AI Architecture Lead: Patterns, Costs & Governance

The Citation Group; Slough; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Citation Group seeks an AI Architect to own AI design across product, engineering, security and infrastructure. This role sits in the AI/Data area and reports to the Chief AI Officer, influencing decisions beyond any single team.

You will formalise informal architectural work into mandated standards, patterns, and governance across the organization and drive cost-aware, secure AI delivery.

Qualifications

• Senior with 6+ years in software, data, or platform engineering/architecture.
• Hands-on time on production AI systems, not just pilots.

Responsibilities

• Architectural standards and patterns for AI systems and platforms.
• Own design patterns for retrieval, grounding, and agent orchestration.
• Document decisions with architecture records aligned to five-layer AI platform.
• Frame model selection: open-weight vs closed, per workload with evidence.
• Manage token cost, observability, and guardrails for AI solutions.
• Assess data readiness across Salesforce, Atlas, Snowflake, and integrations.
• Provide design governance and oversight of partner Statements of Work.
• Define success for spikes and proofs of concept before delivery.
• Oversee production quality, monitoring, and incident response in AI.
• Ensure security and compliance are integral from the start.

Skills

Senior experience

Software architecture

Data architecture

Job description

The Citation Group seeks an AI Architect to own AI design across product, engineering, security and infrastructure. This role sits in the AI/Data area and reports to the Chief AI Officer, influencing decisions beyond any single team.

You will formalise informal architectural work into mandated standards, patterns, and governance across the organization and drive cost-aware, secure AI delivery.