AI Architect

Hays Technology
Manchester, United Kingdom
Today
£850 – £950 pd

Salary

£850 – £950 pd

Job Type
Contract
Work Pattern
Flexible
Work Location
Hybrid
Seniority
Senior
Education
Degree
Posted
4 Jun 2026 (Today)

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements Competitive day rate Long-term extension potential

AI Architect (Contract)

📅 Duration: Initial 6 months (with strong extension potential)

About the Role

We're working with a forward-thinking organisation looking to engage an experienced AI Architect on a contract basis to drive the design and delivery of enterprise-grade AI solutions.This role is ideal for a highly skilled consultant who can operate at both a strategic and hands-on level, helping shape AI capability while delivering real, production-ready outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Define and implement the AI architecture strategy and roadmap

Design scalable, secure, and high-performance AI/ML solutions

Translate business requirements into end-to-end AI architectures

Lead the design of data pipelines, model training environments, and deployment frameworks

Implement best practices for MLOps, CI/CD, and model life cycle management

Evaluate and recommend AI tools, platforms, and frameworks

Ensure alignment with data governance, security, and regulatory requirements (e.g. GDPR)

Collaborate with key stakeholders across data, engineering, and business teams

Provide technical leadership and architectural oversight across AI initiativesExperience Required

Extensive experience (typically 8-12+ years) in technology, with a strong focus on AI, machine learning, and data architecture

Proven track record of delivering enterprise-scale AI/ML solutions in complex environments

Experience defining and implementing AI architecture strategies and roadmaps

Strong hands-on experience building end-to-end AI systems (data pipelines, model development, deployment, monitoring)

Deep experience with cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, or GCP) and cloud-native architecture

Strong background in data engineering and large-scale data platforms (e.g., Spark, Databricks)

Experience implementing MLOps frameworks, including CI/CD and model governance

Experience integrating AI into microservices, APIs, and enterprise systems

Exposure to advanced AI techniques such as NLP, deep learning, and Generative AI / LLMs

Strong understanding of AI governance, ethics, and compliance requirements

Proven ability to work in cross-functional, stakeholder-heavy environments

Experience in a senior or architect-level role, with strong technical leadership capabilityKey Skills

Python (or similar programming languages)

TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar ML frameworks

Cloud AI services (Azure AI, AWS SageMaker, GCP AI Platform)

Data technologies (SQL/NoSQL, Spark, Databricks)

API and microservices architecture

DevOps / MLOps toolingDesirable Experience

Experience with Generative AI solutions (e.g. Azure OpenAI, GPT-based models)

Microsoft stack experience (Azure, Fabric, Synapse)

Previous consulting or contract experience in enterprise environments

Industry experience in [Finance / Retail / Healthcare - tailor if needed]What's on Offer

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI initiatives

High-impact role shaping AI strategy and delivery

Flexible working arrangements

Competitive day rate with long-term extension potentialApply Now

If you're an experienced AI Architect available for your next contract and ready to deliver impactful AI solutions, we'd love to hear from you.

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