AI Architect

EXL • Pittsburgh, PA

22d

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced AI Architect with a critical, hard-to-source skill in refactoring Semantic Kernel (SK) plugins, planners, function calling, and memory to Agent Framework agents/workflows. This role involves rebuilding the orchestration layer using Python/Django without breaking existing API contracts, RBAC, and permissions. You will also leverage Azure AI Services, including Azure AI Search for hybrid retrieval and semantic ranking, and Azure OpenAI for inference and embeddings, ensuring the preservation of retrieval, reranking, prompt assembly, and citation paths.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience refactoring Semantic Kernel plugins, planners, function calling, and memory to Agent Framework agents/workflows.
• Proficiency in Python/Django for rebuilding orchestration layers.
• Experience with Azure AI Services: Azure AI Search (hybrid retrieval, semantic ranking), Azure OpenAI (inference + embeddings).
• Experience with Model Context Protocol (MCP) for tool/connector integration.
• Experience with OpenShift / containerization for microservice deployment.
• Experience with Arize Phoenix + OpenTelemetry instrumentation for observability and evaluation.
• Experience with GitHub / CI-CD / DevSecOps for PR-based workflows and vulnerability remediation.
• Graduate in Computer Science.
• 8+ years of experience in data engineering or related field.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Redis Enterprise for caching/session state.
• Experience with Azure APIM for gateway and rate limiting.

Responsibilities

• Refactor Semantic Kernel plugins, planners, function calling, and memory to Agent Framework agents/workflows.
• Rebuild the orchestration layer using Python/Django, maintaining existing API contracts, RBAC, and permissions.
• Utilize Azure AI Services (Azure AI Search, Azure OpenAI) for retrieval, inference, and embeddings.
• Integrate tools/connectors and the Intelligence Layer channel using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
• Deploy migrated microservices on OpenShift (OCP) using containerization.
• Implement observability and evaluation using Arize Phoenix and OpenTelemetry instrumentation.
• Register agents/agentic systems and validate RAG quality/evaluation to confirm parity.
• Manage PR-based workflows and vulnerability remediation using GitHub/CI-CD/DevSecOps.
• Implement caching and session state using Redis Enterprise.
• Configure Azure APIM for gateway and rate limiting.

Benefits

• Hiring range reflects base salary across our national hiring scale.
• Compensation may exceed the posted range for candidates who notably exceed requirements.
• Compensation may exceed the posted range for positions based in higher-cost zones (e.g., California, New York, New Jersey).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior