Lead AI Architect

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is seeking an experienced AI Architect to lead the design and implementation of AI, generative AI, and agentic solutions across the organisation. The role involves requirement analysis, solution design, technology selection, implementation, monitoring, and maintenance. It also focuses on AI governance, ensuring responsible and ethical use of AI technologies, developing policies for data management, model transparency, and regulatory compliance. The position can be based from Warwick or Wokingham and offers hybrid working arrangements. It requires National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance with Security Check (SC) level.

• Lead end-to-end design and architecture of AI, generative AI and agentic solutions from concept to production.
• Develop high and low level design blueprints and drive technical implementation.
• Define target AI architecture and reference patterns across the AI estate, making informed build versus buy and integration decisions with Microsoft Azure as the primary platform.
• Partner with stakeholders to translate ideas into production ready features and measurable outcomes.
• Ensure AI solutions are scalable, secure, resilient and compliant with industry and regulatory standards.
• Establish evaluation and monitoring frameworks, including evaluation driven development, to keep AI solutions robust, accurate, observable and trustworthy.
• Embed AI governance and Responsible AI practices: data management, model transparency, fairness, content safety and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as a technical subject matter expert for AI solution architecture and implementation.
• Develop AI implementation roadmaps, validate designs, lead architecture workshops and technical discovery sessions.
• Guide MLOps and LLMOps pipelines for continuous training, testing, deployment and monitoring in cloud environments.
• Support delivery teams, uphold architectural standards, and document solutions, lessons learned and reusable patterns.
• Stay current on AI trends and technologies and introduce emerging practices into the organisation.

• Proven experience architecting and deploying AI/ML and agentic solutions, especially generative AI in production environments.
• Hands on experience with Microsoft Azure (Azure AI Foundry, Azure Machine Learning, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search); experience with AWS or GCP also considered.
• Deep understanding of AI/ML and agentic frameworks (e.g., LangChain, Semantic Kernel / Microsoft Agent Framework, Hugging Face) and the model lifecycle.
• Strong programming skills in Python or similar AI/ML languages.
• Experience with LLMOps, MLOps, CI/CD for AI, evaluation driven development and model monitoring.
• Strong grasp of enterprise integration patterns (APIs, event driven, data integration) and security of AI workloads end to end.
• Sound knowledge of AI governance and Responsible AI: data privacy, security, model transparency and regulatory compliance.
• Extensive enterprise and solution architecture experience, translating business requirements into technical designs.
• Excellent communication, cross functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to mentor others, lead initiatives and unite teams around bold AI driven goals.

• Competitive salary £75,000 £85,000 (possible flex) based on experience.
• Bonus up to 15% of salary for stretch performance.
• 28 days annual leave.
• Competitive contributory pension with double match up to a 12% company contribution.
• Flexible benefits programme including flexible bank holidays & holiday trading, birthday day off, cycle to work scheme, retail & gym discounts, private medical insurance, critical illness insurance and personal accident insurance.

The role requires National Security Vetting clearance. Applicants who do not currently meet the residency requirement may still express interest. This role is open to full time, part time and flexible working arrangements.