The Impact of a Sr. Director, Data Science at Coupa:
We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of AI Data Science to lead the development, deployment, and governance of advanced AI systems across Coupa’s platform. This role sits at the intersection of machine learning, data strategy, and product innovation.
You will define how AI models are built, evaluated, and scaled—driving excellence in model performance, MLOps, and data quality. A key part of your mandate will be establishing robust “golden datasets,” advancing AI observability, and ensuring our systems are accurate, reliable, and responsibly deployed.
This leader will partner closely with Engineering, Product, and Platform teams to embed AI into core business workflows, while setting the standard for responsible and trustworthy AI.
What You’ll Do
- Lead the strategy, design, and delivery of AI/ML models (including Generative AI use cases) across multiple product domains.
- Establish and scale MLOps practices to enable reliable, reproducible, and efficient model development and deployment.
- Define and operationalize golden datasets, including data curation, labeling standards, and evaluation frameworks.
- Own model performance: define KPIs, implement continuous evaluation, and drive ongoing improvements in accuracy, robustness, and latency.
- Build and advance AI observability, monitoring, and feedback loops to ensure model transparency and trust.
- Partner cross-functionally with Engineering, Product, Data, and Platform teams to integrate AI into production systems and user experiences.
- Establish and enforce Responsible AI practices, including fairness, bias mitigation, explainability, and compliance.
- Lead, mentor, and grow a high-performing global team of data scientists and ML engineers.
- Influence executive stakeholders by translating complex AI concepts into clear business impact and strategy.
What You Will Bring to Coupa
- 10+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI, with 3–5+ years in leadership roles managing high-performing teams.
- Strong expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling, with experience in production environments.
- Proven track record of delivering scalable, production-grade AI systems that drive measurable business impact.
- Hands-on experience with modern MLOps ecosystems (e.g., SageMaker, Vertex AI, Databricks, Kubeflow, MLflow).
- Deep experience with data strategy, including dataset creation, labeling, governance, and evaluation methodologies.
- Familiarity with Generative AI / LLMs, prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and evaluation techniques.
- Strong programming skills in Python and experience with frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar.
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field (PhD preferred).
The estimated pay range for this role is $222,000 - $310,000
The starting salary for the successful candidate will be based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors such as skills, experience, and geographic location.
Skills Required
- 10+ years of experience in Data Science, Machine Learning, or AI
- 3-5+ years in leadership roles managing high-performing teams
- Strong expertise in machine learning, deep learning, and statistical modeling
- Proven track record of delivering scalable, production-grade AI systems
- Hands-on experience with modern MLOps ecosystems
- Deep experience with data strategy and governance
- Strong programming skills in Python
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or a related field
What the Team is Saying
Coupa Compensation & Benefits Highlights
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Healthcare Strength — Health coverage is described as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, vision, and mental‑health resources from day one. Plan breadth and wellness support are consistently emphasized.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time off includes flexible or unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, floating holidays, and dedicated volunteer time. Remote‑friendly practices are noted to support taking time away.
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Parental & Family Support — Family‑building and caregiving supports include fertility benefits, generous parental leave, and resources for adoption and elder care. Return‑to‑work assistance and an onsite Mother’s Room are highlighted.
Coupa Insights
What We Do
Coupa is a global technology company that helps businesses run smarter by connecting all the ways they spend money — from procurement and expenses to payments and supply chain decisions — in one intelligent platform. In simple terms, Coupa gives organizations the visibility and control they need to make better financial choices, reduce waste, and drive real impact. It’s where technology meets purpose: helping companies manage their resources more responsibly while creating a positive ripple across their people, partners, and the planet.
Why Work With Us
At Coupa, we prioritize an inclusive and empathetic workplace where every voice is valued. Our teams are proactive and accountable, ensuring we collaborate effectively to achieve our goals. The foundation of our culture rests on our people; we believe in fostering an environment that encourages innovation and curiosity.
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Coupa Offices
Remote Workspace
Employees work remotely.
Our virtual-first approach is intentional. It gives you the freedom to do your best work in a space that supports focus, balance, and creativity, while staying connected to a global team of changemakers who are redefining the future of business spend
