Principal AI Solutions Architect

Placements24; Richards Bay; Remote; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first organization

Health insurance

Retirement planning options

Training & certifications

Conference attendance

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Principal AI Solutions Architect to design and implement scalable AI strategies for diverse clients. This senior role is remote with a regional focus on Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, and surrounding areas, requiring visionary leadership in AI, ML, and cloud technologies.

You will architect secure, cost-efficient AI solutions, develop PoCs, and mentor engineers while collaborating with sales to deliver compelling proposals.

Qualifications

• Master's or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or related quantitative field.
• 10+ years in software architecture, cloud computing, and AI/ML development.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale AI/ML solutions with several ML frameworks.
• Deep expertise in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and their AI/ML services.
• Strong data engineering, data warehousing, and big data knowledge.
• Excellent communication, presentation and client-facing skills.
• Experience with MLOps practices desirable and leadership in client-facing roles.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and architecture of complex AI/ML solutions on cloud platforms.
• Translate client business requirements into technical AI strategies and roadmaps.
• Provide expert guidance on AI/ML best practices, data architecture, and MLOps.
• Develop proofs-of-concept and prototypes to demonstrate feasibility.
• Collaborate with sales and engineering to create proposals and solutions.
• Mentor junior architects and engineers toward technical excellence.
• Stay ahead of emerging AI, cloud, and data science trends.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-effective.
• Present technical strategies to technical and executive audiences.

Skills

Client-facing

Cloud architecture

AI/ML strategy

MLOps

Leadership

Education

Master's or PhD in CS/Engineering

Tools

TensorFlow

PyTorch

scikit-learn

AWS AI services

Azure AI / GCP AI

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a global leader in cloud-based AI solutions, is actively seeking a Principal AI Solutions Architect to design and implement innovative strategies for their clients across various industries. This senior role, based remotely but with a focus on projects impacting Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal and surrounding regions, requires a visionary leader with a deep understanding of AI, machine learning, and cloud technologies. You will be responsible for architecting scalable, secure, and cost-effective AI solutions that drive business transformation and deliver tangible value. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI adoption and leverage advanced technologies to solve complex business challenges from a strategic, architectural perspective.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of complex AI and machine learning solutions on cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Engage with clients to understand their business requirements and translate them into technical AI strategies and roadmaps.
• Provide expert guidance on AI/ML best practices, model selection, data architecture, and MLOps.
• Develop proofs-of-concept and prototypes to demonstrate the feasibility of proposed solutions.
• Collaborate with sales and engineering teams to develop compelling proposals and technical solutions.
• Mentor junior architects and engineers, fostering a culture of technical excellence and innovation.
• Stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies in AI, cloud computing, and data science.
• Ensure solutions are scalable, reliable, secure, and cost-optimized.
• Present technical solutions and strategies to both technical and executive audiences.

Requirements

• Master's or Ph.D. in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field.
• 10+ years of experience in software architecture, cloud computing, and AI/ML development.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale AI/ML solutions, including experience with various ML algorithms and frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn).
• Deep expertise in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including their AI/ML services.
• Strong understanding of data engineering, data warehousing, and big data technologies.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and client-facing skills.
• Experience with MLOps practices and tools is highly desirable.
• Ability to lead technical discussions and influence decision-making.
• Demonstrated experience in a client-facing consulting or solutions architect role.

Benefits

This fully remote role offers a highly competitive salary, commensurate with your extensive experience, and includes performance-based bonuses. Our client provides a comprehensive benefits package, including top-tier health insurance, retirement planning options, and generous paid time off. We are committed to your professional growth, offering extensive training, certifications, and opportunities to attend leading industry conferences. As a remote-first organization, you will have the flexibility to work from anywhere within South Africa, with a strategic focus on driving client success in regions like Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal . This role allows for significant impact and autonomy.