum of 5 years in senior leadership positions managing teams.
• AI Platform Knowledge: Over 5 years of experience in designing and operating production AI and ML platforms, including familiarity with MLOps, CI/CD, and container technologies like Kubernetes and Docker.
• Azure Expertise: Extensive knowledge of enterprise-scale Microsoft Azure, including its AI and ML services, networking, and governance.
• Hybrid Infrastructure: Experience with integrating on-premise GPU environments with cloud platforms.
• Accountability: Proven track record of managing platform reliability and service-level objectives in compliance-sensitive settings.
• Governance Awareness: Understanding of Responsible AI and regulatory compliance standards such as SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
• Financial Management: Experience in managing cloud expenditures and vendor relationships using FinOps practices.
• Communication Skills: Strong ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and influence cross-functional teams.
• Industry Experience: Background in legal or professional services is preferred, with knowledge of legal technology ecosystems.

Compensation

The salary range for this position in Chicago is between $302,000 and $335,000. Actual compensation may vary based on location and cost of living. Kirkland & Ellis offers a comprehensive benefits package, including healthcare, paid time off, and retirement plans, along with personal support and development opportunities.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click "Apply Now" to submit your resume. If you feel excited about this role but do not meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Kirkland & Ellis is committed to equal employment opportunities for all candidates, ensuring that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or any other legally protected status.