Job DescriptionThe Principal Practice Architect, AI is the architecture decision maker for artificial intelligence across the enterprise. The role owns the standards, reference architecture, guardrails, technology selections and roadmap that every portfolio conforms to when it builds with AI. When this role sets the enterprise standard for an agent framework, a model gateway or an evaluation approach, that is the standard: Portfolio Architects design within it, Solution & Domain Architects conform to it and platform teams implement it. It works with senior IT, data, security and risk leaders as a peer.
Responsibilities- Define the enterprise agentic strategy and own the standards, patterns and reference architectures for AI: agentic patterns, model orchestration and gateways, retrieval and grounding, evaluation harnesses, and how AI workloads use the shared data and integration foundation
- Own AI technology and platform selection for the enterprise: model providers, agent frameworks, orchestration, evaluation and observability tooling, and AI code assist tooling, in consultation with the Data, Integration and Infrastructure Practice Architects
- Own Security and Responsible AI guardrails with Security, Legal and Risk: model risk classification, evaluation criteria, human-in-the-loop requirements, data protection for AI workloads and the conditions under which an AI capability may reach production
- Own the enterprise AI platform strategy and roadmap: build versus buy, platform consolidation, capability expansion, version currency and sunset planning, as architecture input to investment decisions
- Review solution designs that incorporate AI for conformance to the standard, and advise Portfolio Architects where their decisions intersect AI without overriding them
- Keep the AI Center of Excellence's platform delivery aligned to the enterprise standard, and provide architecture direction for the Enterprise AI Game Changers initiatives
- Define the AI governance and operating model: how AI use cases are proposed, approved, built and monitored, and how the AI Center of Excellence, portfolios and architecture divide the work
- Run the AI technology radar: assess what is emerging, maturing or declining, at a cadence that matches a market that resets every few quarters
- Document and publish AI best practices: tooling, design patterns and LLM guidance, and build AI architecture capability across Solution & Domain Architects through enablement and hands-on guidance
- Serve as a standing member of architecture governance, contributing AI intelligence to enterprise strategy and investment decisions
This is a remote position.This position is not eligible for sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, including conversion to H1-B visa.Job duties include contact with other employees and access confidential and proprietary information and/or other items of value, and such access may be supervised or unsupervised. The Company therefore has determined that a review of criminal history is necessary to protect the business and its operations and reputation and is necessary to protect the safety of the Company's staff, employees, and business relationships.Must be eighteen years or olderQualificationsMinimum Qualifications:- Must be at least 18 years of age
- Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without now or in the future requiring sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., OPT, CPT, H1B, EB-1, etc.)
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Information Technology, or in lieu of a degree, at least 18 years of experience in technology delivery.
- 15+ years in technology, including 5+ years of hands-on software or machine learning engineering and 8+ years in architecture or deep technical leadership roles
- Production experience designing and governing AI systems at enterprise scale: LLM applications, agent frameworks, model orchestration, retrieval and grounding, evaluation harnesses and guardrails. Advisory-only AI experience does not qualify
- 3+ years setting enterprise technology standards and making platform selection decisions across multiple business units or delivery teams
- Working depth in the ML lifecycle, MLOps, data architecture and integration patterns, enough to design AI workloads that reuse the existing foundation
- Current hands-on use of AI code assist and agentic development tooling; evaluates AI platforms directly rather than through vendor material
- Track record of influencing senior technical leaders as a peer and enforcing standards across delivery teams without creating bottlenecks
Preferred Qualifications:- TOGAF Level 2, CISSP, CEAP, CSA, CSEA
Travel: 10-15%
About UsAt Sherwin-Williams, our purpose is to inspire and improve the world by coloring and protecting what matters. Our paints, coatings and innovative solutions make the places and spaces in our world brighter and stronger. Your skills, talent and passion make it possible to live this purpose, and for customers and our business to achieve great results. Sherwin-Williams is a place that takes its stability, growth and momentum and translates it to possibility for our people. Our people are behind the strength of our success, and we invest and support you in:
Life ... with rewards, benefits and the flexibility to enhance your health and well-being
Career ... with opportunities to learn, develop new skills and grow your contribution
Connection ... with an inclusive team and commitment to our own and broader communities
It's all here for you... let's Create Your
PossibleAt Sherwin-Williams, part of our mission is to help our employees and their families live healthier, save smarter and feel better. This starts with a wide range of world-class benefits designed for you. From retirement to health care, from total well-being to your daily commute-it matters to us. A general description of benefits offered can be found at Click on "Candidates" to view benefit offerings that you may be eligible for if you are hired as a Sherwin-Williams employee.
Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case and will impact where actual compensation may fall within the stated wage range. The wage range listed for this role takes into account the wide range of factors considered in making compensation decisions including skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The wage range, other compensation, and benefits information listed is accurate as of the date of this posting. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, with or without notice, subject to applicable law.
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws including with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act where applicable.
Sherwin-Williams is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic information, creed, marital status or any other consideration prohibited by law or by contract.
As a VEVRAA Federal Contractor, Sherwin-Williams requests state and local employment services delivery systems to provide priority referral of Protected Veterans.
Please be aware, Sherwin-Williams recruiting team members will never request a candidate to provide a payment, ask for financial information, or sensitive personal information like national identification numbers, date of birth, or bank account numbers during the application process.
