Head of Data & AI Platform & Infrastructure

Scientific Games is the global leader in lottery games, sports betting and technology, and the partner of choice for government lotteries. From cutting-edge backend systems to exciting entertainment experiences and trailblazing retail and digital solutions, we elevate play every day. We push game designs to the next level and are pioneers in data analytics and iLottery. Built on a foundation of trusted partnerships, Scientific Games combines relentless innovation, legendary performance, and unwavering security to responsibly propel the global lottery industry ever forward.

As the Head of Data & AI Platform & Infrastructure, you are the architect of the Sovereign Platform - the unified technical foundation for Scientific Games. Your mission is to provide a "Zero-Friction" environment that supports both high-powered Data Science/ML and democratic, self-service analytics. You will bridge the gap between complex legacy systems and the future of AI, ensuring our infrastructure is a revenue-multiplier rather than a cost center.

Architect "Maturity-Grade" Data & AI environment specifically enabling:

• Ingestion Services: Partner with key technical stakeholders to define "Contract" between extraction/collection and platform ingestion.
• Unified Medallion Lifecycle Management: Low-latency landing zone coupled with transformation pipelines for silver and gold layer data processing.
• Semantic Layer Architecture: Design and maintain a semantic layer that standardizes business logic across the enterprise.
• Self-Service Analytics Tooling: Deploy automated, self-service environments that empower downstream business users to create reports and analysis without engineering intervention.
• MLOps Lifecycle: Automated pipelines for training, shadow deployment, and live production serving.
• Inference Engines: Low-latency infrastructure for real-time model scoring in digital and retail environments.
• FinOps & Strategic Cost Management: Act as the primary steward of the technology budget.
• Cloud Economics: Implement rigorous tagging, monitoring, and automated scaling to manage Databricks/Cloud consumption and drive high ROI.
• Technical Efficiency: Relentlessly pursue the goal of infrastructure savings through modernization.
• Legacy Retirement & Technical Debt: Lead the "Sunset Program" for legacy analytics platforms.
• Identify, migrate, and decommission redundant systems to simplify footprint and redirect maintenance spend toward innovation.
• Ensure the Sovereign Platform integrates seamlessly with the diverse array of digital gaming, retail lottery, and supply chain systems.
• Governance & Sovereignty: Ensure that every data asset is governed, discoverable, and secure.
• Leadership: Recruit and mentor top class talents across ensuring high technical standards and a focus on commercial outcomes.

• Experience: 15+ years leading large-scale data platform and infrastructure teams.
• Technical Depth:
  • Deep understanding of distributed computing frameworks
  • Implementation of robust security measures including Identity and Access Management (IAM), data encryption at rest and in transit, and network security,
  • Experience with global regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and implementing technical solutions for privacy
  •  Proficient in infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools, CI/CD pipelines, and automated monitoring/alerting systems to ensure data pipeline reliability and security,
  • Ability to design secure, scalable, and cost-efficient data lakes and warehouses
• Expert-level knowledge of the Databricks ecosystem
• Business Intelligence Mastery: Deep understanding of Semantic Layer design and the implementation of self-service BI tools.
• Legacy Transformation: A track record of successfully decommissioning large-scale legacy systems while maintaining business continuity.
• Cross-functional Stewardship: Superior stakeholder management skills; ability to navigate complex organizational structures and build consensus with both technical and non-technical leaders.

Education

Masters degree preferred.

Years of Related Experience

Years of experience 15 years+

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, bend, use hands, operate a computer, and have specific vision abilities to include close and distance vision, and ability to adjust focus working with computer and business equipment.

Work Conditions

Scientific Games, LLC and its affiliates (collectively, “SG”) are engaged in highly regulated gaming and lottery businesses.   As a result, certain SG employees may, among other things, be required to obtain a gaming or other license(s), undergo background investigations or security checks, or meet certain standards dictated by law, regulation or contracts.   In order to ensure SG complies with its regulatory and contractual commitments, as a condition to hiring and continuing to employ its employees, SG requires all of its employees to meet those requirements that are necessary to fulfill their individual roles.  As a prerequisite to employment with SG (to the extent permitted by law), you shall be asked to consent to SG conducting a due diligence/background investigation on you.
This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive; it is intended to identify major responsibilities and requirements of the job. The employee in this position may be requested to perform other job-related tasks and responsibilities than those stated above. 
 

SG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants due to race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. If you’d like more information about your equal employment opportunity rights as an applicant under the law, please click here for EEOC Poster.