Head of Product & Engineering – AI Lab

Overview

In this role you will lead The Economist AI Lab’s product and technical work, guiding the 0-1 journey from ideas to production. You will shape the roadmap, make architectural decisions, and ensure shipped work is valuable, reliable, and aligned with The Economist’s heritage. You’ll manage a small, cross-functional team spanning product, design and engineering, collaborating with editorial colleagues. You will connect lab output to Group platforms and priorities, measuring success and driving impactful, customer-centered AI products. This is an opportunity to influence how AI augments journalism while safeguarding quality and independence.

Pay / Benefits

• pension or 401(k) plan
• private health insurance
• 24/7 wellbeing resources
• Work From Anywhere program (up to 25 days/year)
• generous annual and parental leave
• volunteering days and moving home leave

Responsibilities

• Set the AI Lab direction by translating editorial mission and company objectives into an innovation roadmap
• Lead and grow a multidisciplinary team and foster a culture of quality and rapid innovation
• Champion the voice of the future customer to identify high-potential, value-driving opportunities
• Own the 0-1 process from idea to beta to production using evidence and judgment
• Collaborate with editorial colleagues to create products that amplify journalism while protecting its integrity
• Define technical direction, architecture, and engineering practices for high-quality AI product development
• Align lab work with platforms, data, and priorities across The Economist Group and measure success

Key requirements

• Experience leading development of B2C digital products with accountability for product outcomes and engineering delivery
• Background in consumer subscription, media, e-commerce or marketplace environments is strongly preferred
• Proven track record of taking products from 0-1: identifying problems, testing, shipping, learning
• Experience building and operating AI-powered products with knowledge of LLM patterns and evaluation
• Strong engineering background with ability to guide architecture and influence senior engineers
• Experience hiring senior engineering talent and raising technical standards
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast-changing environments without excessive process
• Clear communication with technical, editorial, and commercial audiences
• Deep appreciation of The Economist’s journalistic values—rigour, global outlook, editorial independence

• Clear communication
• Collaborative mindset
• Strategic thinking
• AI product development
• LLM application patterns
• Architecture and build-vs-buy decisions

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