Overview
Skills
Job Details
We have a current opportunity for a Senior AI Architect on a contract basis. The Senior AI Architect will be a transformational leader within the Information Technology unit, responsible for designing and implementing AI solutions. This position will lead a team of AI engineers and collaborate across the organization to develop innovative AI systems, including chatbots, document automation tools, and case management enhancements.
Hybrid or Remote: Remote schedule, local presence in NYC highly preferred for occasional onsite meetings with the team.
Shift & Schedule: This position offers a 10-hour work week, asking for availability between 9-5pm EST.
Responsibilities:
AI System Architecture & Engineering
Focus: Designing, building, and integrating AI solutions within the Legal Aid Society technology ecosystem.
- Design and architect scalable AI/ML systems that support LAS services, including natural language processing applications for client intake, translation, legal research, helpdesk, and document generation
- Architect secure, policy compliant AI solutions that protect client confidentiality and meet ethical-AI legal ethics requirements
- Lead the development of custom AI tools such as legal helpline chatbots, language translation, intelligent intake forms, virtual assistants, document automation systems, and intelligent case routing
- Establish best practices for prompt engineering, model fine-tuning, and AI system deployment
- Evaluate and integrate third-party AI tools and platforms (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, legal-specific AI platforms)
- Develop APIs and integration strategies to connect AI systems with existing case management and legal technology infrastructure
Strategy, Governance, Policy & Compliance
Focus: Aligning AI efforts with organizational goals, compliance frameworks, and ethical standards.
- Develop and maintain the AI technical roadmap, aligning AI initiatives with strategic goals for expanding access to justice
- Design and implement AI governance frameworks, including bias detection, model monitoring, and performance evaluation systems
- Partner with IT, compliance and legal teams to ensure AI implementations meet professional responsibility standards and regulatory requirements
- Present AI strategies and outcomes to senior leadership and external stakeholders
- Create technical documentation, architectural diagrams, and training materials for AI systems
Team Leadership & Collaboration
Focus: Managing internal talent and fostering cross-functional collaboration.
- Lead and mentor a team of 2-3 AI and IT engineers, providing technical guidance, code reviews, and professional development support
- Collaborate with legal practice areas to identify opportunities for AI integration that enhance service delivery and efficiency
- Manage relationships with AI vendors, cloud providers, and technology partners
Qualifications:
- Master's degree in Computer Science, AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, or related field (or Bachelor's degree with 8+ years of relevant experience)
- 5+ years of experience designing and implementing production AI/ML systems
- 2+ years of experience leading technical teams
- Expert-level proficiency in Python and ML frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch, Scikit-learn)
- Deep understanding of large language models (LLMs), natural language processing, and generative AI
- Experience with cloud AI platforms (AWS, OpenAI, Azure, Google Cloud Platform) and MLOps practices
- Strong knowledge of AI ethics, bias mitigation, and responsible AI principles
- Strong ethical judgment regarding AI implementation and data privacy
- Experience with API design, microservices architecture, and system integration
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders
- Technical Leadership: Provides architectural vision while mentoring team members and fostering innovation
- Strategic Thinking: Aligns technical solutions with organizational mission and identifies transformative opportunities
- Communication: Effectively communicates complex technical concepts to diverse audiences including attorneys, paralegals, and executives
- Problem Solving: Develops creative AI solutions to complex legal service delivery challenges
- Collaboration: Works effectively across interdisciplinary teams including legal, IT, and operations staff
- Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates commitment to responsible AI development and client protection
- Project Management: Successfully manages multiple complex AI initiatives from conception to deployment
- Ability to schedule, assign, and manage work and resolve problems as needed.
- Ability to manage the work including: assessment of work process and outcomes, gathering relevant information about the work, recommending alternatives, or elevate issues as needed.
- Ability to clearly identify roles, responsibilities, delegate tasks and hold people accountable.
- Ability to create and implement effective communication plans.
- Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies
- Interpersonal and communication skills that enable healthy and productive working relationships.
- Ability to perform duties with the highest regard for confidentiality, integrity, and respect.
- Commitment to client's mission and values.
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience in legal technology, public interest technology, or civic tech
- Knowledge of legal domain concepts and terminology
- Experience with document understanding and information extraction systems
- Familiarity with legal ethics rules regarding technology use in law practice
- Experience with multilingual NLP systems (particularly Spanish)
- Knowledge of privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA) and data governance
- Experience with knowledge graphs and semantic search technologies
- Background in building accessible technology solutions