Director, Product Engineering

Company description Publicis Groupe Canada is the Canadian subsidiary of Publicis Groupe, the second largest communications group in the world and a global leader concentrated within four main activities: Communication, Media, Data and Technology. Publicis Groupe Canada represents the vision of a set of collaborative and integrated agencies that offer expertise and insightful services to many of the biggest brands in North America.

Publicis Groupe Canada is committed to its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mandate which focuses on four pillars: Education, Talent Management, Outreach and Giving Back. Since the mandate's launch in 2020, they have made strong and continued growth in all their pillars including top-tier mental health benefits, regular education sessions for employees, six business resources groups for employees of various backgrounds and their allies and developing training and scholarships programs with POV and the Miami Ad School Canada. The Groupe also launched This Is The Job, an initiative designed to work with Canada's largest school boards to change the complexion of the marketing industry and inspire racialized teens and young adults to consider a career in the industry.

Canadian brands include: Publicis Canada (Publicis Canada, Hawkeye, Razorfish, Publicis Health, ThePubProductions, Nurun, Publicis Sports & Entertainment), Publicis Media (Starcom, Spark Foundry, Zenith), Leo Burnett (Leo Burnett Canada, Ove Brand Design, Leo Burnett Design), Saatchi & Saatchi (Saatchi & Saatchi Canada, Synergize, TPM), MSL Canada/North Strategic (North Strategic, MSL Canada, Notch Canada) and Publicis Sapient.

Overview As Director of Product Engineering, you will lead the strategic development and execution of AI-powered products and solutions across the agency. This role is responsible for overseeing the full product development lifecycle—from ideation to deployment—while managing a high-performing team of engineers and collaborating with cross-functional leaders. You will drive innovation, operational efficiency, and measurable business impact by integrating artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation into core agency workflows.

You will also oversee the integration of applied data science and machine learning into our product ecosystem. In partnership with AI Product Engineers, Product Managers, and research teams, you will guide the development of predictive models, automation frameworks, and intelligence tools that enhance audience targeting, media performance, and creative optimization. Your leadership will be instrumental in shaping the agency’s innovation roadmap and delivering transformative value to clients.

Responsibilities Leadership & Strategy

Define and execute the product engineering vision aligned with agency goals and client needs.

Lead and mentor a team of product engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.

Oversee the roadmap, prioritization, and delivery of AI-driven products and enhancements.

Collaborate with executive leadership to align product strategy with business objectives and market trends.

Champion responsible AI practices across all initiatives, ensuring ethical standards, data privacy, and compliance.

Product Oversight

Direct the design, development, and deployment of scalable AI solutions that enhance agency capabilities.

Own the end-to-end product lifecycle, including architecture, testing, release management, and performance optimization.

Evaluate and implement emerging technologies to maintain a competitive edge in AI and automation.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Data Science, Martech, and Client Services to identify opportunities for AI integration and workflow automation.

Translate complex business challenges into actionable technical strategies and product features.

Present product vision, progress, and impact to internal stakeholders and clients in a clear, compelling manner.

Operational Excellence

Establish and enforce engineering best practices, development standards, and quality assurance protocols.

Monitor team performance, resource allocation, and delivery timelines to ensure efficiency and scalability.

Audit existing workflows and recommend AI-driven enhancements to improve productivity and outcomes.

Agency Collaboration & Impact

Lead strategic partnerships with Research, Martech, and Data Intelligence teams to drive innovation.

Support planning and leadership teams with AI-driven insights and technical guidance.

Represent Product Engineering in cross-functional initiatives, workshops, and client engagements.

Promote a collaborative, inclusive culture through mentorship, thought leadership, and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

8+ years of experience in product engineering, AI/ML development, or related fields.

4+ years in a leadership role managing engineering teams and product development.

Proven track record of delivering enterprise-grade AI solutions and managing cross-functional teams.

Expertise in Python, R, and machine learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn).

Strong understanding of cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP), data engineering, and model deployment.

Experience with data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI, Datorama) and workflow orchestration.

Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and clients.

Deep knowledge of responsible AI principles, including ethics, bias mitigation, and data governance.

Additional information Publicis Canada is committed to building a diverse workforce representative of our community. We encourage and are pleased to consider all qualified candidates, without regard to race, colour, citizenship, religion, sex, marital / family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, aboriginal status, age, disability or persons who may require an accommodation, to apply. If you require a specific accommodation please contact Human Resources at 416-925-7733 or by email atinquiries@publicisna.com

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