AI Architect

Senior Innovation Architect

Job Description Overview

A Senior Innovation Architect is a client-facing technology leader responsible for driving high-impact innovation within enterprise organizations. In a technical services company that builds leveraged innovation pods, this role works closely with clients to identify transformative use cases and rapidly prototype solutions. The Senior Innovation Architect ensures all innovative solutions align with the client’s security requirements and enterprise architecture standards, while spearheading projects in cutting-edge domains like agentified AI, conversational AI, and enterprise automation. The position demands a strong blend of technical expertise in AI / ML and automation, enterprise system knowledge, and excellent stakeholder management skills to bridge business goals with emerging technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Innovation Use Case Identification : Engage with client stakeholders to uncover and prioritize high-impact innovation opportunities. Analyze business challenges and identify use cases where emerging technologies (AI, automation, analytics) can deliver significant value. Develop innovation roadmaps aligned to client business goals.
• Solution Architecture & Alignment : Design end-to-end solutions for approved innovation use cases, creating solid architectures that balance novelty with feasibility. Ensure all solutions adhere to the client’s security policies and enterprise architecture standards (compliance with data privacy, identity management, etc. Work with client Enterprise Architecture and Security teams to obtain necessary design approvals and ensure governance compliance.
• Lead Innovation Pods : Lead cross-functional “innovation pods” – small, agile teams – to rapidly develop prototypes and pilot solutionsi. Coordinate developers, data scientists, domain SMEs, and designers in an autonomous pod to deliver proofs-of-concept and MVPs using agile methodologies. Iterate on solutions based on feedback and evolving requirements.
• Technical Leadership in AI & Automation : Serve as the subject matter expert in emerging technologies. Guide projects focused on :
• Agentified AI : Implement AI-driven agents or autonomous processes that can perform tasks or decision-making on behalf of users.
• Conversational AI : Develop intelligent chatbots and voice assistants for enterprise use (customer service bots, virtual assistants, etc.).
• Enterprise Automation : Drive process automation initiatives (e.g. RPA, workflow orchestration, intelligent BPA) to streamline operations.
• Provide hands-on technical direction and architectural guidance in these domains, ensuring solutions are scalable and integrate with existing systems.
• Cross-Platform Integration : Oversee the integration of innovative solutions with enterprise platforms and data sources. Work across diverse technologies – for example, embedding AI / automation into Microsoft and Google Cloud ecosystems, ServiceNow workflows, Salesforce and other CRM systems, Workday, Oracle ERP, or healthcare systems – as needed by the client environment. Ensure interoperability and data flow between new solutions and legacy systems through APIs, microservices, or middleware.
• Client Collaboration & Management : Act as a primary point of contact for innovation projects with clients. Facilitate workshops and ideation sessions to shape solution concepts. Manage stakeholder expectations through clear communication of project scope, timelines, and impact. Provide regular updates and demonstrations of progress to client executives. Ensure strong client buy-in and change management for adopting new innovations.
• Alignment with Compliance & Standards : Navigate enterprise processes to get innovations from idea to deployment. Work within client architecture review boards, compliance reviews, and security assessments to ensure solutions meet regulatory and data security standards (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA in healthcare, ISO 27001) and adhere to IT governance. Adjust solution designs as needed to address any compliance or risk concerns.
• ROI Analysis & Business Case : For each innovation initiative, contribute to defining KPIs and success metrics. Help prepare business cases or ROI analyses to demonstrate the expected benefits (cost savings, efficiency gains, revenue impact) of the innovative solution. Track outcomes from pilot projects and use data to justify scaling successful innovations across the organization.
• Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing : Mentor junior architects and technical team members in new technologies and architecture best practices. Promote a culture of innovation and experimentation within both the internal team and the client organization. Document insights, lessons, and reusable frameworks from projects to leverage across future innovation pods.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Skills Checklist