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Director Ai Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

AI Architect

Fairfax, VA · On-site

$62.50 - $82.50/hr

AI Architect Contract Duration: 6 Month Contract to Hire Location: Fairfax, VA (4-5 days' on-site ... Direct experience delivering AI or advanced analytics solutions to U.S. federal agencies

AI Architect - Sr

Indianapolis, IN · On-site

$145K - $160K/yr

Up to $160K Direct Hire Pinnacle Partners is assisting our client in the search for an AI Architect to join their team in the Indianapolis, IN area. This successful resource will be responsible for ...

Job Overview The AI Architect will design and implement end-to-end architectures for Generative AI ... Implement architectures defined by the Director Enterprise Systems, ensuring alignment with ...

AI Architect

Chicago, IL · On-site +1

$140K - $180K/yr

Own the architecture on AI engagements: discovery, design, delivery oversight, and knowledge ... Serve as a credible technical voice with client stakeholders, including directors, managers, and ...

AI Architect

$64.50 - $85/hr

The AI Architect will provide direct oversight of AI solution design, infrastructure, and deployment using standardized coding best practices. This position will mentor team members in technical ...

AI Architect

Chicago, IL · Remote

$140K - $180K/yr

Own the architecture on AI engagements: discovery, design, delivery oversight, and knowledge ... Serve as a credible technical voice with client stakeholders, including directors, managers, and ...

KPMG is currently seeking a Director, AI Strategy Architect to join our Advisory Services practice. Responsibilities: * Lead end-to-end AI solution development or transformation programs using cloud ...

Engineering Directors, Managers, Principal Engineers, Architects, Technical Leads ? Work across: Atlas, Physical AI, Autonomy Services, enterprise engineering ? Partner with: Product Owners, Product ...

AI Architect III

$64.50 - $85/hr

Your contributions will have a direct impact on the business by evaluating business needs ... The AI Architect III will also help determine when to build solutions internally and when to use ...

AI Architect III

$64.50 - $85/hr

Your contributions will have a direct impact on the business by evaluating business needs ... The AI Architect III will also help determine when to build solutions internally and when to use ...

AI Architect III

$64.50 - $85/hr

Your contributions will have a direct impact on the business by evaluating business needs ... The AI Architect III will also help determine when to build solutions internally and when to use ...

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Showing results 1-20

Director Ai Architect information

See salary details

$101K

$149.6K

$216.5K

How much do director ai architect jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for director ai architect in the United States is $149,581.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,000.00 and $169,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Director AI Architect, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director AI Architect, you need deep expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software engineering, typically supported by an advanced degree in computer science or a related field. Mastery of AI frameworks (such as TensorFlow or PyTorch), cloud platforms (like AWS, Azure, or GCP), and experience with large-scale system design are essential, along with relevant certifications. Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and effective communication skills help drive cross-functional collaboration and align AI initiatives with business goals. These competencies ensure innovative, scalable AI solutions that deliver tangible value and maintain a competitive edge.

What does a Director AI Architect do?

A Director AI Architect leads the strategic design and implementation of artificial intelligence solutions within an organization. They oversee AI architecture teams, define best practices, and ensure that AI systems align with business goals. Their responsibilities include evaluating emerging technologies, collaborating with stakeholders, and ensuring that AI initiatives are scalable, secure, and ethical. This role often requires extensive experience in both AI engineering and leadership, as well as a deep understanding of data science, machine learning, and enterprise IT systems.

What are some common challenges faced by a Director AI Architect when leading cross-functional AI initiatives?

As a Director AI Architect, a key challenge is aligning diverse teams—such as data scientists, engineers, and business stakeholders—toward a unified AI strategy. Balancing technical feasibility with business goals often requires effective communication and prioritization skills. Additionally, overseeing the integration of AI solutions into existing systems while ensuring data privacy and ethical compliance can be complex. Adapting to rapidly evolving AI technologies and fostering a culture of innovation are also ongoing responsibilities in this leadership role.

What is the difference between Director Ai Architect vs Data Scientist?

