AI Automation & IT Systems Architect

AI Automation & IT Systems Builder
Location: Newmarket, NH (in-office / local commute required; limited hybrid possible)
Type: Full-time

The short version:
We're looking for a hands-on builder to own and execute our AI initiatives and handle a significant portion of our IT and systems architecture needs.
This is not a strategy role. This is not a vendor-management role.
This role exists to build and deploy real systems that remove manual work, connect fragmented tools, and materially improve speed, accuracy, and scalability-especially across production graphics (artwork proofs and color separations) , ERP integrations , warehouse and production systems , and sales prospecting and targeting .
This is an in - house role. You will work closely with our production, warehouse, graphics, and sales teams and must be local enough to commute to our Newmarket, NH office.
This is a hands - on build role. You will personally design, code, deploy, integrate, and support the systems you create.

Why this role exists:
We have clear, compounding opportunities to improve how our systems talk to each other and how work flows through the business:
Faster, more consistent client artwork proofs
AI - assisted color separations for straightforward screen-printing jobs
Scalable design generation for client selection
Smarter, faster sales prospecting and targeting
Better connectivity between our ERP, warehouse management, bulk order processing, and production scheduling systems
Today, too much work is slowed down by manual steps, disconnected systems, and one-off workarounds. This role exists to fix that-by building durable, well-designed integrations and automation.

What you'll build (real systems, not hypotheticals):
You will be expected to directly design, build, and deploy systems such as: 1) Proof Automation ("Proof Factory")
Automate creation of client-ready artwork proofs
Enforce layout, branding, and production rules
Reduce revision cycles and manual designer labor
Improve handoff from sales → graphics → production 2) AI-Assisted Color Separations (starting simple)
Build a pipeline for basic / straightforward separations
Automatically route complex art to human review
Include QA checks so production receives reliable output
Measure throughput, accuracy, and exception rates 3) Design Generation for Client Selection
Generate curated design sets clients can choose from
Apply guardrails for brand standards and trademark risk
Output production-ready vector formats where possible 4) ERP & Systems Integration
Connect our existing ERP to other tools via APIs, middleware, or custom integrations , including:
Warehouse management systems
Bulk order processing tools
Production scheduling and capacity planning systems
Reduce duplicate data entry and manual reconciliation
Improve reliability and flow of data across operations 5) Sales Prospecting Acceleration
Build tools that help reps identify and prioritize accounts
Automate research summaries and targeting insights
Reduce time to first draft for outbound outreach 6) Core IT & Systems Ownership
Microsoft 365 administration (accounts, access, permissions)
Device and user lifecycle (onboarding/offboarding)
Security basics (MFA, backups, access controls)
Coordinate with outside IT support when appropriate

What success looks like (first 90 days)
By day 90, you will have delivered:
A live proof automation MVP used by the graphics team
A working AI - assisted separations workflow for simple jobs
At least one meaningful ERP integration that eliminates manual steps
A sales prospecting tool that measurably saves reps time
A prioritized and documented roadmap for systems integration and automation
You will be judged on working systems, adoption, reliability, and measurable impact -not slide decks.

Core responsibilities
Analyze & strategize
Collaborate with business leaders and stakeholders to understand objectives
Analyze existing processes and systems to identify inefficiencies and constraints
Translate business problems into solvable system and automation opportunities Design & develop solutions
Translate business requirements into technical specifications and architectures
Personally design and build integrations, automations, and internal tools
Ensure systems are maintainable, testable, and well-structured Evaluate technology
Research and evaluate existing and emerging technologies
Recommend solutions based on business fit, scalability, cost, and risk Lead implementation
Lead implementations end-to-end, from concept through deployment
Guide any supporting developers or vendors when used, while remaining hands-on
Ensure systems meet business objectives and technical best practices Ensure performance, security & reliability
Design systems for scalability, security, and performance
Troubleshoot issues across integrated systems
Establish backup, recovery, and failure-mode considerations Manage stakeholders
Act as a bridge between technical and non-technical teams
Clearly communicate system concepts, tradeoffs, and progress
Keep stakeholders aligned on scope, expectations, and outcomes Documentation & standards
Create and maintain technical and architectural documentation
Document integrations, data flows, operational procedures, and diagrams
Reduce single-point knowledge risk through clear documentation

Required skills & background (non-negotiable)
Strong hands - on builder experience-shipping internal systems people actually rely on
Proven experience integrating systems via APIs, middleware, or custom workflows
Proficiency with automation, scripting, APIs, or lightweight application development
Ability to turn fragmented, messy workflows into reliable, connected systems
Solid IT and systems fundamentals (Microsoft 365, access control, troubleshooting)
Ability and willingness to work on - site and collaborate in person with operational teams

Preferred (but not required)
Art, design, or production graphics background (formal training or real-world experience)
This role will build art - related and production - critical tools , including proofs and color separations
You do not need to be a full-time designer, but understanding production art is a strong plus
Experience with screen printing, prepress, warehouse, or production workflows
Familiarity with vector and raster design pipelines (Illustrator, PDFs, SVGs, etc.)
Experience working with ERP, WMS, or manufacturing / production systems
Experience integrating AI into operational systems (not just prompting)

Traits that will win here
You ship and iterate quickly
You think in systems, not silos
You care about reliability as much as speed
You communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences
You're pragmatic about what should-and should not-be automated

Interview / skills test
Time - boxed practical exercise: Choose one :
Proof automation
Basic color separations assist
ERP → downstream system integration
Sales prospecting acceleration
You'll be asked to provide:
A simple architecture outline
Data flow and integration approach
QA, exception handling, and failure modes
Metrics you would use to define success

Important clarifiers (read carefully)
This is an in - house, onsite role based in Newmarket, NH. Applicants must be local or willing to relocate.
This is a hands - on build role. You will personally design, code, deploy, integrate, and support the systems.
If you prefer managing vendors over building, this won't be a fit.

Why this is a unique opportunity
This role sits at the intersection of AI, systems architecture, art, production, warehouse operations, and sales .
If you want to build real systems, connect real operations, and see immediate, company-wide impact from your work-this role is for you.