Director Ai Operations; F​/H

Let's Build a Future Together

Thales is a global leader in high-tech specializing in three sectors:
Defense & Security, Aeronautics & Space, and Cyber & Digital. It develops products and solutions that contribute to a safer, more environmentally friendly, and more inclusive world. The Group invests nearly 4.5 billion euros annually in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum, cloud technologies, and 6G. Thales has nearly 85,000 employees in 65 countries.

A success driven by our technological excellence, your experience, and our shared ambition

• An attractive compensation package
• Continuous skills development: training programs, academies, and internal communities
• An inclusive, supportive, and balanced work environment
• Recognized social and environmental commitment

By joining us in Meudon, you join the Group's headquarters located on the banks of the Seine and organized in a real campus, including our identity and digital security activities.

We are looking for a Director of Digital Operations Excellence & AI

Position based in Meudon

Context

As part of its transformation program Thales Towards 2030, Thales is engaged in a multi-year program to transform operational practices and reach the next level of operational performance (project execution, time to market, industrial performance, etc).

The Digital Operations Excellence department has been created to streamline processes according to industrial standards, align practices across GBU, create and value data continuity with the next generation of analytics and AI capabilities.

Job Summary

As Digital Excellence, AI Operations Director at Thales, you will play a key role in contributing to operational excellence across the company's global business units (GBUs) and corporate functions through advanced analytics and AI initiatives. You will identify, prioritize, and implement transformative AI and analytics use cases that deliver measurable impact across the entire product lifecycle—from bids and project management to industrialization, production, quality, customer support, and aftermarket services.

Working closely with ISIT, Corporate functions and dedicated Analytics and AI teams, you will assess data readiness and availability, technical feasibility, and solution maturity to ensure successful deployment. Your strategic mindset and hands-on experience will balance quick wins with longer-term structural initiatives, enabling a significant leap in operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with operational leaders across corporate and GBU functions, as well as transformative programs, to identify and formalize high-value AI and analytics use cases
• Challenge the way we traditionally run our operations with new paradigms (for instance specific expensive development in transactional systems vs. data analytics and AI)
• Evaluate and prioritize use cases based on business value, cost, feasibility, and alignment with Thales' operational excellence objectives
• Partner with ISIT and internal Analytics/AI departments to assess data readiness, technical feasibility, and maturity of AI technologies, to de-risk initiatives, and build a robust roadmap based on value and affordability, linking AI techno/data/metier.
• In synch with functions and GBU, with operational approach:
  • Identify use cases, and Manage a portfolio of AI and analytics for them, mixing quick wins and strategic initiatives, to significantly improve operational excellence
  • Lead the implementation of key initiatives, related to GenAI/AgenticAI in operations, with concrete solutions of chatbots, agents, prompts, companions,…
  • Deliver solutions and Drive change management and adoption of AI-powered solutions within operational teams.

• Reuse existing solutions for different perimeters in Thales (GBU, functions…)
• Monitor and communicate performance metrics, ROI, and impact of implemented AI projects
• Ensure alignment of AI initiatives with Thales' digital strategy, operational goals, and compliance requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum of 15 years of professional experience, preferably within large…