Principal / Distinguished Architect – Microsoft AI, Copilot & Azure Stack
Role Summary
We are seeking a very senior Microsoft AI & Azure Architect to lead the design, delivery, and governance of large-scale AI solutions for enterprise customers. This role combines deep hands-on technical leadership with people and stakeholder management, including managing senior AI technical leaders embedded in customer environments.
The ideal candidate will be a trusted advisor to CXOs, a hands-on architect for complex AI platforms, and a mentor who can scale high-performing AI engineering and architecture teams across multiple customer engagements.
Key Responsibilities
1. AI & Cloud Architecture Leadership
- Own end-to-end architecture for AI-driven solutions built on Microsoft Azure, spanning data, AI/ML, GenAI, security, and enterprise integration.
- Define reference architectures, blueprints, and guardrails for AI solutions aligned to Microsoft best practices.
- Lead solutioning for GenAI, Copilot, and AI platform modernization initiatives.
- Review and approve high-risk or business-critical architecture decisions across customer programs.
2. Microsoft Copilot & GenAI Enablement
- Architect and govern enterprise adoption of:
- Microsoft Copilot (M365, Security, Dynamics, Power Platform)
- Custom Copilots using Copilot Studio
- Azure OpenAI Service (GPT, Embeddings, Assistants)
- AI Foundry
- Design Responsible AI and enterprise-grade governance models for Copilot and GenAI usage.
- Drive advanced use cases such as:
- Enterprise knowledge assistants
- Agentic workflows (multi-agent systems)
- RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
- Automation with Copilot + Power Platform + Azure AI
3. Azure AI & Data Platform Architecture
- Design and lead solutions using:
- Azure OpenAI Service
- Azure AI Studio & Azure AI Search
- Azure Machine Learning (ML Ops, pipelines, model lifecycle)
- Azure Data Factory, Synapse, Fabric, Databricks
- Architect scalable AI platforms with strong focus on:
- Security, privacy, and compliance
- Performance, cost optimization, and reliability
- Data governance and lineage
4. Engineering Excellence & MLOps
- Define and enforce MLOps / LLMOps standards:
- CI/CD for ML and GenAI
- Model versioning, evaluation, and monitoring
- Prompt management and experimentation
- Ensure observability for AI systems including:
- Model drift
- Hallucination and quality metrics
- Cost and token usage optimization
5. Customer & Stakeholder Leadership
- Act as Chief Architect / AI Advisor for strategic customers.
- Lead architecture discussions with CXOs, CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs.
- Translate business problems into scalable AI architectures and roadmaps.
- Partner with sales and pre-sales teams on:
- Deal shaping
- Technical due diligence
- RFP and solution defenses
6. People & Community Leadership
- Lead and mentor senior AI architects and technical leaders deployed in customer environments.
- Build and grow AI architecture communities of practice.
- Conduct architecture reviews, design boards, and technical escalations.
- Coach leaders on customer engagement, technical depth, and executive communication.
Required Technical Expertise
Core Microsoft Stack (Must-Have)
- Microsoft Azure (Expert Level)
- Azure Networking, Security, Identity (Entra ID)
- Azure Landing Zones & Enterprise Scale Architecture
- Azure AI & GenAI
- Azure OpenAI Service
- Azure AI Studio, AI Search
- Prompt engineering and RAG patterns
- Microsoft Copilot Ecosystem
- M365 Copilot architecture and extensibility
- Copilot Studio (custom copilots, plugins, connectors)
- Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse)
Data, ML & Platform Engineering
- Azure Machine Learning (training, inference, pipelines)
- Data platforms: Azure Fabric, Synapse, Databricks
- MLOps / LLMOps frameworks and best practices
- API and integration architecture (REST, event-driven, microservices)
Security & Responsible AI
- AI security patterns:
- Prompt injection mitigation
- Data leakage prevention
- RBAC and identity-driven access
- Responsible AI principles:
- Fairness, transparency, explainability
- Compliance (GDPR, SOC2, ISO, etc.)
Experience & Qualifications
- 15+ years of overall technology experience.
- 8–10+ years in enterprise architecture or principal architect roles.
- Proven experience delivering large-scale AI / GenAI solutions for global enterprises.
- Strong background in Microsoft ecosystem (Azure-first).
- Experience managing senior architects and technical leaders.
- Prior role as Chief Architect, Distinguished Engineer, or Principal Architect preferred.
Leadership & Soft Skills
- Executive-level communication and storytelling skills.
- Strong customer-facing presence and credibility.
- Ability to balance hands-on depth with strategic vision.
- Mentorship mindset with passion for building leaders.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguous, high-impact environments.
Certifications (Highly Desirable)
- Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Azure AI Engineer Associate / Expert
- Microsoft Copilot / Power Platform certifications
- TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification
Why Join Us
- Opportunity to shape AI transformation at scale for global enterprises.
- Work on cutting-edge Microsoft Copilot and GenAI programs.
- Lead and influence senior AI leaders across customers.
- Build next-generation AI platforms and industry solutions.
This role is ideal for a seasoned architect who wants to operate at the intersection of technology, leadership, and enterprise-scale AI transformation.
