DU Head (DPO)

Job Summary

Principal / Distinguished Architect – Microsoft AI, Copilot & Azure Stack

Role Summary

We are seeking a very senior Microsoft AI & Azure Architect to lead the design, delivery, and governance of large-scale AI solutions for enterprise customers. This role combines deep hands-on technical leadership with people and stakeholder management, including managing senior AI technical leaders embedded in customer environments.

The ideal candidate will be a trusted advisor to CXOs, a hands-on architect for complex AI platforms, and a mentor who can scale high-performing AI engineering and architecture teams across multiple customer engagements.

Key Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

1. AI & Cloud Architecture Leadership

• Own end-to-end architecture for AI-driven solutions built on Microsoft Azure, spanning data, AI/ML, GenAI, security, and enterprise integration.
• Define reference architectures, blueprints, and guardrails for AI solutions aligned to Microsoft best practices.
• Lead solutioning for GenAI, Copilot, and AI platform modernization initiatives.
• Review and approve high-risk or business-critical architecture decisions across customer programs.

2. Microsoft Copilot & GenAI Enablement

• Architect and govern enterprise adoption of:
  • Microsoft Copilot (M365, Security, Dynamics, Power Platform)
  • Custom Copilots using Copilot Studio
  • Azure OpenAI Service (GPT-4.x, GPT-4o, Embeddings, Assistants)
• Design Responsible AI and enterprise-grade governance models for Copilot and GenAI usage.
• Drive advanced use cases such as:
  • Enterprise knowledge assistants
  • Agentic workflows (multi-agent systems)
  • RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
  • Automation with Copilot + Power Platform + Azure AI

3. Azure AI & Data Platform Architecture

• Design and lead solutions using:
  • Azure OpenAI Service
  • Azure AI Studio & Azure AI Search
  • Azure Machine Learning (ML Ops, pipelines, model lifecycle)
  • Azure Data Factory, Synapse, Fabric, Databricks
• Architect scalable AI platforms with strong focus on:
  • Security, privacy, and compliance
  • Performance, cost optimization, and reliability
  • Data governance and lineage

4. Engineering Excellence & MLOps

• Define and enforce MLOps / LLMOps standards:
  • CI/CD for ML and GenAI
  • Model versioning, evaluation, and monitoring
  • Prompt management and experimentation
• Ensure observability for AI systems including:
  • Model drift
  • Hallucination and quality metrics
  • Cost and token usage optimization

5. Customer & Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as Chief Architect / AI Advisor for strategic customers.
• Lead architecture discussions with CXOs, CIOs, CTOs, and CDOs.
• Translate business problems into scalable AI architectures and roadmaps.
• Partner with sales and pre-sales teams on:
  • Deal shaping
  • Technical due diligence
  • RFP and solution defenses

6. People & Community Leadership

• Lead and mentor senior AI architects and technical leaders deployed in customer environments.
• Build and grow AI architecture communities of practice.
• Conduct architecture reviews, design boards, and technical escalations.
• Coach leaders on customer engagement, technical depth, and executive communication.

Skill Requirements

Required Technical Expertise

Core Microsoft Stack (Must-Have)

• Microsoft Azure (Expert Level)
  • Azure Networking, Security, Identity (Entra ID)
  • Azure Landing Zones & Enterprise Scale Architecture
• Azure AI & GenAI
  • Azure OpenAI Service
  • Azure AI Studio, AI Search
  • Prompt engineering and RAG patterns
• Microsoft Copilot Ecosystem
  • M365 Copilot architecture and extensibility
  • Copilot Studio (custom copilots, plugins, connectors)
  • Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse)

Data, ML & Platform Engineering

• Azure Machine Learning (training, inference, pipelines)
• Data platforms: Azure Fabric, Synapse, Databricks
• MLOps / LLMOps frameworks and best practices
• API and integration architecture (REST, event-driven, microservices)

Security & Responsible AI

• AI security patterns:
  • Prompt injection mitigation
  • Data leakage prevention
  • RBAC and identity-driven access
• Responsible AI principles:
  • Fairness, transparency, explainability
  • Compliance (GDPR, SOC2, ISO, etc.)

Experience & Qualifications

• 15+ years of overall technology experience.
• 8–10+ years in enterprise architecture or principal architect roles.
• Proven experience delivering large-scale AI / GenAI solutions for global enterprises.
• Strong background in Microsoft ecosystem (Azure-first).
• Experience managing senior architects and technical leaders.
• Prior role as Chief Architect, Distinguished Engineer, or Principal Architect preferred.

Leadership & Soft Skills

• Executive-level communication and storytelling skills.
• Strong customer-facing presence and credibility.
• Ability to balance hands-on depth with strategic vision.
• Mentorship mindset with passion for building leaders.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguous, high-impact environments.

Certifications (Highly Desirable)

• Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Azure AI Engineer Associate / Expert
• Microsoft Copilot / Power Platform certifications
• TOGAF or equivalent architecture certification

Other Requirements