Azure AI Solution Architect

Remote conditions: CST/EST preferred. Candidates open to limited travel at times.

• We are seeking an experienced AI Architect to lead the design and delivery of AI-enabled capabilities across a portfolio of enterprise digital products. This is a highly hands-on architecture role that combines AI/ML prototyping, solution architecture, technical governance, and cross-functional leadership.
• The ideal candidate will have strong experience developing AI/ML solutions in Python and Azure Databricks, architecting solutions across multiple products, and deploying applications within Azure Commercial environments, particularly using Azure Databricks, PostgreSQL, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).
• This role is approximately 50% hands-on AI/ML development and prototyping, making practical implementation experience as important as architecture expertise.

• Design, prototype, and validate AI/ML capabilities using Python and Azure Databricks.
• Develop and evaluate Generative AI solutions using the OpenAI API, as well as traditional machine learning, forecasting, optimization, and predictive modeling approaches.
• Translate business and operational requirements into scalable AI/ML prototypes and production-ready solution designs.
• Evaluate model performance, technical feasibility, scalability, cost, and operational considerations.
• Transition successful prototypes and proof-of-concepts to engineering and implementation teams. Enterprise Solution Architecture
• Lead end-to-end architecture for AI-enabled capabilities from concept and prototype through implementation handoff.
• Design scalable, secure, maintainable solutions across a portfolio of interconnected digital products.
• Evaluate architecture tradeoffs involving cost, performance, security, data governance, scalability, and delivery timelines.
• Establish architectural patterns, technical standards, and reusable approaches across multiple product teams.
• Identify opportunities for shared services, reusable components, and technology standardization. Cross-Product Architecture & Governance
• Review solutions across multiple product teams to identify duplicated, conflicting, or inconsistent architectural approaches.
• Drive consistency across application, data, AI/ML, orchestration, planning, scheduling, and workflow capabilities.
• Establish and maintain architecture standards, design patterns, and technical guidelines.
• Participate in architecture and responsible-AI governance processes.
• Prepare architecture documentation, technical recommendations, decision records, and review materials.
• Address architecture review feedback and work with stakeholders to resolve technical issues. Technology Enablement
• Partner with engineering, data, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and product teams to translate AI and data opportunities into supportable enterprise capabilities.
• Provide technical guidance on Azure Databricks, PostgreSQL, AKS, AI/ML platforms, APIs, data architectures, and cloud-native technologies.
• Ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise security, data governance, infrastructure, and operational requirements.
• Support development teams through architecture decisions, technical challenges, and implementation handoffs. Leadership & Mentorship
• Mentor architects, software engineers, data engineers, and data scientists on AI, ML, data engineering, and solution architecture practices.
• Promote engineering best practices, reusable patterns, and effective AI/ML development methodologies.
• Communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and business stakeholders.
• Influence technical direction across multiple teams and product areas.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Data Science, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in IT, software engineering, digital products, AI/ML, or solution architecture; 10+ years preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in hands-on AI/ML development as well as enterprise solution architecture. Required Technical Skills
• Strong Python development experience for AI/ML prototyping and solution development.
• Must have strong hands-on experience with Azure Databricks, including AI/ML development and data processing.
• Experience developing forecasting, optimization, predictive analytics, or traditional machine learning models.
• Experience integrating Generative AI through the OpenAI API.
• Strong Azure Commercial experience in enterprise environments.

• Azure Databricks — Must Have
• Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
• PostgreSQL
• Azure DevOps
• Experience designing solutions for secure, controlled, or highly governed cloud environments.
• Comfortable working within GitHub Copilot-assisted development workflows. Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with Data Vault or Medallion architecture.
• Experience with modern ETL/ELT platforms and data integration tools, such as Fivetran.
• Experience with enterprise AI governance and responsible-AI review processes.
• Experience designing multi-product or portfolio-level architecture.
• Experience transitioning AI/ML proofs-of-concept into production implementations.
• Experience with AI orchestration, workflow automation, or enterprise GenAI platforms.

• Enterprise and solution architecture
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Generative AI
• Python development
• Azure Databricks
• Azure cloud architecture
• Kubernetes / AKS
• Data architecture and engineering
• Technical governance
• Architecture standards and design patterns
• Stakeholder management
• Technical leadership and mentoring
• Responsible AI and data governance
• Strong written and verbal communication