Application Architect (AI) in Birmingham

Application Architect (AI) in Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time No working from home possible
SCC

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design of AI applications and translate business needs into innovative solutions.
  • Company: Join SCC, Europe's largest privately-owned IT company with a focus on innovation.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible benefits, and paid volunteering days.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team with excellent growth opportunities and a commitment to inclusion.
  • Why this job: Make an impact in AI architecture while working remotely and developing your career.
  • Qualifications: Experience in application architecture and AI/ML solutions is essential.

We are actively building diverse teams and welcome applications from everyone.

Location: Remote (SCC operate hybrid working, which comprises of a mix of office and home working)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary Package: £85,000 - £95,000 plus large company benefits, a broad flexible benefits scheme, and 2 paid‑for volunteering days a year

Hours: 9.00 am – 5.30 pm Monday – Friday

Interview Process: 2-stage process

Why SCC?

  • An inclusive workplace
  • Excellent package: solid basic and company benefits
  • Hybrid working & core hours in line with role requirements
  • Career development and life‑long learning opportunities
  • Opportunity to join Europe’s largest privately‑owned IT Company

Role purpose

The AI Application Architect is responsible for the end‑to‑end architecture, design and evolution of AI‑enabled applications and solution patterns, ensuring alignment to business goals and delivery outcomes. This role focuses on applied AI, translating business problems into practical, secure and scalable AI solutions using platforms such as Azure AI Foundry, AWS Bedrock and Google Vertex AI, and embedding those capabilities into well‑architected application solutions.

You will set architectural direction, define reference architectures and reusable accelerators, and guide engineering teams through design and delivery—ensuring solutions meet functional and non‑functional requirements including reliability, security, scalability, performance and governance standards.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead the architectural design of AI‑enabled software applications, ensuring alignment with business/customer goals and delivery milestones.
  • Translate stakeholder needs into clear technical requirements and target architectures for AI‑enabled application solutions.
  • Design end‑to‑end AI solution architectures using Azure AI Foundry and AWS Bedrock to address specific business challenges.
  • Define and maintain AI reference architectures and design patterns for common use cases such as document intelligence, conversational AI, knowledge mining and process automation.
  • Provide technical direction to development teams, ensuring implementation aligns with architectural standards, best practices and agreed solution patterns.
  • Oversee the development of AI application solutions across proof‑of‑concept through to production deployment and ongoing operations.
  • Use reusable accelerators, templates and tooling to streamline delivery of AI‑enabled application solutions across initiatives.
  • Define and implement AI solution lifecycle management (monitoring, evaluation, retraining and continuous improvement) within the broader application lifecycle.
  • Ensure solutions meet performance, reliability and governance requirements; embed security and responsible AI considerations into architecture and design decisions.
  • Develop and maintain architectural documentation (reference architectures, design decisions, patterns, runbooks) to support delivery and operational handover.
  • Mentor and guide team members on AI solution design, architecture best practices, and effective delivery approaches.
  • Collaborate with Cloud and Data Product Architects to ensure integrated solution design across the wider portfolio.
  • Stay current with emerging AI services, tools and frameworks, evaluating applicability to architectural standards and delivery patterns.
  • Contribute to the evolution of delivery methodologies, standards and practices to improve consistency, reuse and time‑to‑value for AI‑enabled application delivery.

Skills and experience

  • Demonstrable experience in application architecture, including designing scalable and maintainable software solutions.
  • Demonstrable background designing and delivering AI/ML solutions using with strong experience using cloud platforms.
  • Experience integrating AI into applications and creating AI‑enabled applications.
  • Strong understanding of software development methodologies and cloud technologies.
  • Understanding of responsible AI principles, prompt engineering, model evaluation, and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep) for AI workload deployments.
  • Excellent problem‑solving and analytical skills, with the ability to develop purpose‑driven solutions.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills, including ability to explain complex technical/AI concepts to non‑technical stakeholders.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines and provide leadership/mentoring across teams.
  • Preferred certifications for Azure or AWS in AI and Architecture.
  • Ability to attain UK Security Clearance (as per relevant contracts).

About Us

SCC is Europe’s largest privately‑owned IT business, based out of the new £7m HQ office in Birmingham and we help clients succeed through IT transformation and exceptional customer experiences. We are a business where innovation is greater as we combine unique ideas, people and disciplines. We are a global company that is passionate about IT and where we look to simplify the complex.

We are an equal opportunities employer. SCC is committed to providing equal opportunities and a proactive and inclusive approach to equality and diversity in employment. No applicant or employee will be treated less favourably than another on the grounds of a protected characteristic which are defined as sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender reassignment, trade union membership or non‑membership, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race and religion or belief.

If you are selected for interview, and need any reasonable adjustments made for your interview, please let the SCC Talent Acquisition team know, at the point of scheduling.

Diversity & Inclusion at SCC - https://www.scc.com/diversity-and-inclusion/

Sustainability at SCC - https://www.scc.com/sustainability-at-scc/

Life at SCC - https://www.linkedin.com/company/scc/life

Application Architect (AI) in Birmingham employer: SCC

SCC is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and collaborative work culture, offering employees the chance to thrive in a hybrid environment while engaging with diverse teams and clients. With a strong focus on professional development, employees are encouraged to grow their skills in IT consulting and business development, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in the public sector. Located in London, SCC provides unique opportunities to work with leading FTSE500 companies, enhancing both career prospects and job satisfaction.

SCC

Contact Details:

SCC Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Application Architect (AI) in Birmingham

Join Local Tech Meetups

Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at SCC or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!

Contribute to Open Source Projects

Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to SCC.

Tap into Online Developer Communities

Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like SCC.

Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles

Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like SCC that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!

We think you need these skills to ace Application Architect (AI) in Birmingham

Application Architecture
AI/ML Solutions Design
Cloud Platforms (Azure AI Foundry, AWS Bedrock, Google Vertex AI)
Software Development Methodologies
Responsible AI Principles
Prompt Engineering
Model Evaluation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.

Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at SCC.

Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at SCC and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!

Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!

How to prepare for a job interview at SCC

Brush Up on Your Coding Skills

For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.

Know Your Tools and Frameworks

Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If SCC uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.

Showcase Your Projects

Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.

Prepare for Behavioural Questions

While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.