Position Summary:
We are seeking a hands-on Senior AI Solutions Architect to lead the design, implementation, governance, and continuous evolution of enterprise AI solutions. This role serves as both a technical leader and active contributor, responsible for architecting, developing, deploying, and supporting AI solutions while collaborating closely with business analysts, process owners, and subject matter experts.
In our lean, fast-moving environment, the successful candidate will serve as a player-coach—defining standards and strategy while also personally building solutions. This individual will lead our Microsoft Copilot Studio and Azure AI platform strategy, supervise a small team of AI developers and automation engineers, evaluate emerging technologies, and identify opportunities to drive business value through AI and automation.
Key Responsibilities:
AI Architecture & Solution Delivery
- Design and implement enterprise AI, automation, analytics, and integration solutions.
- Define architecture standards, reusable patterns, governance processes, and development best practices.
- Lead solution reviews while actively contributing to design, development, testing, and deployment activities.
- Develop proof-of-concepts, pilots, and production AI solutions.
- Ensure solutions are scalable, secure, maintainable, and aligned with business objectives.
Microsoft AI Platform Leadership
- Serve as the technical lead for Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Power Platform, and Microsoft 365 AI capabilities.
- Design, configure, deploy, and support AI agents, copilots, automations, and platform services.
- Manage development, test, and production environments.
- Establish deployment, monitoring, support, and lifecycle management standards.
Integration, Security & Governance
- Collaborate with platform technical owners to architect and implement integrations between AI solutions and enterprise applications including ERP, CRM, SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and other business systems.
- Define security, compliance, identity management, and data governance standards.
- Ensure responsible, secure, and compliant use of AI technologies.
- Partner with IT infrastructure team to support enterprise governance requirements.
Innovation, Research & Technology Evaluation
- Research emerging AI technologies, platforms, frameworks, and industry best practices.
- Evaluate Microsoft and non-Microsoft solutions and recommend the most appropriate approach based on business value, cost, scalability, and supportability.
- Lead technology assessments and proof-of-concept initiatives.
- Stay current with developments in generative AI, intelligent automation, machine learning, analytics, and enterprise integration technologies.
- Develop recommendations and roadmaps for future architecture-related AI, automation, and data initiatives.
Business Partnership & Solution Discovery
- Collaborate closely with business analysts, process owners, functional leaders, and subject matter experts to identify opportunities for AI and automation.
- Facilitate discovery sessions, requirements workshops, and solution design meetings.
- Translate business requirements into practical solution architectures and implementation plans.
- Assist in evaluating business value, implementation effort, risks, and expected return on investment.
Team Leadership
- Manage and mentor AI developers and automation engineers.
- Provide technical leadership and architectural guidance.
- Participate directly in solution development, troubleshooting, and deployments when required.
- Promote technical excellence, documentation standards, and knowledge sharing across the team.
Platform Operations & Cost Management
- Manage AI platform operations, deployments, and environment strategies.
- Monitor Azure consumption, licensing, and AI-related spending.
- Establish cost management and optimization practices.
- Evaluate vendors, products, and service providers supporting AI initiatives.
Documentation & Standards
- Create and maintain architecture standards, reference designs, and technical documentation.
- Define documentation requirements for AI solutions, integrations, and operational processes.
- Ensure solutions are supportable, maintainable, and properly documented.
Required Qualifications:
- 8+ years of hands-on experience in solution architecture, software engineering, cloud engineering, enterprise application development, or related technical disciplines.
- Proven experience personally designing, building, deploying, and supporting business solutions.
- Experience leading technical teams and mentoring developers.
- Strong expertise with Microsoft Copilot Studio, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Services, Microsoft Power Platform, Azure Integration Services, Microsoft 365, API and integration architecture, and cloud security/governance.
- Experience working directly with business stakeholders
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate.
- Power Platform Solution Architect certification.
- Experience with ERP, CRM, manufacturing, supply chain, and business process automation solutions.
- Experience with Oracle EBS, Oracle Analytics Server (OAS), or similar enterprise platforms.
- Experience establishing governance, operating models, and solution standards.
- Experience leading globally distributed development teams.
