Lead AI Engineer

Overview A career with us means you'll work alongside exceptional people and be empowered to reach your professional and personal goals. Our employees are at the foundation of what enables MassMutual to deliver on our purpose to help people secure their futures and protect the ones they love. We embrace the idea that we all are stronger and better through our support for one another. We strive to create a culture where employees feel valued and are celebrated for who they are. Job Description The Opportunity MassMutual's AI & Data Science team is seeking an impact-driven Lead AI Engineer to join our high-performing, cross-functional team. In this role, you will lead the design, deployment, and production scaling of advanced AI solutions that solve complex, high-value problems across the enterprise. You'll architect and deliver generative AI, agentic AI, and LLM-based systems by applying rigorous scientific methods, writing high-quality production code, and communicating results to senior leadership. The Team This is a unique opportunity to work alongside experts in applied AI, statistics, and computer science. The team operates at the intersection of cutting-edge research and enterprise delivery, building AI solutions that shape the future of MassMutual and the life insurance industry at large. We partner closely with technology and business stakeholders across the organization, and we invest in growth through a culture of peer learning, candid feedback, and shared technical standards. This team is defined by a shared commitment to scientific and engineering excellence, meaningful work, and the kind of collaboration that makes challenging problems tractable. The Impact Architect, build, and lead end-to-end AI solutions supporting a range of enterprise use cases—from ideation through production deployment and monitoring—using LLMs, agentic AI, machine learning, and probabilistic modeling, with accountability for reliability, performance, and maintainability. Design and conduct rigorous evaluations of AI system performance, including experimentation, benchmarking across foundation models, and quantitative analysis, to validate approaches and inform technical decisions. Drive innovation by identifying emerging technologies, translating cutting-edge research into practical applications, and establishing team-wide best practices in AI development and responsible AI deployment. Build rapid prototypes to test and validate AI approaches and deliver production-grade AI-powered applications (e.g., intelligent interfaces, dashboards, automated workflows) when solutions prove viable. Collaborate with engineering teams to build robust, production-grade AI pipelines and APIs that integrate into the broader enterprise technology ecosystem. Influence senior leadership by aligning AI initiatives with enterprise strategy and communicating complex technical concepts and findings in clear, actionable terms. Mentor and develop junior talent , fostering a culture of technical excellence, scientific rigor, and continuous learning across the team. The Minimum Qualifications 7+ years of experience in data science, machine learning, or AI engineering, with a track record of delivering impactful AI/ML solutions at scale. Deep expertise in machine learning, statistics, NLP, and LLMs , including generative AI, agentic architectures, prompt engineering, and LLM evaluation across a variety of foundation models and benchmarks. Demonstrated ability to build, deploy, and scale production AI systems from architecture planning through orchestration, monitoring, and end-user delivery. Strong programming skills in Python , with the ability to write clean, well-tested, production-quality code, including familiarity with Docker, Kubernetes, and other orchestration and deployment frameworks. M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related quantitative field. The Ideal Qualifications Familiarity with agentic AI tooling ecosystems , such as Bedrock AgentCore, AWS Strands, Azure, and MCP/A2A protocols. Experience developing and evaluating AI systems in a regulated industry , with a strong understanding of compliance and privacy standards. Breadth across AI and data science methods —including classical ML, causal inference, optimization, and Bayesian approaches—with comfort moving across techniques as problems demand. Proficiency in SQL and database design ; familiarity with cloud-native data platforms, vector databases, and semantic search. Exceptional ability to translate complex AI concepts and quantitative findings into clear insights for non-technical stakeholders and senior leadership. Exceptional research credentials , such as published work, significant open-source contributions, or a strong record of scientific rigor applied in industry. What to Expect as Part of MassMutual and the Team Regular meetings with the AI & Data Science team Focused one-on-one meetings with your manager Networking opportunities including access to Asian, Hispanic/Latinx, African American, women, LGBTQIA+, veteran and disability-focused Business Resource Groups Access to learning content on Degreed and other informational platforms Your ethics and integrity will be valued by a company with a strong and stable ethical business with industry leading pay and benefits #LI-MC MassMutual is an equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome all persons to apply. If you need an accommodation to complete the application process, please contact us and share the specifics of the assistance you need.

California residents:

For detailed information about your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please visit our California Consumer Privacy Act Disclosures page. MassMutual will accept applications on an ongoing basis until such time as a candidate has been offered employment. The job description includes the main duties of this position, which may evolve over time. You may be required to perform other duties not listed. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment.

Salary Range:

$172,000-$225,700 Award-Winning Culture MassMutual is guided by a single purpose: We help people secure their future and protect the ones they love. As a company operated for the benefit of our members and participating policyowners, we are defined by mutuality and our vision to provide financial well-being for all Americans. It's more than our company structure — it's our way of life. We are a company of people protecting people. Our company exists because people are willing to share risk and resources and rely on each other when it counts. We strive to build a thriving community where everyone is valued, included, and feels that they belong. At MassMutual, we Live Mutual. How We Work MassMutual's flexible workplace approach combines the importance of connecting in person and the flexibility of working remotely. Our hybrid model puts collaboration first with employees coming in at least three days per week to our spectacular campus settings and also enjoying the flexibility of remote Fridays, company-wide remote weeks, and a bank of flexible remote weeks to use throughout the year. Benefits for the whole you (and your loved ones) There's more to your life than your job and there's more to your aspirations than a paycheck. We take a holistic view of compensation and benefits that provides the flexibility to create a healthy balance in your life for work, family, and community. We offer the benefits you'd expect, like medical, dental, 401(k), and generous vacation time, but we also offer ones you might not expect, like three paid days for volunteering, a $1,250 annual Well-Being Wallet, and up to 320 hours of caregiver leave. Explore some of our offerings below. Paid Time Off In addition to generous vacation time, paid holidays, and flexible holidays, MassMutual offers 'take care' time to care for yourself or someone you love—whether for physical illness or mental health. Health & Well-Being In addition to top-line medical and dental coverage, personalized mental health solutions, on-site and virtual health coaching, and much more, MassMutual reimburses employees up to $1,250 per year for eligible expenses supporting mental, physical, and financial well-being. Financial Well-Being In addition to competitive salaries and bonuses, educational assistance programs, and much more, MassMutual offers up to a 10% total 401(k) benefit, consisting of a 5% company match and a 5% annual contribution. Taking Care MassMutual offers generous maternity and parental leaves, as well as bereavement leave to mourn the loss of a loved one (and the employee defines 'loved one'). In addition, we offer up to 320 hours of caregiver leave to help employees support loved ones in times of need. Giving Back MassMutual offers three paid days for employees to volunteer with eligible nonprofits of their choice, and the MassMutual Foundation matches employee donation dollars to eligible nonprofit organizations up to $5,000 annually. Commuter Benefits MassMutual offers a Qualified Commuter Program through which eligible employees can pay qualified workplace commuting expenses with before-tax dollars, as well as a commuter wallet option for employees based at Boston and NYC campuses.