Principal Architect

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.
• 810+ 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.