Senior Manager– Technology, Learning Futures Lab
Senior Manager– Technology, Learning Futures Lab, CLTE
Function: Leading the technology and AI-enabled tool development for CLTE's Learning Futures Lab pillar
Location: Hyderabad
Reports to: Director, CLTE
Band: A2
Reportees to Position: Developers / Technical Associates (internal and contracted)
Job Outline
The Senior Manager – Technology, Learning Futures Lab is responsible for leading the hands-on design, architecture, and delivery of AI-enabled and other technology tools that support CLTE's mandate to pioneer the future of learning at ISB. Working closely with the Teaching & Learning Design pillar, which engages directly with faculty to surface needs and define requirements, the incumbent translates these requirements into technical specifications, rapidly prototypes and validates solutions, and leads internal developers and external consultants through build, pilot, and scaled deployment. The role combines strong individual technical execution with the ability to architect, direct, and quality-control the work of a small technical team, while partnering with CLTE's other pillars — particularly Learning Analytics & Insights — on data, privacy, and compliance considerations.
Job Specification
Knowledge / Education
- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
- Strong, demonstrable technical foundation across modern software engineering and AI/ML systems.
- Exposure to education, ed-tech, or learning environments is desirable but not required — the Teaching & Learning Design pillar leads on pedagogical requirement-gathering.
Specific Skills
- Systems architecture & integration: REST/GraphQL APIs, microservices, enterprise databases and legacy systems.
- AI/LLM engineering: prompt design, RAG pipelines, agentic workflows, model and vendor evaluation.
- Data engineering: ETL design, data warehousing, stream processing.
- Cloud & deployment: Docker, Kubernetes, AWS/GCP/Azure, CI/CD, security and compliance (e.g., SOC2, data privacy).
- Full-stack development: Python, Java, TypeScript/Go/C++.
- Rapid prototyping, including fast feasibility-testing of AI/LLM approaches before committing to a full build.
- Root-cause debugging across unfamiliar, third-party, and integrated systems.
- Translating ambiguous requirements into precise technical specifications and milestones.
- Clear communication of technical trade-offs to faculty, engineers, and leadership.
- Pragmatic judgment on build-vs-buy and “80% solution” vs. long-term architecture decisions.
- Composure and ownership under pressure, including live pilots and production issues.
Desirable Experience
- 7–10 years of experience in software engineering, solutions architecture, or technical leadership roles.
- Proven experience leading a team of engineers and/or managing external consultants or vendors.
- Hands-on experience building and shipping AI/LLM-based products or features.
- Prior exposure to ed-tech, e-learning platforms, or academic/research environments is a plus, not a prerequisite.
Job Interface & Relationships
Internal
- Director, CLTE
- Teaching & Learning Design pillar
- Learning Analytics & Insights pillar
- Faculty (periodic, during pilots and reviews)
- Internal developers / technical associates
External
- AI and ed-tech vendors / platform providers
- Technical consultants and contracted developers
- Cloud and infrastructure providers
Key Result Areas
1. AI & Technology Development — Weightage: 30%
Key Performance Indicators
- Lead design, prototyping, and delivery of AI-enabled and other technology tools across CLTE's curriculum and faculty initiatives.
- Translate requirements developed with the Teaching & Learning Design pillar into technical architecture and working solutions.
- Rapidly validate AI/LLM approaches through proofs-of-concept before committing to full builds.Measures
- Number and quality of tools/features delivered
- Time from requirement handoff to working prototype
- Faculty/stakeholder satisfaction with delivered tools
2. Pilot-to-Scale Execution — Weightage: 20%
Key Performance Indicators
- Run structured pilots for new AI/technology tools with clear success criteria.
- Own the transition of successful pilots into scaled, production-grade deployments.
- Ensure sustainable architecture that avoids unsustainable technical debt.Measures
- Number of pilots successfully scaled
- Post-scale system reliability/uptime
- Incidence of rework due to technical debt
3. Team & Vendor Management — Weightage: 20%
Key Performance Indicators
- Lead and mentor internal developers; manage external consultants and contractors engaged for development work.
- Establish clear technical workflows, milestones, and accountability across the build pipeline.
- Make sound build-vs-buy decisions, evaluating vendor and platform options against internal capacity.Measures
- On-time, on-quality delivery across team- and consultant-led workstreams
- Quality and rigor of vendor evaluations
4. Cross-Pillar & Stakeholder Collaboration — Weightage: 15%
Key Performance Indicators
- Partner closely with the Teaching & Learning Design pillar to ensure technical builds reflect faculty and pedagogical intent.
- Coordinate with the Learning Analytics & Insights pillar on data architecture, privacy, and compliance considerations.
- Communicate technical trade-offs clearly to faculty, CLTE leadership, and other non-technical stakeholders.Measures
- Stakeholder feedback on collaboration and clarity
- Smoothness of cross-pillar handoffs; rework/escalations due to miscommunication
5. Technical Governance & Compliance — Weightage: 15%
Key Performance Indicators
- Ensure deployed systems meet data security, privacy, and compliance requirements (e.g., student data protection).
- Maintain up-to-date documentation of architecture, systems, and integrations for institutional continuity.
- Track emerging AI/ed-tech developments relevant to CLTE's mandate and flag adoption opportunities.Measures
- Compliance/audit outcomes
- Documentation completeness
- Relevant new capabilities identified and evaluated