Domain Architect- AI/ML, Senior Specialist

Vanguard; Charlotte (NC); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard is seeking a Domain AI Architect to lead the design of secure, scalable, and responsible AI solutions that power next-generation client and crew experiences. This role partners across Engineering, Product, Data, Risk, Security, and Enterprise Architecture to translate business needs into production-ready AI architectures.

The architect will define reusable patterns for LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, model integration, observability, and governance while coaching teams on modern AI

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering, distributed systems, or application architecture; demonstrated Generative AI solutions in production.
• Expertise with LLMs, RAG, agentic AI, LangChain/LangGraph or similar frameworks, vector databases, APIs, microservices, cloud-native platforms, and Kubernetes/EKS.
• Experience designing secure, scalable enterprise applications; financial services or regulated-industry experience preferred.
• Strong communication, influence, and stakeholder partnership skills.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; graduate degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architect end-to-end AI architectures for LLM-powered applications, RAG, agentic workflows, orchestration frameworks, APIs, and enterprise data integration.
• Define reusable architecture patterns, reference implementations, and deployment approaches that accelerate delivery across teams.
• Enable secure, resilient, observable, and cost-effective AI services across cloud-native environments.
• Embed responsible AI, security, privacy, auditability, and regulatory controls into solution designs.
• Establish best practices for prompt engineering, evaluation, testing, observability, model lifecycle management, and production readiness.
• Review architectures and code, optimize performance and reliability, and support experiments that validate business value.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to product, engineering, data, risk, and architecture stakeholders.
• Mentor engineers and technical leads on AI architecture, emerging technologies, and delivery practices.
• Drive alignment across teams while balancing innovation, governance, and pragmatic execution.

Skills

LLMs & RAG

LangChain/LangGraph

Vector databases

Kubernetes/EKS

Cloud-native architectures

Stakeholder leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Graduate degree preferred

Tools

APIs

Microservices

Kubernetes

Security controls

Job description

Role Summary

Vanguard is seeking a Domain AI Architect to lead the design of secure, scalable, and responsible AI solutions that power next-generation client and crew experiences. This role partners across Engineering, Product, Data, Risk, Security, and Enterprise Architecture to translate business needs into production-ready AI architectures.

Vanguard is seeking a Domain AI Architect to lead the design of secure, scalable, and responsible AI solutions that power next-generation client and crew experiences. This role partners across Engineering, Product, Data, Risk, Security, and Enterprise Architecture to translate business needs into production-ready AI architectures.

The architect will define reusable patterns for LLMs, RAG, agentic systems, model integration, observability, and governance while being hands on and coaching teams on modern AI engineering practices.

What it means to work at Vanguard

This is an opportunity to help shape Vanguard's leading client-facing AI assistant, while advancing the enterprise architecture patterns that enable secure, scalable, and responsible AI across the firm. You will join a high-energy team working on meaningful, visible, and fast-evolving AI capabilities -where we hold a high bar for engineering excellence, collaborate deeply across the enterprise, and make time to enjoy the journey together.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Platform Leadership

• Architect end-to-end AI architectures for LLM-powered applications, RAG, agentic workflows, orchestration frameworks, APIs, and enterprise data integration.
• Define reusable architecture patterns, reference implementations, and deployment approaches that accelerate delivery across teams.
• Enable secure, resilient, observable, and cost-effective AI services across cloud-native environments.

Responsible AI & Engineering Excellence

• Embed responsible AI, security, privacy, auditability, and regulatory controls into solution designs.
• Establish best practices for prompt engineering, evaluation, testing, observability, model lifecycle management, and production readiness.
• Review architectures and code, optimize performance and reliability, and support experiments that validate business value.

Influence & Stakeholder Partnership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to product, engineering, data, risk, and architecture stakeholders.
• Mentor engineers and technical leads on AI architecture, emerging technologies, and delivery practices.
• Drive alignment across teams while balancing innovation, governance, and pragmatic execution.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in software engineering, distributed systems, or application architecture; demonstrated Generative AI solutions in production.
• Expertise with LLMs, RAG, agentic AI, LangChain/LangGraph or similar frameworks, vector databases, APIs, microservices, cloud-native platforms, and Kubernetes/EKS.
• Experience designing secure, scalable enterprise applications; financial services or regulated-industry experience preferred.
• Strong communication, influence, and stakeholder partnership skills.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required; graduate degree preferred.

What Success Looks Like

• AI solutions are delivered securely, reliably, and at enterprise scale.
• Reusable patterns accelerate adoption across product and engineering teams.
• Responsible AI and governance are embedded from design through production.
• AI platforms create measurable business, client, and crew outcomes.
• 10+ years in software engineering, distributed systems, or application architecture.
• 3+ years designing and delivering AI/ML or Generative AI solutions in production.
• Hands-on expertise with LLMs, RAG, agentic AI, LangChain/LangGraph or similar frameworks, vector databases, APIs, microservices, cloud-native platforms, and Kubernetes/EKS.
• Strong ability to communicate complex technical concepts to business and technical stakeholders.

Special Factors

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission,we're on a mission. To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.