AI Acceleration Group Manager 25922

R&D is transforming. Not incrementally - fundamentally. AI is reshaping how software gets built, reviewed, tested, and shipped. we are accelerating that shift from the inside, and this role sits at the center of it.
The AI Acceleration group exists to make our company's SASE R&D organization dramatically more productive through AI. We build the platforms, tooling, and enablement programs that turn individual engineers into force multipliers. If you believe the future of software development is agentic, and you want to be the one who makes that real at scale for a world-class security organization - this is the role.
We operate with the urgency of a startup and the resources of a global security leader.
You will lead multiple teams - managing team leads and tech leads - driving adoption across 300+ R&D engineers and operating at the intersection of engineering leadership, platform architecture, and organizational change.
Strategic Objectives:
Be the technical and strategic AI leader for SASE R&D - the authoritative voice on how AI transforms software development within the organization, bringing deep hands-on expertise, shaping direction, setting standards, and influencing leadership decisions.
Own the AI tooling portfolio - evaluate, select, and govern the tools and platforms developers use, from AI-assisted code review to coding agents and agentic automation.
Drive measurable improvement in R&D productivity - with clear goals, transparent tracking, and regular reporting to R&D leadership.
Enable developers at scale through structured learning programs, onboarding paths, and community-based enablement - making AI adoption a default, not an exception.
Key Responsibilities
Lead the AI Acceleration Group
Manage and grow multiple teams - working through team leads and tech leads - responsible for building and running AI tooling and enablement programs across SASE R&D.
Define the group's roadmap, prioritize quarterly goals, and translate OKRs into executable engineering plans.
Operate as both a technical leader and a people manager - you stay close to the work and invest in your team's growth.
Drive the Agentic and AI Journey in the SASE Product
Partner with SASE product and engineering leadership to identify and drive high-impact opportunities to embed AI and agentic capabilities into the product.
Lead proof-of-concept initiatives, shape the technical approach, and guide teams from early exploration through to production delivery.
Serve as the bridge between the fast-moving AI tooling ecosystem and the practical realities of building a large-scale security product.
Own the AI Engineering Foundation
Ensure SASE R&D has the platforms, tooling infrastructure, and architectural standards needed to build and operate AI-native workflows at scale.
Define standards for agentic integrations, tool connectivity, and developer-facing surfaces - so teams can move fast without reinventing the wheel.
Ensure all platforms operate within SASE R&D's security and compliance