Lead Architect AI/ML - Activision (Platform Modernization)

TEK Systems; United States; On-site; USD 130,000 - 202,000; Full time

Job summary

TEKsystems is seeking a GCP Lead Architect, AI/ML to steer the strategy and execution of the Google Cloud AI/ML practice. You will shape offerings, mentor senior architects, and engage CXO-level clients to translate business goals into transformative AI/ML capabilities on GCP.

This leadership role demands deep technical depth, strategic acumen, and a proven ability to manage large, multi‑million dollar engagements, delivering scalable, secure solutions with Vertex AI, BigQuery ML, and other GCP

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology or a related field.
• 10+ years architecting and delivering AI/ML on cloud platforms.
• 5-7+ years in direct technical leadership of AI/ML teams.
• Extensive client-facing experience with CXO-level stakeholders.
• Experience defining new service offerings, IP, and thought leadership.

Responsibilities

• Define and drive the strategic vision and roadmap for TEKsystems' GCP AI/ML practice.
• Lead development of service offerings, IP, and reference architectures.
• Champion emerging GCP AI/ML technologies and integrate into client solutions.
• Architect and oversee end-to-end AI/ML engagements on GCP.
• Ensure MLOps strategies and CI/CD pipelines on GCP.
• Lead pre-sales, PoCs, and client demos for major opportunities.
• Mentor senior AI/ML architects and engineers.
• Manage data ingestion, governance, and analytics on GCP.

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IT or related field

Advanced degree preferred

15+ years IT/PS with AI/ML focus

10+ years hands-on AI/ML on GCP

5-7+ years direct technical leadership

Extensive client-facing with CXO stakeholders

Practice development & IP creation

MLOps experience (CI/CD, monitoring)

Tools

Vertex AI

BigQuery

Dataflow

Gemini

Document AI

Contact Center AI

Job description

Before applying for a TGS role, internal employees must discuss their interest with their current manager.

Please share this direct link with your manager so they can submit their approval. Your application cannot move forward until the form is completed.

Must sit in Canada

The GCP Lead Architect, AI/ML is a leadership position within TEKsystems Global Services, responsible for steering the strategic direction and execution of the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) practice.

This role involves architecting and overseeing the delivery of complex, large-scale, and innovative AI/ML solutions on GCP for enterprise clients across diverse industries. The Lead Architect will provide thought leadership, mentor senior architects, and engage with C-level client stakeholders to translate strategic business objectives into transformative AI/ML capabilities.

This position demands a professional with extensive experience not only in the nuances of AI/ML technologies but also with the strategic acumen to examine solution opportunities holistically, ensuring that TEKsystems delivers cutting-edge and impactful GCP AI/ML services. The role is pivotal in developing data and AI solutions that leverage the full spectrum of Google Cloud Data services, including architecting system designs for substantial Data & AI modernization efforts. Success in this role means driving the growth of the GCP AI/ML practice, ensuring solution excellence, and fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning. The ability to manage engagements with deal sizes potentially exceeding $5 million and involving multifaceted, cross-practice solutions is a key characteristic of this leadership level.

The GCP Lead Architect, AI/ML operates at the intersection of advanced technology, client strategy, and practice development. This individual is expected to harness deep technical expertise in GCP AI/ML services and a broad understanding of the AI landscape to guide clients and internal teams. A significant aspect of this role is its client‑facing nature; the Lead Architect will frequently interact with external customers at the CXO level, serving as a trusted advisor and expanding the client's perception of possible AI‑driven approaches to their challenges. This requires not only technical depth but also exceptional communication and influencing skills. Furthermore, the Lead Architect is central to maturing the practice's service offerings, ensuring they remain competitive and aligned with market demands and technological advancements in the rapidly evolving fields of AI and machine learning.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities:

Strategic GCP AI/ML Leadership & Practice Development:

• Define, articulate, and drive the strategic vision and roadmap for TEKsystems' GCP AI/ML practice, aligning with overall company goals and market opportunities.
• Lead the development, maturation, and advancement of a comprehensive suite of GCP AI/ML service offerings and specific product lines, ensuring inter-practice coordination and establishing TEKsystems as a thought leader in this domain.
• Champion innovation within the practice by identifying and evaluating emerging GCP AI/ML technologies, methodologies (including advanced Generative AI applications like Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), prompt engineering, and model fine‑tuning), and tools, and drive their adoption into client solutions and practice standards.
• Oversee the creation and curation of intellectual property (IP), reusable assets, reference architectures, and best practices for the GCP AI/ML practice to enhance delivery efficiency and quality.

