AI Architect

Xcel Energy Inc; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 143,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Pharmacy Plan

Dental

Vision

Pension

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Xcel Energy is seeking an AI Architect to design AI solutions across generative AI and predictive ML. You will translate business needs into secure, scalable architectures using GCP, BigQuery, Databricks, and Copilot capabilities, guiding delivery teams through validation and integration.

The role emphasizes nonfunctional requirements, production-readiness, and collaboration with data architects. A senior, delivery-oriented mindset is essential for enterprise patterns and governance.

Qualifications

• Seven years of related functional experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Technology, Science, Business or related field, or 4 years of experience equivalent.
• Experience in a large corporate setting with diverse technologies.
• Project solution architecture experience.
• Knowledge of software, hardware, network, data and hosting models.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture for AI initiatives and ensure alignment with reference architecture.
• Provide consultation on AI solutions, proofs of concept, and technical validation.
• Define nonfunctional requirements, deployment patterns, and operational readiness.

Skills

AI architecture

Cloud platforms

GCP

Databricks

MLOps

Communication

Security governance

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

GCP

BigQuery

Databricks

Copilot

Job description

Xcel Energy(NASDAQ:XEL)is a leading energy providerand Fortune 500company,dedicated toserving millionsofelectricity andnaturalgascustomersacross eight states:Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota,New Mexicoand Texas.We make energy work better forourcustomers, helping them thrive every day. That means always raising the bar-delivering better service and providing more reliable, resilient,and sustainable energy.

Xcel Energy supports a hybrid work model to enable collaboration and flexibility. Many roles are expected to work onsite three days per week (Tuesday–Thursday); however, work location expectations vary based on role, team, and business needs.

Position Summary

The AI Architect is a mid-level, delivery-oriented solution architect responsible for designing AI solutions for assigned initiatives and supporting their implementation. The role translates validated business needs into secure, scalable, supportable, and cost-conscious architectures across generative AI and predictive machine learning. Working primarily through product owners and business analysts, the architect defines solution requirements, evaluates build-versus-buy options, establishes measurable success criteria, and validates business and technical fit.

The AI Architect develops solution designs, proofs of concept, and technical validations using Google Cloud Platform (GCP), BigQuery, Databricks, and Microsoft Copilot capabilities, with limited coding where needed to reduce delivery risk. The role contributes to enterprise architecture patterns for AI assistants, Copilot integration, enterprise knowledge integration, and AI-ready data products. It collaborates with data architects on data flows, retrieval patterns, vector stores, feature pipelines, metadata, and lineage. The role applies established enterprise architecture, security, privacy, responsible AI, data governance, and model risk controls, and coordinates required reviews. Senior architects and review boards retain approval authority for material decisions, standard exceptions, and higher-risk designs.

The role defines nonfunctional requirements, deployment patterns, observability, model monitoring, production-readiness criteria, and support expectations, then transitions implementation and ongoing operational ownership to engineering and operations. It also documents reusable AI patterns and lessons learned and recommends updates to enterprise standards.

Essential Responsibilities

• Leadership: Lead architecture work for assigned initiatives through coaching and feedback, and through significant interactions and influence with delivery teams and leaders. Guide work efforts to ensure alignment with reference architecture, IT strategy and policy. Collaborate cross-organizationally to influence alignment on and adoption of enterprise architecture standards.
• Technical Expertise: Provide consultation and direction to delivery and operational teams on optimal architecture for AI solutions, including proofs of concept and technical validation. Maintain state-of-the-art expertise in enterprise architecture technologies, AI and machine learning frameworks, and industry innovations.
• Architectural Operations: Review projects and work efforts and prepare recommendations regarding compliance with architectural standards. Identify and elevate exceptions to senior architects or review boards. Continuously improve operational processes. Assess, report, and make recommendations to reduce operational risk related to technology or architecture.

