Sr Mgr - AI Architect (GenAI & Azure)

Avanade Company•Seattle, WA

1d•$179,000 - $230,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager, AI Architect (GenAI & Azure) leads the solution design, architecture, and scaled enablement of enterprise AI solutions, serving as a trusted advisor guiding clients from pilot to scaled value realization. This is a client-facing, architecture-led consulting role —focused on AI solution design and Gen AI technical leadership. You will partner globally by shaping pursuits, defining target-state AI architectures, and enabling program execution across complex engagements. Partnering with sales, solutioning, and delivery leaders, you will design and architect enterprise grade AI architectures using Azure AI Services, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, and Copilot Studio, integrating patterns such as RAG, vector stores, CLU/NLP, conversational AI, and emerging Agentic AI. You will advise on Responsible AI, security, privacy, and Azure Well-Architected principles; define operating and governance models; and ensure solutions meet cost, risk, and compliance requirements. What you'll do: Client Leadership & Trusted Advisory: Build stakeholder relationships, lead executive briefings, shape AI roadmaps, and translate strategy into well-architected end-to-end AI and GenAI solutions aligned to client business strategy and measurable outcomes Architecture Ownership: Define end-to-end solution blueprints (data, integration, security, model lifecycle), establish standards for RAG/orchestration, and guide Copilot/agent strategies. Sales & Growth: Lead pre-sales architecture for pursuits, create PoVs and reference designs, and differentiate with assets/accelerators and industry patterns. Delivery Oversight: Govern architectural integrity across programs, run design reviews, manage risks and trade-offs, and ensure value tracking and adoption. Practice Building: Mentor architects/engineers, upskill teams on GenAI and Responsible AI, and contribute to IP, playbooks, and reusable components. . About you: Consulting Experience: 10+ years in consulting leading complex, client-facing technology programs; 3–5+ years in cloud architecture; 2+ years architecting AI/GenAI solutions (strategy & design, not primary development). Azure & GenAI Expertise: Deep experience with Azure AI Services, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, Copilot Studio , and data/integration patterns; hands-on architecture with RAG, vector databases, orchestration, conversational AI, NLP/CLU , and an understanding of Agentic AI trajectories. Enterprise Architecture: Strong grasp of security, identity, data governance, compliance , and Azure Well-Architected principles ; familiarity with Responsible AI frameworks and model risk management. Client Leadership: Proven trusted advisor to senior business/technology leaders; excels at storytelling, facilitation, and negotiation; can quantify value (KPIs/OKRs, ROI/TEI) and drive executive alignment. Sales & Delivery: Track record shaping pursuits (solutioning, estimations, commercials), leading design workshops, overseeing delivery quality, and de-risking complex programs. Operating Model & Governance: Experience defining AI operating models , platform strategy, SDLC/MLOps/LLMOps guardrails, data access patterns, and change/adoption plans. Team Leadership: Mentors cross-functional teams; builds capability; contributes to assets, accelerators, and reference architectures . Education & Certifications: Bachelor’s in technology or business (or equivalent experience). Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert , Azure AI Engineer Associate ) preferred. Compensation at Avanade varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Avanade provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired as set forth below. We anticipate this job posting will be posted on 03/13/2026 and open for at least 3 days. Avanade offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here: U.S. Employee Benefits | Avanade Role Location Annual Salary Range California $195,000-$229,000 Cleveland $179,000 to $195,000 Colorado $179,000 to $195,000 District of Columbia $195,000 to $229,000 Illinois $187,000 to $ 210,000 Maryland $195,000 to $229,000 Massachusetts $195,000 to $229,000 Minnesota $187,000 to$ 220,000 New York $207,000 to $230,000 New Jersey $207,000 to $230,000 Washington $195,000 to $229,000 .

Requirements

10+ years in consulting leading complex, client-facing technology programs
3–5+ years in cloud architecture
2+ years architecting AI/GenAI solutions (strategy & design, not primary development)
Deep experience with Azure AI Services, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, Copilot Studio , and data/integration patterns
Hands-on architecture with RAG, vector databases, orchestration, conversational AI, NLP/CLU , and an understanding of Agentic AI trajectories.
Strong grasp of security, identity, data governance, compliance , and Azure Well-Architected principles
Familiarity with Responsible AI frameworks and model risk management.
Proven trusted advisor to senior business/technology leaders
Excels at storytelling, facilitation, and negotiation
Can quantify value (KPIs/OKRs, ROI/TEI) and drive executive alignment.
Track record shaping pursuits (solutioning, estimations, commercials), leading design workshops, overseeing delivery quality, and de-risking complex programs.
Experience defining AI operating models , platform strategy, SDLC/MLOps/LLMOps guardrails, data access patterns, and change/adoption plans.
Mentors cross-functional teams
Builds capability
Contributes to assets, accelerators, and reference architectures
Bachelor’s in technology or business (or equivalent experience)

Nice To Haves

Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert , Azure AI Engineer Associate ) preferred

Responsibilities

Build stakeholder relationships, lead executive briefings, shape AI roadmaps, and translate strategy into well-architected end-to-end AI and GenAI solutions aligned to client business strategy and measurable outcomes
Define end-to-end solution blueprints (data, integration, security, model lifecycle), establish standards for RAG/orchestration, and guide Copilot/agent strategies.
Lead pre-sales architecture for pursuits, create PoVs and reference designs, and differentiate with assets/accelerators and industry patterns.
Govern architectural integrity across programs, run design reviews, manage risks and trade-offs, and ensure value tracking and adoption.
Mentor architects/engineers, upskill teams on GenAI and Responsible AI, and contribute to IP, playbooks, and reusable components.