Tech Lead – AI & Azure Platform (Azure Cognitive Services)

Title: Tech Lead – AI & Azure Platform

Location: Dallas / Atlanta (Hybrid 2-3 days)

Mode: Contract

Role Overview:

We’re seeking a hands-on Tech Lead with a strong software development background to design, build, and operate AI applications on Microsoft Azure. You will lead architecture and implementation, mentor engineers, and deliver end-to-end solutions using Azure Cognitive Services, Azure Functions, Azure Web Apps, Azure API Management (APIM), Azure Service Bus, and Python. This role supports the Ask CDO Arch initiative—an internal client's solution that uses LLMs to convert text inputs into accurate cloud architecture diagrams, accelerating design quality and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, develop, and deploy AI-powered microservices and web applications on Azure.
• Build intelligent features with Azure Cognitive Services (Language, Speech, Vision, and custom models).
• Design event-driven and serverless workflows using Azure Functions, Logic Apps, and Service Bus (queues/topics).
• Implement secure, scalable APIs via Azure API Management (versioning, throttling, policies).
• Ensure security best practices with Azure AD, Managed Identity, RBAC, private endpoints, and secrets in Key Vault.
• Partner with data engineers and scientists to productionize AI/ML services and optimize data flows.
• Establish coding standards, conduct code reviews, and mentor engineers; foster a high-performing team culture.
• Drive observability (App Insights, Log Analytics, SLOs/SLAs, and robust incident management).
• Optimize reliability, performance, and cost (right-sizing, autoscaling, FinOps practices).
• Lead CI/CD automation with Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions; champion IaC for repeatable environments.

Required Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional software development experience, including production-grade systems.
• 3+ years building and operating AI/ML or intelligent applications on Azure.

Hands-on expertise with

• Azure Cognitive Services (Text Analytics, Translator, Speech, Vision, or Custom).
• Azure Functions and serverless architectures.
• Azure Web Apps and App Service Plans.
• Azure API Management (APIM) and RESTful API design.
• Azure Service Bus (queues, topics, pub/sub patterns).
• Python 3.x (including async patterns, packaging, and testing).
• Strong grasp of OAuth2/OIDC, JWT, networking/VNet integration, and microservice design patterns.
• Proven track record leading technical teams and delivering complex, high-impact projects.

Preferred Qualifications

·         Containerization and orchestration (Docker, Azure Kubernetes Service).

·         Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or Bicep); environment promotion strategies.

·         Data storage and messaging: Cosmos DB, Azure SQL, Blob Storage, Event Grid.

·         MLOps practices (model lifecycle, monitoring, responsible AI considerations).

·         Performance engineering, load testing, and cost optimization strategies.

·         Excellent communication skills to bridge technical and non-technical audiences.