Lead AI Architect

At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron’s progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Artificial Intelligence, Consulting, Digital, Cloud & DevOps, Data, and Software Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs, we develop solutions for modernization, from Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications, and more.

About the role

We are seeking experienced Lead AI Architects to strengthen delivery of architecture work across our technology portfolio. The ideal candidates are hands-on, AI-fluent architects who can quickly translate business and technical needs into clear architecture artifacts and stand up working prototypes to prove out ideas fast. They should be comfortable moving between big-picture design and rapid, tangible experimentation.

Responsibilities

• Assemble architecture designs — produce clear, end-to-end architecture artifacts: solution designs, reference architectures, diagrams, patterns, and architecture decision records.
• Apply AI capabilities — design and integrate AI / GenAI / machine-learning components into solutions, and advise on appropriate patterns, tooling, and trade-offs.
• Drive rapid prototypes — build quick proofs of concept and working prototypes to validate architecture decisions, de-risk options, and accelerate stakeholder alignment.
• Partner across teams — work with engineering, product, and business partners to align architecture with delivery goals and non-functional requirements (security, scalability, resilience, cost).
• Document and communicate — present designs and trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences and keep architecture documentation current and usable.
• Uphold standards — apply enterprise architecture standards, controls, and best practices throughout design and prototyping.

Requirements

• Demonstrable hands-on AI experience — practical work building, integrating, or architecting AI / GenAI / ML solutions.
• Proven ability to put architecture details together — a track record of producing clear, complete architecture designs and documentation.
• Ability to drive quick prototypes — rapidly stand up POCs and working prototypes to test and demonstrate ideas.
• Senior, hands-on technical background operating at a Lead Architect level, with strong design fundamentals across modern application, integration, and cloud patterns.
• Strong communication skills — able to explain architecture and trade-offs to technical teams and business stakeholders alike.
• Self-directed and comfortable working across ambiguity to deliver tangible outcomes quickly.

Skills

• AI & Machine Learning — GenAI and large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agentic and prompt-engineering patterns, model APIs and integration, embeddings and vector stores; familiarity with common ML frameworks.
• Cloud & Platform — hands-on experience with at least one major cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP); containers and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes); serverless services.
• Architecture & Integration — microservices, event-driven and API-led design, REST / GraphQL APIs, messaging and streaming (e.g., Kafka), and enterprise integration patterns.
• Data & Information Architecture — data modeling, relational and NoSQL databases (strong SQL), data lakes / warehouses, ETL / ELT pipelines, and data governance / metadata.
• Languages & Prototyping — proficiency in Python and/or Java (or comparable); rapid prototyping, scripting, and notebook-based experimentation.
• Engineering Practices — CI/CD, infrastructure as code (e.g., Terraform), Git-based version control, and automated testing.
• Architecture Tooling — modeling and diagramming (C4, UML, or ArchiMate) and architecture decision records (ADRs).

Preferred Qualifications

• Depth in data / information architecture — experience designing data models, information flows, data platforms, or enterprise information architecture.
• Finance domain experience — prior work in Finance functions, especially Controllers / financial control and related processes.

Pay

The base salary for this position will vary based on geography and other factors. In accordance with law, the base salary for this role if filled within Charlotte, NC is $125k - $130k/year.

Benefits

• A highly competitive compensation and benefits package.
• A multinational organization with 58 offices in 22 countries and the possibility to work abroad.
• 10 days of paid annual leave (plus sick leave and national holidays).
• Maternity & paternity leave plans.
• A comprehensive insurance plan including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-/short-term disability (plans vary by region).
• Retirement savings plans.
• A higher education certification policy.
• Extensive training opportunities, focused on skills, substantive knowledge, and personal development.
• On-demand Udemy for Business for all Synechron employees with free access to more than 5000 curated courses.
• Coaching opportunities with experienced colleagues from our Financial Innovation Labs (FinLabs) and Center of Excellences (CoE) groups.
• Cutting edge projects at the world’s leading tier-one banks, financial institutions, and insurance firms.
• A flat and approachable organization.
• A truly diverse, fun-loving, and global work culture.