Senior Enterprise AI Architect

Preferred Location: Charlotte, NC Alternative Location: New Jersey may be considered for exceptional candidates The ideal candidate is proactive, technically credible, and capable of managing projects with minimal supervision. Approximately 30% of the role will involve hands-on coding, primarily using Python to evaluate solutions, validate architectural approaches, and build proofs of concept. A senior, independent architect who combines strategic thinking with hands-on technical capability. This person should be able to move beyond research and conceptual diagrams by writing Python code, testing AI models, validating assumptions, and presenting evidence-based recommendations. Candidates whose experience is limited primarily to strategy, governance, documentation, or high-level design without meaningful hands-on coding and technical validation may not be a fit for this position. Daily tasks: • Independently lead enterprise architecture initiatives with minimal supervision. • Translate business requirements and real-world use cases into scalable technical solutions. • Design enterprise AI and cloud architectures with a strong focus on AWS. • Write and review Python code to validate architecture decisions and technical approaches. • Connect to AI models and services through APIs, SDKs, and related integration frameworks. • Evaluate and compare AI models based on accuracy, performance, reliability, cost, scalability, and business requirements. • Develop tests, experiments, and proofs of concept to demonstrate why one model or solution is better suited than another. • Validate AI solutions through working code, measurable results, and technical evidence. • Identify architectural risks, tradeoffs, dependencies, and integration challenges. • Clearly explain architecture decisions to technical teams, business stakeholders, and senior leadership. • Provide technical direction while remaining directly involved in solution validation and experimentation. Required Qualifications • Extensive experience as an Enterprise Architect, Solutions Architect, AI Architect, or similar senior-level architecture professional. • Demonstrated ability to take initiative and independently manage complex technical projects. • Strong hands-on Python programming experience. • Experience evaluating, integrating, testing, and validating AI or machine-learning models. • Ability to build proofs of concept and technical experiments using working code. • Deep enterprise architecture expertise, including the ability to design solutions for real-world business use cases. • Strong AWS or cloud architecture experience. • Ability to discuss architecture decisions, tradeoffs, security, scalability, reliability, and implementation considerations in detail. • Experience connecting applications or enterprise platforms to AI models and services. • Strong communication skills with the ability to present technical findings and recommendations clearly.