Lead AI Architect and Data Manager

Brightsmith; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Brightsmith is seeking a Lead AI Architect to own the build and development of its new agentic AI platform. This is a founding, hands-on technical role with ownership of a platform central to the business’s growth.

You will oversee delivery with an external partner, then run and evolve the platform long term, ensuring security, data governance and model-agnostic design.

Qualifications

• Strong Python skills and production AI experience.
• Hands-on with agent-based workflows (e.g., LangGraph).
• Experience taking AI products from prototype to production.
• Knowledge of cloud and on-prem hosting, data security and databases.
• Experience managing external developers or delivery partners.

Responsibilities

• Review and sign off on code and architecture from external partners.
• Hold contractors to account against technical, security and data guardrails.
• Own data architecture and keep client data in-house.
• Maintain platform model-agnostic design to allow provider swaps.
• Run and improve the live platform with monitoring and updates.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to map workflows and build use cases.

Skills

Python

Agent-based workflows

Production AI apps

AI product lifecycle

Cloud & on-prem hosting

Partner management

LangGraph

Tools

LangGraph

Job description

We’re partnering with a specialist energy advisory firm to appoint a Lead AI Architect to own the build and development of its new agentic AI platform.

This is a founding, hands‑on technical role. You’ll be the firm’s first dedicated AI hire, so you’ll have ownership of a platform that sits at the centre of the business’s growth plans.

The Role:

The firm is about to begin a build phase with an external development partner. You’ll take over from the architects, oversee delivery, and then run and develop the platform long term.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Reviewing and signing off on code and architecture from the external development partner
• Holding contractors to account against the firm’s technical, security and data guardrails
• Owning data architecture, security and keeping client data in-house
• Keeping the platform model-agnostic, so AI providers can be swapped without disruption
• Running the live platform, including monitoring, updates and ongoing improvements
• Working closely with internal stakeholders to map workflows and build new use cases

What We’re Looking For:

We’re interested in hands‑on engineers who have built and shipped AI applications, ideally from a lead, principal or founding engineer background in a smaller team.

You’ll likely bring:

• Strong Python skills and experience building production AI applications
• Hands‑on experience with agent-based workflows (for example LangGraph or similar frameworks)
• Experience taking an AI product from prototype to production
• Good understanding of cloud and on‑premise hosting, data security and databases
• Experience managing external developers or technical delivery partners

You’ll need to be comfortable working close to the detail, confident challenging technical decisions, and able to explain complex ideas clearly to non-technical colleagues.