AspectDirector Ai ArchitectData Scientist
Required CredentialsAdvanced degrees in AI, Computer Science, or related fields; certifications in AI/MLDegree in Data Science, Statistics, or related fields; certifications in data analysis or machine learning
Work EnvironmentLeads AI projects, collaborates with engineering and product teams, strategic planningAnalyzes data, builds models, reports insights, often works independently or in small teams
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, AI-focused firms, large enterprises implementing AI solutionsResearch institutions, tech companies, finance, healthcare, and retail sectors

The main difference is that a Director Ai Architect oversees AI strategy and architecture at a high level, managing teams and projects, while a Data Scientist focuses on analyzing data and building models to extract insights. Both roles require strong technical skills and knowledge of AI/ML, but the Director Ai Architect has a broader leadership and strategic focus.

More about Director Ai Architect jobs
What cities are hiring for Director Ai Architect jobs? Cities with the most Director Ai Architect job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Ai Architect jobs? The most popular types of Ai Architect jobs are:
What states have the most Director Ai Architect jobs? States with the most job openings for Director Ai Architect jobs include:
Infographic showing various Director Ai Architect job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 74% Full Time, 22% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 66% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 31% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,581 per year, or $71.9 per hour.

AI Architect

campus4tech

Fairfax, VA • On-site

$62.50 - $82.50/hr

Contractor

Re-posted 23 days ago


Job description

Requirements (Please Read)
  • Local and comfortable with the on-site requirements.
  • Candidates must have experience in government/sector and candidates who have current or recent Public Trust are ideal.
  • Candidates must work W-2 only
  • Candidate must obtain and maintain Public Trust Suitability Clearance from DHS.

Please read the Job Description Carefully
Local Candidates are required
Job Title: AI Architect
Contract Duration: 6 Month Contract to Hire
Location: Fairfax, VA (4-5 days' on-site, 3 days' on-site at minimum)
Client wants a hands-on AI architect who can set AI strategy, design secure cloud-based AI systems, lead teams, and navigate federal compliance-someone who can operate at both technical depth and program leadership level.
Senior Architecture and Hands-On AI Leader
  • Experience specifically in AI/ML architecture and engineering
  • Has designed end-to-end AI solutions, not just models
  • Can define AI strategy, reference architectures, and roadmaps, then guide teams to implement them
  • Still hands-on enough to prototype in Python, evaluate models, and guide engineering decisions
    Federal / Government-Focused Technologist
  • Direct experience delivering AI or advanced analytics solutions to U.S. federal agencies
  • Comfortable operating under FISMA, NIST RMF, FIPS, GovCloud security constraints
  • Understands policy, compliance, and ethical AI considerations in government environments
  • Ideally has worked on large ($50M+) federal programs
    Cloud-Centric AI Architect (AWS First)
  • Strong AWS architecture background, ideally AWS GovCloud
  • Experience with:
    • SageMaker, Glue, Databricks, Elastic, S3, EC2, IAM
    • Hybrid or self-hosted AI platforms
  • Can balance performance, scalability, cost, and security in cloud AI designs
    AI Generalist (Not Niche)
    They want breadth more than deep specialization in one area:
  • Machine Learning & Deep Learning
  • NLP & Generative AI
  • Some exposure to Computer Vision
  • Data engineering fundamentals (Pandas, NumPy, pipelines, APIs)
  • This is not a pure GenAI prompt engineer or research scientist.
    Program-Level Leader & Communicator
  • Acts as AI SME for the entire program
  • Can:
    • Define AI governance and usage policies
    • Educate non-AI engineers and stakeholders
    • Mentor junior AI/ML engineers
  • Strong written and verbal skills for architecture documents, briefings, and leadership reviews
    Security-Aware AI Architect
  • Experience embedding security-by-design into AI solutions
  • Familiar with:
    • DevSecOps pipelines
    • Secure model deployment
    • Data governance and access controls
  • Bonus if familiar with DHS CDM, cyber mission space, or security analytics