AI Architect Job Description Template

The AI architect designs how artificial intelligence fits into an organization’s systems, covering model selection, data flow, integration patterns, cost structure and governance. The role is as much about constraint as capability, since the decisions that matter most are which problems to apply AI to and what controls sit around the output.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Design AI system architecture across models, data and integration
• Select models and providers against requirements and constraints
• Design retrieval, context management and tool integration patterns
• Establish evaluation and monitoring standards
• Design governance including data handling and output controls
• Model cost at scale and design for sustainable economics
• Evaluate build versus buy decisions across the AI stack
• Guide engineering teams on implementation patterns
• Assess and manage vendor and model dependency risk
• Document architecture and its trade offs

Education

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in computer science or a related field

Required Skills and Experience

• 8+ years of engineering and architecture experience including AI systems
• Deep understanding of model capabilities, costs and limitations
• Experience designing systems used across multiple teams
• Strong grasp of data governance and privacy in AI contexts
• Ability to model cost at production scale
• Judgment about vendor lock in and dependency risk
• Clear architectural documentation
• Credibility with both engineers and executives

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a regulated industry
• Background in data architecture as well as AI