Senior Data & AI Solution Architect

The Senior Data & AI Solution Architect is accountable for designing and governing end-to-end data and AI solutions that translate business requirements into secure, scalable, and production-ready architectures. This role operates as the hands-on architecture authority across the solution lifecycle, driving design decisions, defining solution blueprints, resolving trade-offs, and guiding engineering and data science teams through implementation. The architect ensures solutions are aligned with enterprise standards, regulatory expectations, and operational readiness, while enabling the delivery of modern data platforms, analytics, and AI/GenAI use cases.Position Responsibilities: Solution Architecture OwnershipDesign end-to-end data and AI solutions (data pipelines, analytics, ML/GenAI use cases).Produce HLDs/LLDs, define NFRs (scalability, performance, security, cost).Architecture DecisioningLead design decisions and trade-offs (e.g., batch vs streaming, cost vs performance).Review and approve solution designs aligned with enterprise standards.Delivery & Implementation SupportGuide engineering and data science teams during build and deployment.Resolve technical blockers and ensure production readiness.Applied Data & AI PatternsImplement patterns for ingestion, lakehouse, ML pipelines, and GenAI (RAG, vector search).Enforce MLOps/LLMOps (versioning, evaluation, monitoring).Azure Solution DesignArchitect solutions leveraging Azure (ADLS, Databricks, Synapse/Fabric, Azure ML/OpenAI).Define CI/CD and IaC-based deployment patterns.Integration & Data GovernanceDesign API, data contracts, and event-driven architectures.Ensure data quality, lineage, and interoperability.Security & Responsible AIEmbed security, privacy, and AI governance controls (model risk, guardrails).Operational ReadinessDefine monitoring, observability, and cost optimization strategies.Required Qualifications: 5+ years of experience in data/analytics architecture, with 3+ years designing AI/ML solutions in production (GenAI experience strongly preferred).Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, Data/AI, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.Proven experience architecting on Azure across data and AI services (e.g., Data Lake/Databricks/Synapse/Fabric as applicable; Azure AI services), ideally within financial services and/or insurance.Strong understanding of data governance, data modeling, integration, metadata management, and privacy/security controls; able to extend these practices to AI/GenAI governance.Strong architecture leadership skills: drive decisions, manage trade-offs, and influence across teams while maintaining delivery focus.Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex data/AI concepts for technical and non-technical audiences.Experience with modern engineering practices (IaC, CI/CD), and with MLOps/LLMOps concepts such as model/prompt versioning, evaluation, monitoring, and deployment patterns.Relevant certifications in Azure (Architecture/Data/AI) are a plus.Preferred Qualifications:Hands-on experience implementing:RAG architecturesVector databases / semantic searchPrompt orchestration frameworksExperience with: Lakehouse architectures and data productsDomain-driven/data mesh environmentsFamiliarity with:Model risk managementResponsible AI frameworks in regulated industriesAzure certifications (Solutions Architect, Data Engineer, AI Engineer).When you join our team: We’ll empower you to learn and grow the career you want. We’ll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words. As part of our global team, we’ll support you in shaping the future you want to see. #LI-HybridThe role being advertised is an existing vacancy.About Manulife and John HancockManulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit .Manulife is an Equal Opportunity EmployerAt Manulife/John Hancock, we embrace our diversity. We strive to attract, develop and retain a workforce that is as diverse as the customers we serve and to foster an inclusive work environment that embraces the strength of cultures and individuals. We are committed to fair recruitment, retention, advancement and compensation, and we administer all of our practices and programs without discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, religion or religious beliefs, creed, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), sexual orientation, genetic characteristics, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected by applicable law.It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Manulife/John Hancock policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact View email address on click.appcast.io Salary LocationToronto, OntarioWorking ArrangementHybridSalary range is expected to be between$113,000.00 CAD - $163,000.00 CADEmployees also have the opportunity to participate in incentive programs and earn incentive compensation tied to business and individual performance. The actual salary will vary depending on local market conditions, geography and relevant job-related factors such as knowledge, skills, qualifications, experience, and education/training. If you are applying for this role outside of the primary location, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io for the salary range for your location.Manulife offers eligible employees a wide array of customizable benefits, including health, dental, mental health, vision, short- and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance coverage, adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits, and employee/family assistance plans. We also offer eligible employees various retirement savings plans (including pension and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions) and financial education and counseling resources. Our generous paid time off program in Canada includes holidays, vacation, personal, and sick days, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence. If you are applying for this role in the U.S., please contact View email address on click.appcast.io for more information about U.S.-specific paid time off provisions.We use data and analytics technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), and automated processing tools, to analyze and process the information you provide to us or third parties in the application process. For more information, please refer to our personal information collection statement.SummaryLocation: Toronto, OntarioType: Full time