AI-Consultant / Architect

Job Summary
The AI Consultant / Architect is the senior technical authority within SoftwareOne’s AI advisory practice in North America. This role is responsible for translating AI ambition into production-grade, governed, and commercially viable architectures that can be successfully delivered at scale.
The role defines end-to-end AI solution architecture across generative AI, agentic systems, and traditional ML, ensuring technical feasibility, cost awareness, governance, and delivery readiness. It acts as the key technical advisor to customer technology leadership, shaping solution design decisions and ensuring that architectures are defensible, scalable, and aligned with enterprise standards.
In addition to delivery-focused architecture work, this role helps define reference architectures, technical standards, and reusable patterns that guide the evolution of the AI advisory practice.
SoftwareOne is an AI‑forward company. We actively use AI across our business to improve productivity, decision‑making, and outcomes - and we are intentional about hiring people who are curious, hands-on, actively apply AI, and lead by example as technology continues to evolve.
Role & Responsibilities
Architecture & solution design
Own end-to-end solution architecture for AI engagements spanning deterministic automation, traditional ML, and generative / agentic AI.
Design for the full lifecycle — data pipelines, model selection, integration, orchestration, evaluation, and monitoring.
Make and document the build-vs-buy and model-selection decisions, with the trade-offs made explicit for the customer.
Advisory & customer engagement
Lead AI strategy, readiness, and use-case discovery workshops with customer business and technology leadership.
Produce architecture blueprints, roadmaps, and business cases that connect technical design to measurable business outcomes.
Give account and delivery teams a credible technical narrative that supports pipeline and protects delivery.
Governance, risk & cost
Embed AI governance and risk management into every design — aligned to NIST AI RMF, the EU AI Act, and SR 11-7 where applicable.
Account for cloud and inference economics (FinOps) so solutions are affordable to run, not just to build.
Assess and communicate blast-radius risk, data exposure, and model failure modes before they reach production.
Enablement & technical leadership
Mentor consultants and solution engineers, raising the technical bar across the practice.
Capture patterns and lessons from each engagement so the practice compounds its expertise over time.
Travel up to 30% to support customer engagements, workshops, and architecture advisory sessions.
Job Requirements
What you offer
Demonstrated experience using AI in a practical, applied way — such as improving workflows, automating tasks, enabling better decision‑making, or increasing impact in prior roles. This does not require deep technical or engineering expertise in AI; we value applied use, experimenting, and a mindset of curiosity and continuous learning.
Proven experience architecting and delivering AI / ML solutions in enterprise or services environments.
Deep, hands-on knowledge of generative AI — LLMs, RAG, agentic systems — alongside traditional ML and data engineering.
Strong cloud architecture skills across at least one major hyperscaler (Azure, AWS, or GCP).
Working fluency in AI governance and risk frameworks (NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act, SR 11-7) and in cloud cost / FinOps dynamics.
Excellent communication and influencing skills; able to move between a boardroom and a build session.
Entrepreneurial, accountable, and client-driven.
Aligned to SoftwareOne’s IMPACT values.
The preceding job profile has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by associates within this role. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required. Additional duties may be assigned and may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
Success Criteria
Customers receive AI solutions that are technically sound, governed, and affordable to operate.
Architecture decisions are documented, defensible, and survive contact with production.
Delivery teams build against clear blueprints, reducing rework and delivery risk.
The practice operates from a shared library of reference architectures and patterns.
Governance and cost are designed in from day one — not bolted on after launch.
Organizational Alignment
Reports to Director, Data & AI Services, North America
Works closely with Cloud Services Consultants and Architects, Cybersecurity Consultants and Architects, Data and AI Consultants and Architects, and ITAM and FinOps Consultants and Architects
Collaborates internally with Account & Sales Teams, Delivery & Managed Services, Cloud & Platform Architects, FinOps Practice, and Governance & Security teams
Engages externally with customer technology leadership, hyperscaler partners (Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud), ISV and platform partners, and industry analysts
What we offer
Generous pay with bonus structure (quarterly or bi-annual depending on the role)
Independent environment without a lot of red tape where you are empowered to make decisions
Substantial benefits package that includes:
Full suite of medical coverage with A+ carriers, Dental, and Vision with strong employer contributions plus additional voluntary coverage available for Pets, Identity Theft Protection, Accident & Critical Illness
401k program with employer matching 50% up to the first 10% of employee’s contributions
Wellness plan that includes credits to premiums and employer contributions towards the savings plan of your choice
Access to EAP and concierge services plus pre-paid legal at no cost
Abundant time off that includes paid holidays, floating holidays, your birthday off, a volunteer day, and discretionary time