Architecture & Delivery Excellence:

• Architect and oversee the design and delivery of highly complex, scalable, and secure end‑to‑end AI/ML solutions on Google Cloud Platform, incorporating services such as Vertex AI, BigQuery ML, Generative AI models (e.g., Gemini), Document AI, and Contact Center AI.
• Lead and provide technical oversight for large‑scale GCP AI/ML engagements from initial concept and proposal through to successful delivery and client acceptance.
• Ensure the implementation of robust MLOps strategies and frameworks on GCP for model lifecycle management, including CI/CD/CT pipelines, automated training, deployment, versioning, and continuous monitoring to maintain model performance and reliability in production.
• Direct the strategy for data ingestion, preprocessing, feature engineering, and governance on GCP, ensuring data quality and readiness for advanced AI/ML model development using tools like Google Cloud Storage, BigQuery, and Dataflow.
• Perform rigorous reviews of solution designs, code, and deployment plans to ensure adherence to best practices, architectural integrity, and mitigation of risks.

Client Engagement & Pre‑Sales Leadership:

• Serve as the principal technical advisor and subject matter expert for C‑level client executives and senior stakeholders, articulating the business value and strategic implications of proposed GCP AI/ML solutions.
• Lead pre‑sales activities for major GCP AI/ML opportunities, including solution evangelism, assisting solution architecture team build compelling proposals, developing proof‑of‑concepts (PoCs), and delivering impactful solution demo to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Gain a profound understanding of clients' strategic business requirements and their interconnected technical landscapes to architect solutions that deliver tangible business outcomes.
• Identify and capitalize on additional opportunities within client environments, fostering long‑term strategic partnerships and contributing to account growth

Team Leadership & Mentorship:

• Provide strong technical leadership, mentorship, and career development guidance to a team of senior AI/ML architects and engineers within the GCP practice.
• Foster a collaborative, high‑performance, and inclusive team culture that encourages knowledge sharing, innovation, and continuous skill development in GCP AI/ML technologies.
• Oversee resource allocation for strategic projects and initiatives, ensuring optimal team composition and skill alignment.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide ongoing feedback to team members, supporting their professional growth and contributions to the practice.

Operational & Financial Oversight:

• Ensure that sales, solution, and delivery escalation procedures are effectively managed and communicated to all stakeholders.
• Maintain financial and contractual responsibility for the profitability of large‑scale GCP AI/ML engagements.
• Perform periodic practice pipeline and opportunity analysis, contributing to forecasting and strategic planning for the GCP AI/ML business.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field. Advanced degrees (Master's, Ph.D.) are preferred.
• A minimum of 15+ years of overall experience in information technology and/or professional services, with a significant and continuous focus on AI/ML, data analytics, and cloud‑based solutions.
• At least 10+ years of dedicated, hands‑on experience in architecting, designing, developing, and deploying complex, enterprise‑scale AI/ML solutions, with a strong portfolio of successful projects on Google Cloud Platform.
• A minimum of 5-7+ years in a direct technical leadership capacity, managing, mentoring, and developing teams of senior AI/ML engineers and architects
• Demonstrable track record of architecting and leading the delivery of large‑scale AI/ML projects on GCP, showcasing the ability to handle complexity, manage risk, and deliver business value.
• Extensive experience in client‑facing roles, including pre‑sales, solution consulting, and trusted advisory engagements with senior executives (e.g., CXO level).
• Substantial experience in practice development, including defining and launching new service offerings, creating intellectual property, and establishing thought leadership in the AI/ML domain, preferably within a consulting or professional services environment.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing MLOps strategies and systems in enterprise environments, covering areas like automated model building