Senior AI Solutions Architect

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.