Associate Director, AI & Engineering Ops

We are looking for an Associate Director to join Vista’s Value Creation Team (VCT) in the Product and Technology (P&T) Practice, which serves as a trusted advisor to portfolio company leaders in product, technology and cybersecurity. As an Associate Director focused on AI & Engineering Operationsand working with engineering leaders across our enterprise software portfolio companies, you will:

• Work with VCT colleagues, investment team members, and portfolio company executives on value creation initiatives that drive AI & Engineering Operations transformation and adoption
• Define and implement AI & Engineering Operationsbest practices across the portfolio, including code generation tool deployment, AI-assisted QA strategies, and SDLC optimization with AI
• Lead portfolio companies through AI & Engineering Operationsmaturity assessments and create roadmaps for AI adoption across the entire development lifecycle

This role will give exposure to investment decision making, value creation and transformation and will help you gain practical experience scaling the world’s premier software/technology businesses. Former members of this team have gone on to accelerate their careers in larger leadership roles within Vista and joined companies in the Vista portfolio as engineering leaders.

The role is based in San Francisco, CA, Austin, TX, or remote locations and is available for an immediate start. We support flexible ways of working, but believe the best collaboration happens at least partly in person. Some travel required.

• Partner with portfolio company executives to develop AI & Engineering Operations strategies that accelerate development velocity and improve code quality through AI adoption
• Assess and implement AI-powered development tools across portfolio companies, including code generation platforms, establishing metrics for adoption rates, productivity gains, and ROI
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with leading AI tool vendors (GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, Cognition, etc.) and model providers (Anthropic, OpenAI) to secure favorable terms and early access to new capabilities
• Develop deep expertise in AI code generation tools, including configuration best practices, rollout strategies, and methods for tracking effectiveness and developer satisfaction
• Design and implement engineering metrics programs using platforms like Jellyfish, LinearB and DX, establishing KPIs that matter, creating action plans when metrics indicate issues and creating mechanisms to measure AI engineering impact at scale
• Create scalable AI & Engineering Operations playbooks tailored to different organization sizes and maturity levels
• Identify and pilot emerging AI technologies across the SDLC including AI-assisted testing, documentation generation, code review automation, bug backlog remediation and predictive analytics for development
• Lead the portfolio's thought leadership in AI & Engineering Operations, staying ahead of trends and establishing Vista companies as early adopters of proven technologies
• Collaborate with portfolio company executives, investment teams and operating partners to develop and shape the value creation strategy to achieve the Investment Thesis

• Passion and curiosity for technology, software and data, as well as what makes successful technology companies and investors
• 7+ years of experience in engineering leadership, DevOps, or engineering operations roles, with at least 2 years focused on AI tool usage, adoption and implementation
• Hands-on experience implementing and measuring success of AI code generation tools at scale
• Deep understanding of engineering metrics platforms and ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Proven track record of successfully rolling out new engineering tools and processes across multiple teams or organizations
• Experience managing vendor relationships and evaluating emerging technology solutions
• Strong technical background with ability to understand and discuss architectural implications of AI tool adoption including usage of rules and instructions files
• Experience with change management and driving adoption of new technologies in engineering organizations
• Knowledge of compliance and security considerations for AI tool usage in enterprise environments
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of time
• Strong communication and project management skills
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, both in individual and collaborative environments
• Ability to drive cross-functional analysis, integrating perspectives on technology, business and finance
• Ability to bring structure to large, complex questions with limited guidance
• Ability to multi-task, operate independently, and deliver on tight deadlines
• Preferred Computer Science or technology-related degree from a top undergraduate institution

The annualized base pay range for this role is expected to be between $160,000-215,000.  Actual base pay could vary based on factors including but not limited to experience, subject matter expertise and the applicant's skill set.  The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package for employees.  Other rewards may include an annual cash bonus and a comprehensive benefits package.    

Vista is a leading global investment firm that invests exclusively in enterprise software, data and technology-enabled organizations across private equity, credit, public equity and permanent capital strategies. The firm brings an approach that prioritizes creating enduring market value for the benefit of its global ecosystem of investors, companies, customers and employees. The focus of Vista’s Value Creation Team is to accelerate the corporate maturity of its companies – building software businesses that excel in product superiority and operational efficiency. Their collective counsel and resources allow companies to unlock opportunity, scale their business and grow sustainably to deliver value to all stakeholders. Further information is available at vistaequitypartners.com. Follow Vista on LinkedIn @Vista Equity Partners or Twitter @Vista_Equity.