Lead Enterprise AI Architect

We are seeking a AI Transformation Architect to serve as a corporate-level thought partner and technical authority for artificial intelligence initiatives across federal government contracts and internal enterprise operations. This role combines strategic consulting, enterprise architecture, and federal AI governance expertise to guide executive leadership in the responsible adoption, scaling, and operationalization of AI.

The ideal candidate will operate comfortably at C-suite and Program Executive levels, translating mission needs, regulatory constraints, and business strategy into cohesive AI architectures and multi-year roadmaps aligned with federal policies, risk tolerance, and security requirements.

This is not a pure engineering role-it is a strategic architecture and advisory position with hands-on technical credibility.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Advisory & Leadership

Act as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on AI strategy, investment prioritization, and risk management across federal and corporate initiatives

Define and maintain the enterprise AI vision, principles, and target architectures aligned to corporate growth objectives and federal mission needs

Provide strategic guidance during contract transitions, and capability integrations involving AI or data platforms

Brief executives, government stakeholders, and boards on AI readiness, risks, opportunities, and compliance posture

Federal AI & Regulatory Alignment

Ensure AI initiatives align with federal policies and guidance, including:

OMB AI directives

NIST AI Risk Management Framework

FISMA / FedRAMP security requirements

ISO Standards

Data governance and privacy regulations

Advise on Responsible AI (RAI) implementation, including fairness, explainability, human-in-the-loop controls, and auditability

Support proposal development and contract execution by defining AI approaches compliant with federal acquisition and security expectations

Enterprise AI Architecture

Design scalable, secure, and interoperable AI architectures spanning:

Data ingestion and governance

Model development, deployment, and lifecycle management (MLOps)

Integration with enterprise systems (e.g., ERP, collaboration platforms, mission systems)

Establish AI reference architectures, standards, and reusable patterns for programs and internal teams

Evaluate and recommend AI platforms, cloud services, and tools appropriate for regulated federal environments

Portfolio & Roadmap Management

Develop and maintain multi-year AI roadmaps aligned to mission outcomes, funding profiles, and organizational maturity

Assess organizational AI maturity and recommend phased adoption strategies

Identify opportunities for automation, decision augmentation, and operational efficiency using AI

Balance innovation with risk, security, cost, and sustainment considerations

Collaboration & Enablement

Partner with program managers, cybersecurity, legal, data, and engineering teams to ensure cohesive execution

Mentor technical leaders and program staff on AI architecture best practices and federal expectations

Support internal training, governance forums, and communities of practice related to AI

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or related field (Master's preferred)

10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, advanced analytics, or AI-enabled systems

Demonstrated experience advising senior leadership on technology strategy and transformation

Deep understanding of federal government IT environments, including compliance, security, and acquisition constraints

Hands-on knowledge of:

AI/ML concepts and architectures

Data platforms and cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP, or GovCloud equivalents)

Model lifecycle management, governance, and operationalization

Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear executive-level recommendations

Demonstrated experience with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (formal training or certification preferred)

Professional-level cloud architecture certification (AWS or Azure)

Preferred Qualifications

Experience supporting federal civilian or DoD agencies

Familiarity with NIST AI RMF, FedRAMP, FISMA Moderate/High environments

Prior role as an enterprise architect, chief architect, or principal consultant

Experience shaping AI strategies for proposals, capture efforts, or new contract wins

Certifications (preferred but not required):

Cloud architecture (AWS, Azure)

Enterprise architecture (TOGAF or similar)

AI/ML or data engineering certifications

CISSP

Key Competencies

Executive presence and communication

Strategic thinking and systems-level design

Risk-based decision making in regulated environments

Ability to bridge business, mission, and technical domains

Credibility with both technical teams and senior leaders

Why This Role Matters

This role will directly influence how the organization adopts AI responsibly, competes for federal work, and delivers mission-critical outcomes. The Principal AI Architect will help shape the company's long-term AI posture, ensuring innovation is balanced with compliance, trust, and operational excellence.