Minimum Requirements

• Seven years of related functional experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Technology, Science, Business or related field, or 4 years of experience equivalent to the position.
• Exposure to diverse systems, technologies and processing environments in a large Corporate setting.
• Project solution architecture experience.
• Knowledge of core aspects of architecture (Software, Hardware, Network, Integration, Data, hosting models, platform types, etc.).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Extensive knowledge of future technology trends within area of expertise.
• Excellent communication skills, effective with varying organizational levels and skill sets.
• Excellent Relationship Management and collaboration skills, with a track record of working as one team cross-organizationally to drive innovation and business results.

Preferred Requirements

• Experience architecting and governing Microsoft Copilot and enterprise AI solutions, including AI control planes, enterprisedataaccess, security,governance,andAI-readydataproducts.
• Working experience designing cloud-based AI and machine learning solutions, supported by strong cloud solution architecture fundamentals.
• Experience with generative AI and predictive machine learning patterns, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), agents, model serving, evaluation, and monitoring.
• Experience with MLOps practices, including model lifecycle management, experimentation, deployment, observability, performance monitoring, and operational transition.
• Experience with GCP, BigQuery, and Databricks for AI, machine learning, analytics, or data engineering solutions.
• Experience creating proofs of concept, performing technical validation, and using limited coding to test architecture decisions and reduce delivery risk.
• Experience defining measurable solution success criteria, evaluating model and solution quality, validating business and technical fit, and supporting build-versus-buy decisions.
• Experience designing AI-related data flows, retrieval patterns, vector stores, feature pipelines, metadata, lineage, and governed access in collaboration with data architects.
• Working knowledge of responsible AI, cybersecurity, privacy, data governance, and model risk practices, including identifying risks, incorporating established controls, and coordinating required reviews.
• Experience defining nonfunctional requirements, deployment patterns, scalability, latency, resiliency, observability, model monitoring, production-readiness criteria, and support expectations.
• Experience collaborating with engineering and FinOps on model and service selection, consumption forecasting, performance, scalability, and cost optimization.
• Ability to translate business needs provided through product owners and business analysts into architecture requirements, evaluation criteria, and implementable solution designs.
• Experience documenting reusable AI architecture patterns, capturing lessons learned, and recommending improvements to standards and reference architectures.
• Relevant GCP, Databricks, cloud architecture, machine learning, or AI certifications are preferred but not required.

Our Values

Connected, Committed, Trustworthy, Safe

Our Employee Commitments

• Work that makes a difference
• A team you can count of
• Opportunities to grow
• Rewards that help you thrive

Xcel Energy provides jobapplicantsreasonable accommodations for disabilitiesthroughout the application process. If youare in need ofanaccommodationto complete the Applicant Accommodation RequestForm.

Non-BargainingThe anticipated starting base pay for this position is: $118,000.00 to $142,500.00 per yearThis position is eligible for the following benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program
• Medical/Pharmacy Plan
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Care Reimbursement Account
• Health Savings Account (HSA) (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Limited-Purpose FSA (if enrolled in eligible health plan and HSA)
• Transportation Reimbursement Account
• Short-term disability (STD)
• Long-term disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Fitness Center Reimbursement (if enrolled in eligible health plan)
• Tuition reimbursement
• Transit programs
• Employee recognition program
• Pension
• 401(k) plan
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Holidays
• Volunteer Paid Time Off (VPTO)
• Parental Leave

Benefit plans are subject to change and Xcel Energy has the right to end, suspend, or amend any of its plans, at any time, in whole or in part.

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information including but not limited to dates of school attendance and graduation.You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.

Deadline to Apply: 10/16/26

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All Xcel Energy employees and contractors share responsibility for protecting the company's information and systems by adhering to cybersecurity policies, standards, and best practices, recognizing that cybersecurity is everyone's responsibility.

Accessibility Statement

Xcel Energy endeavors to make https://www.xcelenergy.com and https://jobs.xcelenergy.com accessible to any and all users. If you are in need of an accommodation to complete the application process, now or at any time in the future, please complete the Applicant Accommodation Request Form. For any other application related questions, including application follow-ups or technical issues, please use our Recruiting Assistance, Electra, for assistance. Electra can be found in the lower right-hand corner of our Xcel Energy Careers site.