Cloud Architect

Robots & Pencils; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Robots & Pencils is an applied AI engineering firm building the next frontier of business architecture. We design and ship AI co-workers that integrate into enterprise operations and deliver measurable results for our clients.

This Staff Architect role leads end-to-end architecture across cloud, data, and AI/ML workloads, mentoring engineers and defining technical strategy. The position is a 4-month assignment in Houston, TX with potential extension and travel to customer sites every other week

Qualifications

• Staff Architect with responsibility for end-to-end architecture across cloud, data, and AI/ML workloads.
• Mentor mid-level engineers and provide technical direction to cross-functional teams.
• Experience delivering scalable, secure, production-grade cloud-native solutions across multi-cloud and hybrid environments.

Responsibilities

• Define technical strategy and lead architectural design across cloud, data, and AI/ML systems for end-to-end engagements.
• Architect scalable cloud-native solutions, including multi-cloud and hybrid strategies (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes).

Skills

Technical leadership

Architectural design

Cloud architecture

AI/ML systems

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

Kubernetes

Job description

\u003cp\u003eLocation: Houston, TX This is a 4 month assignment with potential to extend Houston, local OR be able to travel to Houston, TX to be at customer site every other week for a 4-5days/week\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCompany Overview\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRobots & Pencils is an applied AI engineering firm building the next frontier of business architecture. We design and ship AI co-workers that integrate into enterprise operations and deliver measurable results for our clients. We're all in on AWS, combining deep UX capability with senior engineering talent to get AI into production fast and keep it there. We’ve earned the trust of leaders across Consumer Products and Retail, Education, Energy, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Manufacturing and more, and earned a reputation as the nimble alternative to traditional global systems integrators. Founded in 2009, with delivery centers in Canada, the United States, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, we are smaller, faster, and more senior by design. Our teams average 15+ years of experience. We move fast, sweat the details, and build things that actually ship.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003ePosition Overview\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe’re looking for a Staff Architect to lead the design and delivery of complex, multi-domain systems spanning cloud, data, and AI. This role is ideal for an experienced engineer who can define technical strategy, own end-to-end architecture for major engagements, and provide technical leadership across teams. In this role, you will work as a delivery-embedded technical leader on cross-functional teams, defining architecture across cloud infrastructure, data platforms, and AI/ML workloads. You’ll act as a technical escalation point on complex challenges, mentor mid-level engineers, partner with leadership on technical direction, and ensure systems are scalable, secure, and built to last.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy This Role Matters\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt Robots & Pencils, we design AI systems for a human world. Our name says it all. Robots and pencils means engineering paired with creativity, because every agent we ship has to work for real people in real workflows. That balance is baked into how we operate. Every role here contributes directly to that mission. Here, you shape how AI systems integrate into enterprise operations, how teams move at real velocity, and how products create measurable impact for clients and the people they serve. We ship production-ready AI in 30 to 45 days. That pace demands people who take ownership, lead with craft, and care deeply about what they put their name on.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat You’ll Do\u003c/h3\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCraft & Delivery\u003c/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003edefine technical strategy and lead architectural design across cloud, data, and AI/ML systems for end-to-end engagements\u003c/li\u003e\u003cli\u003earchitect scalable cloud-native solutions, including multi-cloud and hybrid strategies (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes)\u003c/li\u003e\u003