AI and Data Architect Manager

About the role

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.

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

Qualifications

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

Compensation

Compensation at Avanade varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Avanade provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired as set forth below. Avanade offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here: Benefits and Total Rewards | Avanade United States

• California - $150,400 - $184,300
• Cleveland - $139,200 - $165,300
• Colorado - $139,200 - $165,300
• District of Columbia - $155,200 - $184,300
• Illinois - $150,400 - $178,600
• Maine - $139,200 - $165,300
• Maryland - $155,200 - $184,300
• Massachusetts - $155,200 - $184,300
• Minnesota - $139,200 - $165,300
• New York / New Jersey - $164,800 - $195,700
• Virginia - $139,200 - $165,300
• Washington - $155,200 - $184,300