Systems Architect / Engineering Architecture Lead

Gramian Consulting Group; New Zealand; Remote; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Part time

Job summary

Gramian Consultancy seeks an experienced Systems Architect or Chief Systems Architect to shape an AI training project focused on complex engineering workflows. You will define architectures across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software and manufacturing domains.

Lead multidisciplinary teams, manage interfaces, and perform trade studies, establishing clear requirements, boundaries, dependencies, and evaluation criteria for robust system integration.

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience as a Systems Architect or Chief Systems Architect in a leadership role.
• Proven experience owning architecture of complex engineering systems.
• Ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Strong expertise in system architecture design, trade studies, and interface management.
• Experience conducting architecture reviews and evaluating system-level design decisions.
• Ability to translate complex project objectives into structured architectures and measurable evaluation criteria.
• Understanding of subsystem dependencies, boundaries, integration challenges, and constraints.
• English proficiency at B2 level or higher.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design architectural decisions across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing disciplines.
• Translate high-level objectives into detailed architectures with defined boundaries and interfaces.
• Break complex challenges into tasks with inputs, deliverables, and dependencies.
• Define system-level requirements and ensure alignment with subsystems.
• Evaluate architectural alternatives with trade studies on feasibility, performance, cost, and reliability.
• Establish interfaces and dependencies between subsystems and disciplines.
• Define objectives, acceptance criteria, and evaluation frameworks for architectures.
• Apply systems engineering to identify integration risks and gaps.
• Review architectures to ensure alignment with functional and operational requirements.
• Ensure scenarios reflect realistic engineering practices and industry standards.

Skills

Systems architecture

Technical leadership

Trade studies

Interface management

Architecture reviews

Requirements translation

System integration

Communication skills

Job description

About Gramian

Gramian Consultancy is a boutique consultancy specializing in IT professional services and engineering talent solutions. With a strong background in software engineering and leadership, we help companies build high-performing teams by matching them with professionals who truly fit their needs.

About the Job

We are seeking an experienced Systems Architect or Chief Systems Architect to contribute to a specialized AI training project focused on complex, real-world engineering workflows.

This role is intended for senior engineering professionals with proven experience defining system architectures, managing technical interfaces, and leading multidisciplinary engineering teams. You will use your expertise to design realistic engineering scenarios, translate project objectives into structured system architectures, coordinate contributions from different technical specialists, and establish clear evaluation criteria.

The ideal candidate understands how complex systems are structured across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing disciplines, and can identify dependencies, constraints, and engineering trade-offs throughout the system lifecycle. Previous AI experience is not required.

• CONTRACT: Contractor
• LOCATION: Remote – US-based candidates preferred; worldwide candidates with strong relevant experience considered.
• PROJECT: AI training focused on complex engineering workflows.
• AI EXPERIENCE: Not required.
• FOCUS AREAS: Systems architecture, multidisciplinary engineering, interface management, technical trade studies, and system integration.

Key Responsibilities

Design realistic engineering projects that require architectural decisions across multiple technical disciplines, including mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and manufacturing.

Translate high-level project objectives into detailed system architectures with clearly defined boundaries, subsystem responsibilities, interfaces, and technical constraints.

Break complex architectural challenges into interconnected tasks with defined inputs, deliverables, dependencies, and expert responsibilities.

Define system-level requirements and ensure alignment between subsystem specifications and overall project objectives.

Evaluate architectural alternatives and conduct technical trade studies to assess feasibility, performance, cost, reliability, and other engineering considerations.

Establish and document interfaces and dependencies between subsystems and engineering disciplines.

Define technical objectives, acceptance criteria, and evaluation frameworks for assessing architectural solutions.

Apply systems engineering principles to identify integration risks, technical conflicts, and architectural gaps.

Review system architectures and assess whether proposed solutions meet functional and operational requirements.

Ensure project scenarios reflect realistic engineering practices and industry standards.

Requirements

Substantial professional experience as a Systems Architect, Chief Systems Architect, or in a comparable technical leadership role.

Proven experience owning the architecture of complex engineering systems.

Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary technical teams.

Strong expertise in system architecture design, technical trade studies, and interface management.

Experience conducting architecture reviews and evaluating system-level design decisions.

Ability to translate complex project objectives into structured architectures, technical requirements, and measurable evaluation criteria.

Understanding of subsystem dependencies, system boundaries, integration challenges, and engineering constraints.

English proficiency at B2 level or higher.

Strong analytical, organizational, and technical communication skills.

Systems Architect / Engineering Architecture Lead NZ