Root, Inc.

Engineering Manager II, AI Systems

United States full-time Executive $188,000 - $259,710
full-time Executive level Technology & IT Salary listed Curated
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About the role

Root is on a mission to unbreak insurance by creating experiences people love at prices they can't believe. We believe that investing in world-class technology will facilitate a new class of insurance products, driving a massive positive impact on the hundreds of millions of drivers who carry auto insurance in the US.

The Opportunity

The Engineering Manager II, AI Systems leads Root's AI Platform and AI Enablement Squad teams - the engineers responsible for building the infrastructure, tooling, and integrations that bring AI capabilities to life across Root's product and operations. This is an early and high-visibility role: you will shape how Root builds AI-powered systems, establish engineering standards for responsible AI deployment, and grow a team of skilled engineers working on some of the most strategically important work at the company.

Salary Range: $188,000 - $259,710 (Eligible for competitive bonus and equity offering)

Root is a "work where it works best" company. This means we will support you working in whatever location that works best for you across the US.

How You Will Make an Impact

Lead and grow the AI Platform and AI Enablement Squad engineering teams, responsible for the internal tooling, deployment patterns, and integrations that power Root's AI features

Partner with business partners including product managers, data scientists, and quantitative scientists to define and execute the AI engineering roadmap

Establish engineering standards for AI system development including reliability, observability, security, and responsible AI practices

Manage team members to ensure they are performing well individually and as a cohesive unit; use coaching, feedback, and delegation to achieve business and individual goals

Identify gaps in the team and develop plans to address them through individual development, hiring, or cross-functional partnership

Engage directly with code, design reviews, and technical challenges alongside your team when necessary, demonstrating a hands-on approach to problem-solving

Work closely with the Engineering Leadership team to improve the effectiveness of the Engineering organization as a whole

Coordinate across teams where AI infrastructure intersects with Platform, Data Platform, and product engineering to ensure seamless delivery

What You Will Need to Succeed

5+ years as a software engineer

3+ years as a people manager on engineering teams

Experience leading teams building AI/ML infrastructure, integrations, or developer tooling

Familiarity with large language model APIs, prompt engineering, retrieval-augmented generation, or AI agent frameworks

Proven ability to manage in ambiguity and drive execution on evolving technical strategy

Excellent communication skills with engineering colleagues, data scientists, and senior business leaders

Experience with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred) and modern application development workflows

As part of Root's interview process, we kindly ask that all candidates be on camera for virtual interviews. This helps us create a more personal and engaging experience for both you and our interviewers. Being on camera is a standard requirement for our process and part of how we assess fit and communication style, so we do require it to move forward with any applicant's candidacy. If you have any concerns, feel free to let us know once you are contacted. We’re happy to talk it through.

Please see our Privacy Notice available HERE for more information on how we process your personal data.

Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is the policy of Root to provide reasonable accommodation when requested by a qualified applicant or candidate with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship for Root. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact .

Originally posted on Himalayas

Interview prep

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Executive
Technology & IT Engineering Manager Systems Technology Executive level full-time

Likely questions

  1. Tell us about work you have done that is close to the Engineering Manager II, AI Systems role.
  2. How would you approach your first 30 days at Root, Inc.?
  3. Which of Engineering, Manager and Systems have you used recently, and what did it help you achieve?
  4. How have you led people, improved a process, or made a hard decision in a previous role?
  5. How do you handle busy days, changing priorities, or pressure at work?

Prepare before the call

  • A recent example that proves your experience with Engineering, Manager and Systems.
  • One short story with a problem, your action, and the result.
  • Two examples that show the strengths listed on your CV.
  • A clear reason why this role and company interest you.
  • Your availability, preferred work style, and salary expectations.

Ask them

  • What would success look like in the first 90 days?
  • What are the main problems this hire should help solve?
  • How does the team give feedback and measure good work?
  • What does a normal working week look like for this role?
Practice line

I am interested in the Engineering Manager II, AI Systems role because I can bring practical experience in Engineering, Manager and Systems, learn the team quickly, and contribute to the outcomes Root, Inc. needs from this hire.

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