Director, Software Engineering (AI Platform Development) - job 18 of 20

As a Director of Software Engineering at Visa, you will be primarily responsible for leading the Payment Fraud Disruption team. This includes designing and developing machine learning platforms, ensuring best practices across the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), partnering with product teams to define requirements, and fostering a strong team culture. Additionally, you'll drive the adoption of generative AI for client and developer innovation and deliver impactful products with an accelerated time to market.

To apply for the Director of Software Engineering role at Visa, candidates should have a robust engineering background, proven leadership experience, and a passion for solving complex problems in payments. Experience in artificial intelligence and machine learning is crucial, along with a demonstrated ability to lead teams effectively and build inclusive team cultures. Moreover, experience in program management and stakeholder engagement will be vital in fulfilling the responsibilities of this role.

The Director of Software Engineering in AI Platform Development plays a pivotal role at Visa by spearheading initiatives aimed at fraud prevention. Given the increasing sophistication of payment fraud, this role is essential in developing robust systems that protect Visa's payment infrastructure. By leveraging AI and machine learning, the director will help create innovative solutions that safeguard transactions and reinforce trust in Visa's services. This role is at the forefront of ensuring that Visa remains a technology-driven leader in the payments industry.

The hybrid work model for the Director of Software Engineering role at Visa requires employees to work in the office three set days a week, which offers a balance between remote work and face-to-face collaboration. This flexible arrangement is designed to enhance team communication and productivity while allowing for the adaptability that today’s workforce desires. Employees are expected to be in the office at least 50% of the time, as specified by leadership, to ensure alignment with business needs.

To prepare for an interview for the Director of Software Engineering position at Visa, candidates should focus on demonstrating their technical expertise in software engineering, AI, and machine learning. It's important to understand Visa's business, the role of fraud prevention in payments, and the strategic goals of the Payment Fraud Disruption team. Candidates should also be ready to discuss their leadership style, experience in building inclusive team cultures, and ways they’ve driven innovation in previous roles.

When answering this question, focus on specific projects where you designed or implemented machine learning solutions. Discuss the technologies you used and how your actions resulted in improved outcomes or efficiencies. Emphasize your understanding of various ML algorithms and how they can be applied to prevent payment fraud.

To effectively address this, explain your method for prioritizing projects based on business impact, deadlines, and team capacity. Mention tools and techniques you use for project management, such as Agile methodologies, and highlight your experience in coordinating with cross-functional teams.

Share examples of how you encourage creativity and new ideas among your team members. Talk about initiatives you’ve introduced that empower team members to experiment, such as hackathons or knowledge-sharing sessions. Emphasize the importance of inclusivity and how it can spark innovative solutions.

Discuss specific strategies that you have applied in the past to enhance collaboration, such as regular cross-department meetings, clear communication channels, or collaborative project management tools. Highlight how these strategies have led to successful project outcomes and better alignment with business goals.

Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method to structure your response. Describe the challenge clearly, what your goals were, the specific actions you took as a leader, and the positive outcome that resulted from your efforts. This will showcase your problem-solving skills and leadership style.

Mention resources you use to stay informed, such as technology blogs, podcasts, or conferences. Discuss how you implement new findings in your projects and encourage your team to broaden their skill sets in line with emerging trends in software engineering and AI.

Describe your mentoring philosophy and how you provide support and growth opportunities for your team members. Share examples of when your mentoring led to tangible improvements or career advancements within your team.

Discuss the key performance indicators (KPIs) you use to assess project success, such as delivery timelines, quality of code, user satisfaction, and the impact of the project on business objectives. Provide examples of how you’ve utilized these metrics to drive continuous improvement.

Emphasize the importance of stakeholder feedback in shaping product development and how you incorporate this feedback into your engineering practices. Discuss how you balance technical feasibility with client needs, ensuring that the final product meets both business and user expectations.

Talk about a specific instance where a project faced setbacks. Explain how you navigated those challenges, communicated with your team and stakeholders, and the lessons learned from that experience that led to future successes.