AI Factory Lead Architect | Hybrid | Up to £90,000

AI Factory Lead Architect Hybrid Salary TBC

A growing organisation is looking to appoint an AI Factory Lead Architect to take ownership of its internal AI strategy, architecture and delivery.

This is an opportunity for an experienced AI / Solution Architect to lead the design and development of AI applications, intelligent agents and automations across the business, with a strong focus on Microsoft technologies including Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry and Power Platform.

You will combine hands‑on technical delivery with solution architecture and technical leadership, working closely with senior stakeholders to identify business opportunities, turn ideas into production‑ready AI solutions and establish the governance needed to scale AI safely across the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build and oversee AI applications, agents, automations and dashboards, selecting the right technologies and architecture for each business requirement.

• Own the end‑to‑end architecture of the internal AI environment, including security, governance, infrastructure, cost management and DevOps processes.

• Lead discovery sessions with business stakeholders, translating business challenges into practical AI solutions with measurable benefits.

• Provide technical direction to the AI team, reviewing architecture and code, setting development standards and supporting technical progression.

• Develop and implement AI solutions using Microsoft technologies, including Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, Azure DevOps and Power Platform.

• Design and develop AI agents, integrating internal systems, APIs and data sources through tools such as MCP.

• Establish appropriate AI governance, monitoring, support and release management processes to ensure solutions remain reliable as they scale.

• Support the wider business in adopting AI through reusable templates, development standards, documentation and best practices.

• Work closely with senior leadership, including the CTO, to prioritise AI initiatives, communicate technical risks and demonstrate business value.

Required Experience

• Proven experience as an AI Architect, Solution Architect, Technical Architect or similar senior AI engineering role.

• Demonstrable experience designing and delivering AI solutions into production, rather than solely developing proofs of concept.

• Strong hands‑on experience with Microsoft Copilot Studio and Azure AI Foundry, including building and orchestrating complex AI agents.

• Experience with agentic AI, Generative AI, LLMs, tool calling and integrating AI solutions with business systems and data sources.

• Strong software engineering background with experience in Python, C# or TypeScript, alongside API development and integration.

• Practical experience with Model Context Protocol (MCP), including building or consuming MCP servers.

• Understanding of Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), ideally with experience using Azure AI Search.

• Experience with Azure architecture, source control, CI/CD pipelines and DevOps practices.

• Understanding of Power Platform governance, including Copilot Studio, Power Automate and Dataverse.

• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage senior leadership and translate business requirements into technical solutions.

Desirable:

• Previous experience leading a technical team or owning solution‑level architecture.

• Experience within a Microsoft Partner, MSP or technology consultancy.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Purview, information protection and data governance.

• Experience with GitHub Copilot and other AI‑assisted development tools.

Salary:£90,000
Location: Hybrid Working