Principal Architect - AI

Issaquah, United States | Posted on 05/05/2026 Redtech is helping our client with a Direct Hire search for a Principal Architect - AI Location: Issaquah (Seattle), WA - selected candidate must live within 50 miles of their selected work location. (Relocation assistance available for eligible new hires located over 50 miles from the hub and who move to within 50 miles of the hub.) Relocation assistance available for eligible hires Schedule: 100% onsite, 5 days/week. No official “on call” structure but expectations can be set during interviews. As with all leadership technical roles, work may require availability 7 days a week at times which can be discussed in detail during interviews. Background Check & Drug Test: requires successful completion. Eligibility: Authorized to work in the US, some types of sponsorships are offered including H1B transfers. Compensation: Target Pay Range: $185,000 - $250,000 per year DOE (top of the range only considered for exceptional experience) Role is eligible for bonus and RSU’s Benefits offering: based on eligibility: CLEINT offers a comprehensive package of benefits including paid time off, health benefits — medical/dental/vision/hearing aid/pharmacy/behavioral health/employee assistance, health care reimbursement account, dependent care assistance plan, commuter benefits, short‑term disability and long‑term disability insurance, AD&D insurance, life insurance, 401(k), stock purchase plan, financial wellness program, to eligible employees. Most Important Skills Required 3+ years hands‑on AI experience implementing production‑scale AI solutions (the past hands‑on experience is to be able to advise business areas, will not be building code) Executive communication and stakeholder management skills 5+ years architecture background is a must 3+ years of machine‑learning experience is a must (the past hands‑on experience is to be able to advise business areas, will not be building code) Job Description Our client is hiring a Principal AI Architect to drive enterprise‑scale AI transformation. Responsibilities Shape the AI roadmap and architect solutions that deliver measurable business impact. Design and implement advanced AI systems, from agentic workflows to production‑grade ML platforms. Build and mentor high‑performing teams while staying technically engaged with complex implementations. Translate cutting‑edge AI capabilities into tangible outcomes that transform how we operate. Guide installations, testing, and service transitions while identifying and leveraging technological innovations. Engage with businesses to drive the adoption of cutting‑edge solutions and oversee incident, change, release, problem, performance, and availability management, ensuring operational excellence. The Enterprise Architecture team is seeking an AI Architect to advance our AI and machine‑learning (ML) practice and guide enterprise‑wide transformation efforts. Key responsibilities include: Shape the organization’s AI/ML strategy and roadmap Define AI/ML technical capabilities—including generative AI systems, data pipelines, model deployment strategies, MLOps frameworks, etc. Define AI reference architecture, standards, and best practices. Lead integration of AI/ML into business system transformation initiatives. Ensure AI‑driven solutions are consistent with organizational goals and technical standards. Champion ethical AI governance and regulatory compliance. Support continuous technology improvement and adaptable architecture. Develop and manage AI governance frameworks including model lifecycle management (MLOps), model monitoring, data governance, bias mitigation, explainability (XAI), and compliance. Lead initiatives around AI governance, MLOps pipeline optimization (monitoring/drift detection), and continuous improvement of intelligent solutions. Develop and promote reusable AI/ML architectural patterns (e.g., generative AI workflows, RAG architectures) that foster innovation while adhering to best practices. Collaborate with stakeholders to operationalize AI use cases (e.g., demand forecasting, NLP for customer service), embedding AI into end‑to‑end business process models. Lead reviews of AI‑driven solution designs for scalability, interoperability, and compliance. Investigate emerging technologies (generative AI, computer vision), assess enterprise impact through research/proof‑of‑concepts, and build business cases for adoption. Define data requirements for AI (feature stores, pipelines), advise on data‑sharing strategies to support ML models, and ensure data quality/security in AI contexts. Evaluate public cloud services and hybrid architectures for cost‑effective deployment of intelligent systems. Mentor cross‑functional teams on AI/ML adoption; bridge gaps between data scientists, engineers, and business units to foster a collaborative environment. Requirements Required 5+ years’ architecture experience with business/capability modeling using EA frameworks (TOGAF/Zachman). 5+ years of demonstrated experience with analyzing and documenting business value streams, capabilities, processes, and data using model‑based representations for the purpose of collecting, aggregating, or analyzing complex business information. Proven ability to define future architecture/technology roadmap and align technology strategy with business goals. Strong communication skills to translate technical concepts for executives and technical teams. Demonstrates a strong understanding and passion for emerging technologies. Proven skills in leadership, relationship building, negotiation, collaboration, advocacy, governance, and consensus building. Excellent verbal and written communication skills at all levels. Team player with proven ability to work effectively within a large matrix organization. Ability to make architecture changes in a dynamic agile environment. Specialized AI/ML Experience 3+ years of experience leading or architecting production‑grade AI/ML solutions, hands‑on with frameworks such as TensorFlow/PyTorch, etc. Experience designing MLOps pipelines (MLflow/Kubeflow) and implementing model lifecycle management/governance. Knowledge of responsible/ethical AI practices: bias detection/mitigation; explainability; regulatory compliance. Proficiency in public cloud AI services: GCP, Vertex AI; distributed data platforms (datalakes/feature stores). Demonstrates a strong understanding of emerging AI and ML technologies to support the development of new solutions, such as Agentic AI, GenAI, etc. Demonstrated skills in leadership, stakeholder engagement, consensus building for strategic initiatives. Team mentorship experience focused on upskilling in AI/ML domains. Recommended Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in computer science, information systems, or related fields. Advanced degree a plus. 10+ years of technology and retail/supply‑chain experience. Experience working with ERP and retail systems software (IBM i and/or SAP), including knowledge of Product Lifecycle. Knowledge of software development lifecycle methodologies with experience in both Classic and Agile (scaled) methodologies. Experience with distributed enterprise/solution architecture. Working knowledge of DevOps, agile methodology, and continuous improvement. Industry AI publications/voice in leading forums. Proficiency in Google Workspace applications, including Sheets, Docs, Slides, and Gmail. #J-18808-Ljbffr