Head of Forward Deployed Engineering (Operations)

Join Adyen, a leading global payment company, as the Head of Forward Deployed Engineering (Operations). In this role, you will lead the charge in re-engineering operations through AI, automation, and better operating design. You will set the direction for an AI-native operations model, identify key opportunities, and create a structure for domain-owned use cases to achieve real outcomes. You will also lead a team of Forward Deployed AI specialists and represent Operations in central engineering. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the future of operations at Adyen.

Set the direction for AI-native operations, identify opportunities, and create a structure for domain-led use cases.

Studies show that women and members of underrepresented communities apply for jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Does this sound like you? If so, Adyen encourages you to reconsider and apply. We look forward to your application!

About Adyen

• Long-term thinking. You can look beyond the next pilot or tool and help shape the foundations for where Ops needs to go over time
• Deep curiosity in AI and adjacent technology. You naturally keep up with the space, understand where the market is moving, and can separate substance from hype

Responsibilities

• Lead the central Ops innovation model, including the structure, ways of working, and foundations needed for domain-led re-engineering to succeed.
• Build credibility for AI across Ops through clear thinking, practical examples, and a strong view of where the real value is and where the risks are.
• Helped shape operating models, governance, or delivery mechanisms that made change more repeatable
• Led meaningful transformation in an operations or service environment
• Influenced senior leaders and moved cross-functional agendas forward without relying only on formal authority

Requirements

• The ability to turn ideas into outcomes. You can move from concept to prioritisation to implementation, and you know how to avoid getting stuck in pilot mode
• Strong cross-functional instincts. You are comfortable working across operations, engineering, data, product, enablement, and capability teams
• Enough technical depth to have credibility with engineers and technical partners. You do not need to be the hands-on builder for every solution, but you do need to understand architectures, trade-offs, risks, and what good looks like
• Strong executive presence. You can command respect with senior stakeholders, challenge constructively, and represent Operations well in cross-functional discussions

A practical, creative, solution-oriented mindset

• Strong operational judgement. You understand how real work happens, where friction sits, and what it takes to redesign workflows in practice
• Worked closely with engineering or technical teams and can hold your own in those conversations
• Worked in an environment where pace, ambiguity, and practical execution all mattered

Preferred

• Built or scaled AI, automation, or digital workflow improvements beyond small experiments