Product Development Manager, Senior

As Sr Manager, AI & Innovation, you will lead a central R&D team—comprising primarily software engineers alongside data scientists—and a forward-deployed engineering contingent across Europe and the UK. You will drive the conception, prototyping, and delivery of cross-vertical generative AI and machine-learning solutions at customer sites. This position is based in our Bracknell office, with hybrid support for both local and remote team members. You will report directly to the Senior Director of AI & Innovation and partner closely with UX, Product Management, and engineering leaders across multiple time zones.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic AI & Innovation Leadership

  • Define and execute a cross-product AI roadmap focused on generative AI and machine-learning capabilities.

  • Align R&D priorities with broader corporate strategy and market demands.

• End-to-End Solution Delivery

  • Oversee requirements gathering, algorithm and system design, development, validation, and deployment of AI solutions at customer sites.

  • Ensure robust MLOps practices for scalability and maintainability.

• Rapid Prototyping & Experimentation

  • Champion lean startup and design-thinking methodologies to accelerate proof-of-concepts.

  • Evaluate emerging AI frameworks, data platforms, and automation tools, recommending new software and infrastructure enhancements.

• Technical Guidance & Mentorship

  • Provide hands-on architectural direction—spanning cloud SaaS (primarily Azure, with AWS), Python, and C#—to cultivate technical excellence.

  • Coach engineers and data scientists on best practices in model development, data engineering, and deployment.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

  • Collaborate with sales, UX, product management, and engineering leadership to translate complex business challenges into innovative AI solutions.

  • Present technical proposals, live demos, and regular progress updates to executive stakeholders.

• Governance, Budgeting & Process Optimization

  • Establish policies for innovation governance, IP management, and quality assurance.

  • Contribute to annual budget planning, resource allocation, and strategic program initiatives.

• Generative AI & Machine Learning Expertise

  • Deep understanding of generative models, NLP, CV, and data-driven architectures; proven track record deploying AI at scale.

• Innovation Management

  • Skilled in lean experimentation, design thinking, rapid iteration, and cross-functional program leadership.

• Cloud SaaS Proficiency

  • Hands-on experience with Azure cloud services (ML Studio, Databricks, Azure Functions) and familiarity with AWS offerings.

• Technical Versatility

  • Proficiency in Python for AI/ML development and C# for integration with enterprise platforms.

• Leadership & Communication

  • Demonstrated ability to build, coach, and guide high-performing teams.

  • Exceptional analytical, verbal, and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts in business terms.

• Experience:

  • 10+ years of progressive software or systems engineering experience, including 5+ years in a managerial or leadership role.

  • Minimum 4 years of hands-on AI/ML or advanced R&D experience in a corporate innovation setting.

• Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or equivalent (advanced degree preferred).

• Travel:

  • Willingness and ability to travel up to one week per quarter within the EU and UK.
  • Occasional travel outside EU and UK for conferences and company events.

Whatever your career journey, we’ll help you find the right path. Through our training courses, mentorship, and continuous support, you’ll get everything you need to thrive. At Epicor, your success is our success. And that success really matters, because we’re the essential partners for the world’s most essential businesses—the hardworking companies who make, move, and sell the things the world needs.

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