IT ARCHITECT - APPLICATIONS (Responsible AI & Innovation)

POSITION OVERVIEW

Houston, TX, is the fourth largest city in the country, with a budget of over 6 billion dollars, a workforce of 20,000 employees, and 23 departments with fascinating data and a wide range of questions. Houston promotes healthy and resilient communities through smart civic investments, dynamic partnerships, education, and innovation.

The City offers its employees various benefits, including healthcare, wellness, professional development, and an excellent pension plan.

The IT Architect – Applications (Responsible AI and Innovation) serves as the City’s enterprise leader for artificial intelligence strategy, governance, and adoption. Reporting to the Office of the CIO – Performance, Architecture, and Innovation, this role advances responsible AI capabilities that improve operational efficiency, support data‑driven decision making, and enhance public services across all City departments. The position blends strategic architecture, innovation leadership, and hands‑on solution engagement, ensuring that AI initiatives are secure, ethical, scalable, and aligned with enterprise architecture standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Governance
  • Lead the development and continuous refinement of the City’s enterprise‑wide AI strategy, aligned with City priorities and departmental needs.
  • Establish and maintain AI governance frameworks, ensuring transparency, accountability, data privacy, and regulatory compliance.
  • Integrate AI oversight into existing governance bodies and support decision making related to intake, review, and approval of AI initiatives.
• Use Case Development
  • Identify, evaluate, and prioritize impactful AI use cases; support departments in framing business challenges and translating them into AI opportunities.
  • Conduct exploratory pilots and proofs‑of‑concept, including participation in procurement activities such as RFP development, vendor evaluations, and SOW reviews.
  • Actively engage in hands‑on experimentation with AI tools, models, and platforms to validate feasibility and guide architectural recommendations.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Foster partnerships across City departments, providing clear communication on AI opportunities, risks, and value.
  • Collaborate with all divisions across HITS and Federated IT to ensure convergence on AI initiatives.
  • Support Digital Champions in departments through coaching, knowledge‑sharing, and hands‑on enablement to accelerate AI literacy and adoption.
• Capability Building
  • Serve as a technical advisor and architect on AI‑related initiatives, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture, data platforms, and security standards.
  • Review technical designs, data‑integration patterns, and project documentation; identify risks and recommend mitigation strategies to delivery teams.
  • Monitor AI industry trends, standards, and regulatory developments to keep the City’s practices current and compliant.
• Other Duties
  • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Hands‑on experience with modern AI and data platforms, including Azure AI, Microsoft Copilot, machine‑learning frameworks, and API‑based AI services.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, privacy, and responsible‑AI principles within regulated or public‑sector environments.
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into viable AI opportunities, including assessing feasibility, risk, and expected impact.
• Extensive experience in enterprise IT architecture, particularly in the design or governance of AI, data, or analytics solutions.
• Proven ability to review or develop technical architectures, solution designs, reference architectures, and technical standards.
• Ability to lead pilots and proofs‑of‑concept and guide them toward scalable enterprise deployment.
• Experience supporting digital champions, communities of practice, or capability‑building programs that promote adoption of emerging technologies.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑engagement skills, with the ability to collaborate across divisions, departments, and federated IT groups.
• Familiarity with IT governance processes, including RFP/SOW development, vendor evaluations, and project‑risk assessment.

COMPLIANCE & SECURITY REQUIREMENTS

• CJIS Certification (or ability to obtain within 90 days of hire) is mandatory.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background check, including criminal history, and fingerprinting per Houston Police Department and CJIS standards.
• Candidate must maintain eligibility for access to sensitive law‑enforcement systems and data.

WORKING CONDITIONS

There are no major sources of discomfort; essentially normal office environment with acceptable lighting, temperature, and air conditions. Significant time spent using computer display, keyboard, and mouse.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION

• Requires a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Management and Information Systems (MIS) or a closely related field.
• Holds multiple applications‑specific technical certifications; recognized as having mastery of a particular technical discipline.
• A Master's degree in Computer Science, Management and Information Systems (MIS) or a closely related field may be substituted for up to two (2) years of experience.

EXPERIENCE

• At least ten (10) years of specialized experience in application systems analysis and development.

LICENSE

• None

PREFERENCES

• Demonstrated leadership in shaping or influencing organizational AI strategy, such as contributing to an AI council, innovation board, technology steering committee, or enterprise governance forum.
• Experience launching or scaling citywide or enterprise‑wide innovation programs, including hackathons, AI communities of practice, capability‑building cohorts, or digital‑champion networks.
• Established partnerships with academic institutions, civic‑tech organizations, or industry research groups to advance responsible AI innovation in the public sector.
• A track record of guiding organizations through emerging‑technology change, including developing ethical‑AI guidelines, contributing to policy development, or supporting adoption across federated IT environments.
• Knowledge of SDLC, ITIL, and Agile/DevOps methodologies supporting modern solution delivery.
• Relevant industry certifications in AI, cloud, or data technologies.
• Zachman (ZCEA) or TOGAF certification.

GENERAL INFORMATION

SELECTION / SKILLS TESTS REQUIRED – Department may administer skills assessment test.

SAFETY IMPACT POSITION – NO.

PAY GRADE – 33.

EOE Equal Opportunity Employer The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.