AI Architecture Lead

AI Architecture Lead

Remote First Working - Travel to local site when required

Financial Services

Lorien's leading Pension and Investments client is looking for an AI Architecture Lead to define and govern the target AI architecture and delivery roadmap for Balance Sheet Modelling. This is a senior architecture role responsible for shaping the organisation's AI strategy, defining the future-state architecture and ensuring AI solutions are scalable, secure, well-governed and aligned with wider enterprise technology standards.

The successful candidate will lead AI Solution Architecture, working across technology, data, business and governance teams to determine how LLMs, Machine Learning and Agentic AI can be effectively integrated into the Balance Sheet Modelling landscape.

The ideal candidate will combine senior enterprise architecture capability with strong practical knowledge of modern AI technologies. They will be comfortable moving between strategic architecture, LLM/ML and Agentic AI design, data and integration architecture, governance and hands-on technical discussions.

They will be capable of defining not only what the future AI architecture should look like, but also the transition roadmap, governance and operating model required to deliver it successfully within a complex financial services environment.

This role is based in UK Wide.

This role will be Via Umbrella.

Remote First Working - Travel to local site when required

Key Responsibilities

• Define the target AI architecture for Balance Sheet Modelling, including the roadmap and transition states required to reach the future-state environment.
• Lead AI Solution Architecture across LLM, ML, Agentic AI and related AI capabilities.
• Design scalable AI architectures aligned with wider enterprise, data and integration architecture.
• Assess opportunities for Agentic AI and lead associated organisational design (OD) activity.
• Establish AI architecture principles, design standards and governance frameworks.
• Ensure solutions meet appropriate security, governance, regulatory and AI risk management requirements.
• Evaluate AI platforms, technologies and vendors, providing clear build vs buy vs hybrid recommendations.
• Define appropriate AI operating model and organisational design options.
• Provide architecture leadership and hands-on design support throughout the Balance Sheet Modelling programme.
• Work closely with engineering and delivery teams to ensure architectural designs can be translated into practical, deliverable solutions.
• Provide technical leadership across the wider AI ecosystem, with sufficient coding knowledge to challenge designs and support technical decision-making.

Key Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in Enterprise AI Architecture / AI Solution Architecture within complex organisations.
• Deep understanding of the wider AI ecosystem, including LLMs, Machine Learning and Agentic AI.
• Strong technical and coding knowledge, with the ability to engage effectively with engineering teams.
• Strong understanding of data architecture, data platforms, APIs and integration patterns supporting AI solutions.
• Experience designing and governing enterprise-scale AI platforms and solutions.
• Strong knowledge of AI governance, security, controls and AI risk management.
• Experience designing Agentic AI architectures and operating models.
• Proven experience evaluating AI technologies and vendors and developing build, buy and hybrid strategies.
• Experience defining target-state architectures, transition architectures and technology roadmaps.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate complex architectural concepts to both technical and senior business audiences.
• Experience within banking, financial services, treasury, balance sheet management or financial modelling environments would be highly beneficial.

Key Deliverables

The AI Architecture Lead will be accountable for producing:

• AI Target Architecture, Roadmap & Transition States
• AI Organisational Design (OD) Options
• AI Design Standards & Governance Framework
• Build / Buy / Hybrid Recommendations
• Vendor and Technology Assessments
• AI Operating Model Recommendations
• Ongoing Architecture Leadership and Support for Balance Sheet Modelling

IND_PC3

Guidant, Carbon60, Lorien & SRG - The Impellam Group Portfolio are acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.