AI and Data Architect Manager

The AI Architect Manager is a critical leadership role responsible for designing, developing, and scaling enterprise AI solutions aligned to business strategy and measurable outcomes. This role serves as a trusted advisor and subject matter expert, enabling clients to establish, mature, and scale their AI programs across the Microsoft ecosystem.

The incumbent will lead AI architectural design and end-to-end solutioning and sales efforts, including opportunity origination, qualification, solution shaping, and delivery, by evaluating business processes, operating models, and application architectures to deliver scalable, secure, and high-performing AI solutions tailored to client environments. This role is responsible for translating complex business requirements into actionable AI architectures that deliver tangible value and measurable client outcomes.

The AI Architect Manager will partner closely with cross-functional stakeholders and global teams across Avanade, Accenture, Microsoft, and partner ecosystems to ensure a cohesive, enterprise-wide approach to AI solution delivery, innovation, and revenue growth.

This position requires a strategic and hands-on leader capable of operating effectively in a complex, matrixed environment while driving innovation, collaboration, client impact, and commercial success.

What you'll do

• Provide leadership and oversight for AI solution architecture, ensuring alignment with client business strategies, technical requirements, and industry best practices.

• Own and drive end-to-end sales cycles, including opportunity identification, qualification, solution shaping, proposal development, pricing inputs, and deal closure.

• Partner with account teams and clients to originate and develop AI opportunities, aligning solutions to business value and measurable outcomes.

• Translate business requirements into AI solution scope, value propositions, and scalable architectural designs in collaboration with AI teams and Solution Architects.

• Analyze client processes, systems, and data landscapes to identify AI transformation opportunities and recommend appropriate approaches based on client maturity.

• Lead solutioning activities including estimation, technical design, and proposal development across the pre-sales and delivery lifecycle.

• Deliver AI engagements in roles including AI SME, Solution Architect, or Technical Architect, ensuring high-quality outcomes.

• Provide governance, quality assurance, and best practice guidance across AI project teams related to delivery approach, design, and implementation.

• Facilitate client workshops, stakeholder meetings, and pre-sales presentations to articulate AI value, solution approach, and business impact.

• Develop and contribute to AI assets, accelerators, and methodologies to enhance organizational capability, sales effectiveness, and delivery efficiency.

• Collaborate across global teams and partner ecosystems to share knowledge, drive innovation, and scale AI capabilities.

Priority Skill

• Agentic AI Solution Architecture

Job Requirements: 

• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as business needs require, with reasonable accommodation provided where required by applicable law.

• Ability to travel domestically and internationally, as business needs require.

IMPORTANT before applying for a job internally:

• Review this application criteria.

• You must already possess the appropriate visas and/or work permits required to live and work in the country the job is based. Do not apply until you have confirmed these authorizations are in place, or the job description states that international applicants will be considered.

• If you apply and are selected for a job at a higher level, it will be offered at your current level. You will be considered for promotion at the next eligible promotion period, except where subject to local law or contractual obligations*.

*ICEG, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, and Germany: Promotions will be handled in accordance with local labor laws and works council agreements, where applicable). 

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Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 8+ years of experience in AI, Data, or consulting roles, including 3+ years in a client-facing leadership capacity

• 3+ years of experience leading or contributing to end-to-end sales cycles, including opportunity origination, solution shaping, and deal closure, with involvement in multiple complex deals

• 5+ years of experience designing and delivering enterprise-scale AI solutions, including at least 3–5 full lifecycle implementations from architecture through production deployment

• 4+ years of hands-on experience with the Microsoft AI ecosystem, including Azure AI Services, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, and Azure Machine Learning

• 2+ years of experience developing or deploying Generative AI and/or Agentic AI solutions in production environments

• 5+ years of experience programming in Python for analytics and software engineering, including use of modern AI libraries (e.g., LangChain, DSPy)

• 4+ years of experience applying data and analytics to business problems, including data preparation, pipeline development, and system integration across distributed environments

• 3+ years of experience working with DevOps, MLOps, SDLC, and Agile development practices across multiple projects

• 5+ years of experience in client-facing roles, including leading stakeholder engagements, facilitating workshops, and driving solution delivery

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or quantitative field OR equivalent experience (Minimum 12 years of experience with no degree or 6 years with an Associate’s Degree)

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Certified AI Engineer or equivalent certification

• Experience in management consulting and/or systems integration environments

• Strong background in software engineering, data engineering, or solution architecture

• Experience with Azure Databricks and distributed data processing environments

• Knowledge of real-time and streaming data analytics, time-series analytics, and system integration patterns

• Strong understanding of data science and machine learning principles

• Experience operating across multiple architectural domains, including enterprise and infrastructure architecture

• Ability to articulate AI use cases across multiple industries (e.g., Manufacturing, Healthcare, Retail, Resources)

• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and client-facing skills with the ability to influence decision-making

• Demonstrated ability to write high-quality, production-ready code

• Ability to think strategically while breaking down complex problems into scalable architectural components

• Comfortable operating in a hands-on role within a fast-paced, global environment

• Experience contributing to go-to-market development, sales strategy, or capability building initiatives

Professional Skills

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to align AI solutions to business value and client outcomes

• Highly organized with strong problem-solving and analytical capabilities

• Ability to collaborate effectively across diverse, matrixed teams and global environments

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility with stakeholders

• Demonstrated ability to operate both strategically and tactically, balancing big-picture thinking with technical execution

• Demonstrated leadership presence with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive outcomes

• Commitment to innovation, continuous learning, and delivering high-quality client outcomes

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