Senior Manager, Applied AI

• Lead the AI operating model for our Product Innovation Centre.
• A fantastic opportunity to work across cross functional teams to embed AI across our engineering and product teams
• Full-time and permanent position based at our Adelaide Head Office.

Qantas has established a new Product Innovation Centre in Adelaide, a hub that will transform how we design, build and deliver digital experiences for millions of customers. At its core is a shift to a product-led operating model: moving away from traditional project-based IT delivery toward empowered, cross-functional product teams that own outcomes end-to-end.

The Senior Manager – Applied AI leads the AI operating model across the Product Innovation Centre and Mascot’s Digital and QA Technology teams, setting the standards for how AI is designed, built and governed. The role shapes the organisation’s approach to AI-enabled product development, with accountability for frameworks such as workflows, skill libraries, model selection, agent architectures and platform cost governance, alongside strong emphasis on guardrails, governance, training and internal consulting.

Operating as a builder-leader, the role balances hands-on technical delivery with broader strategic influence. Approximately half of the role is dedicated to building core operating model infrastructure, while the remainder focuses on shaping platform direction and supporting teams across the centre. Acting as a trusted advisor, the role works horizontally across product and engineering teams to embed AI into the development lifecycle, defining standards, patterns and reference architectures while ensuring responsible and compliant adoption.

A key focus is driving measurable value through AI adoption, improving productivity, quality and overall developer experience. The position blends technical leadership, people leadership and enterprise influence, collaborating closely with Product, Engineering, Cyber, Risk, Legal and Architecture teams. It also contributes to building future talent pipelines, including engagement with universities, to ensure sustained AI capability uplift across the organisation.

You’ll have:

• 10+ years in software engineering, product management, design or business analysis
• 5+ years in leadership or technical enablement roles
• Degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent
• Understanding of modern product development practices (cloud, DevOps, CI/CD, quality engineering)
• Strong experience with AI-enabled systems, including; agentic patterns and multi-agent orchestration, model integration patterns, prompt engineering and evaluation, and AI observability and monitoring
• Ability to translate complex technical and risk concepts into practical guidance
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and influencing skills
• Experience applying AI across the full PDLC, including discovery, design and prioritisation (not just build and test phases)

Why Qantas?

At Qantas, your career can take you further than you imagined. You’ll join a team where creativity and passion drives success. Together we dream big and deliver even bigger. 

You’ll find diverse opportunities to grow, personally and professionally. From day one, you’ll be supported with hands-on training, coaching, and formal learning programs designed to help you excel. Your development is our priority because we know that when you thrive, so do our customers.

The Qantas employee benefits program offers amazing benefits that extend well beyond travel. 

• We love to travel: Enjoy heavily discounted air travel within Australia and across the globe, both for you and your family and friends, as well as exclusive deals on accommodation and holidays.
• We have flexible leave options: Make use of leave and flexible working opportunities including 18 weeks paid parental leave and the option to purchase additional paid leave for eligible employees.
• We’ll give you access to thousands of rewards: Through our partnerships we can offer you discounts across shopping, food and wine, insurance, health and wellbeing, leisure and entertainment. You can also take advantage of our salary packaging program including motor vehicles, eligible portable electronic devices and professional memberships.
• We’ll support your wellbeing: Whether it’s learning to better support your own and others’ mental health, our interactive wellbeing app or your very own tailored nutrition plan. 

Applications close on the 28th of June

Qantas is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. By coming to work for us, you’ll be part of an organisation that encourages diversity, supports charities and environmental initiatives. We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at time of application. Your personal information will be kept confidential in compliance with relevant privacy legislation.