Lead, Enterprise AI FinOps

The Enterprise AI FinOps Lead establishes and operates the financial governance discipline for company-wide AI usage. This role owns cost visibility, show-back, optimization, budgeting, forecasting, and stakeholder engagement across a multi-cloud (Azure, AWS, GCP), SaaS, and on-premise AI landscape. 

This is not a traditional cloud cost role. It requires deep understanding of AI-specific cost drivers—models, tokens, prompts, agents, embeddings, context windows, RAG systems, and adoption behavior—and the ability to translate telemetry into actionable insights, optimization programs, and executive reporting. 

The role also owns full budget management for the Enterprise AI department. 

This role requires full-time onsite work in San Diego, CA (5 days per week).

**This role is not eligible for Qualcomm immigration sponsorship.**

Key Responsibilities

1. Build & Operate the AI FinOps Function 

• Establish the AI-FinOps operating model: visibility, cost accountability, show-back, optimization cadences, and leadership reporting. 

• Define processes, metrics, and governance mechanisms that manage costs while enabling adoption. 

2. AI Cost Visibility & Intelligence 

• Own end-to-end usage visibility across all cloud, on-premise, internal, and SaaS AI platforms. 

• Identify major cost drivers and flag areas where cost growth outpaces value delivery. 

3. Show-Back & Chargeback Readiness 

• Design and implement show-back methodology with transparent allocation rules for shared platforms, model gateways, agent platforms, RAG systems, and SaaS AI. 

• Deliver monthly/quarterly show-back packages to business unit and functional leaders. 

4. Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Management 

• Own AI cost forecasting and budget planning based on usage trends, adoption growth, model pricing, and optimization initiatives. 

• Manage departmental budget: planning, tracking, accruals, purchase planning, and vendor cost visibility. 

• Partner with Finance, Procurement, Cloud FinOps, Legal, and platform owners to ensure financial discipline. 

5. Optimization & Cost Reduction 

• Identify and drive cost reduction opportunities without compromising business value or adoption. 

• Lead recurring reviews with high-consuming teams to eliminate waste and promote efficient usage. 

6. Executive Reporting & Leadership Engagement 

• Produce executive-ready AI cost/usage reporting for CIO, Finance, IT, and business unit leaders. 

• Develop narratives around cost growth, business value, adoption health, and efficiency gains. 

• Define KPIs that distinguish healthy adoption from uncontrolled consumption. 

Required Qualifications 

• 8+ years in FinOps, cloud cost management, technology finance, IT financial management, or enterprise analytics. 

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