AI Solutions Architect

About the role

Valiant is seeking an AI Solutions Architect to serve as the hands‑on technical owner of our enterprise artificial intelligence capability. This senior individual‑contributor role focuses on architecture, integration, and delivery, designing and building the technical foundation that allows AI tools and agents to operate securely and effectively across the organization. The architect will serve as the central point of technical coordination for all AI initiatives, bridging AI/ML architecture with compliance, security, and data‑handling constraints required for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). The role translates mission and business requirements into secure, scalable AI architectures while ensuring alignment with NIST SP 800‑171 controls and the organization’s System Security Plan (SSP). Emphasis is on technical execution, from whiteboard integration patterns to building them.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain the technical architecture supporting enterprise AI tools, agents, and integrations across the organization.
• Serve as the central technical coordinator for all AI initiatives, ensuring consistency, reusability, and alignment across projects and business units.
• Configure and deploy AI agents, including prompt design, tool and data integration, guardrails, and workflow orchestration.
• Integrate AI capabilities with existing enterprise systems, data sources, and line‑of‑business applications through APIs, connectors, and custom development.
• Evaluate and pilot AI platforms, models, and vendor solutions, translating approved selections into working technical implementations.
• Establish and document reference architectures, integration standards, and reusable patterns for adoption by other teams.
• Ensure all AI deployments handle data in a manner consistent with the organization’s security posture, including protection of CUI.
• Partner with IT governance, security, and compliance stakeholders to meet regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Monitor performance, cost, and reliability of deployed AI solutions and iterate to improve them over time.
• Provide technical guidance and enablement to teams adopting AI tools, without direct management responsibility for those teams.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance; active Secret preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience); Master’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience architecting and building production integrations between enterprise systems using APIs, connectors, and custom code.
• Hands‑on experience configuring and deploying AI or large language model solutions, including agent frameworks, retrieval pipelines, or workflow automation.
• Proficiency in at least one modern programming or scripting language (e.g., Python, JavaScript, or C#).
• Strong working knowledge of cloud platforms and services, including identity, networking, and data‑handling considerations.
• Ability to work independently as the sole technical owner of a capability from design through delivery and ongoing support.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to document technical work clearly for both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Desired Qualifications

• Relevant certifications such as CISSP or Security+.
• Experience deploying AI tools within the Microsoft ecosystem (Microsoft 365, Copilot, Azure services), especially in government or regulated cloud environments (e.g., GCC High or Azure Government).
• Familiarity with DoD contractor compliance obligations, including CMMC Level 2, DFARS 252.204‑7012, and handling of CUI.
• Experience integrating AI solutions in environments subject to NIST SP 800‑171 security controls.
• Background in enterprise IT governance, data governance, or secure systems integration.
• Experience evaluating AI vendors and platforms and translating strategy into technical delivery.

Physical Requirements

Physical requirements may include, but are not limited to, lifting, ascending and descending stairs, climbing, and extended periods of sitting or standing.