AI & Automation Architect

Sword is a leading provider of business technology solutions within the Energy, Public and Finance Sectors, driving transformational change within our clients. We use proven technology, specialist teams and domain expertise to build solid technical foundations across platforms, data, and business applications. We have a passion for using technology to solve business problems, working in partnership with our clients to help in achieving their goals. Sword is strengthening its Data, Analytics, AI and automation capability as demand grows for practical, secure and scalable AI transformation. The AI and Automation Architect will play a lead architectural role on customer engagements, helping clients design and implement governed AI solutions across the Microsoft ecosystem. Internally, the role will help shape Sword's AI products, services, accelerators and delivery standards, with automation acting as an important enabler. We are looking for someone who has moved beyond proof of concept and can design enterprise AI solutions using Azure AI Foundry, multi-model architectures, agentic patterns, Copilot Studio and responsible AI governance. The successful candidate will be highly consultative, technically credible and comfortable translating complex AI choices into clear business, delivery and governance implications. About The Role As the AI and Automation Architect, you will provide architectural direction across AI and automation engagements, with a strong focus on Microsoft AI technologies, agentic solutions and governed enterprise AI delivery. You will work with clients across discovery, design and delivery; guide solution teams; provide technical assurance; and support pre-sales through client conversations, solution shaping, estimation and technical input into proposals or statements of work. This role combines technical depth, client engagement and service development, helping Sword deliver high-quality AI transformation while shaping reusable products, services and standards. Areas Of Accountability, Responsibility And Competence Level * Play a lead architecture role on customer engagements, guiding solution direction and supporting high-quality delivery across AI and automation work * Design secure, scalable and governed AI solutions using Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, Copilot Studio, Microsoft 365, Power Platform and related Azure services * Architect multi-model and agentic AI solutions that integrate with enterprise data, APIs, workflows and line-of-business systems * Provide technical assurance across solution designs, implementation approaches, security models, data flows, agent behaviours and operational readiness * Lead discovery and design workshops, helping clients identify use cases, assess feasibility, define value and translate requirements into practical solution designs * Support sales and delivery teams through client calls, solution shaping, estimation, proposal input and statements of work * Ensure AI solutions align to responsible AI, security, governance, data protection, testing, monitoring and operational ownership expectations * Help shape Sword's AI and automation products, services, accelerators, reference architectures and delivery standards * Collaborate with data architects, engineers, AI specialists, Power Platform specialists, security teams and business change colleagues to deliver coherent end-to-end solutions * Stay current with emerging Microsoft AI capabilities, agentic patterns and wider AI market developments, translating them into pragmatic recommendations for clients and Sword Requirements Essential experience and skills: * Strong client-facing consulting skills, with the ability to understand business problems, shape practical AI-enabled solutions and guide delivery teams through clear architectural direction * Hands-on experience designing and implementing enterprise AI solutions using Microsoft Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, Copilot Studio and related Azure services * Experience designing multi-model AI architectures, including model selection, orchestration, evaluation, grounding, cost management and responsible use of foundation models * Experience designing and delivering agentic AI solutions that integrate with enterprise data, APIs, workflows, business systems and human-in-the-loop processes * Strong understanding of LLM capabilities and limitations, including prompt design, retrieval-augmented generation, hallucination management, tool use, evaluation and monitoring * Experience with AI governance and responsible AI, including agent governance, access controls, data protection, auditability, testing, operational ownership and risk management * Ability to design secure integrations across Microsoft 365, Azure services, APIs, enterprise applications, data platforms and line-of-business systems * Working knowledge of data and analytics concepts, including data quality, semantic layers, metadata, enterprise search and data readiness for AI use cases * Experience shaping AI roadmaps, use case backlogs, reference architectures, reusable patterns and delivery approaches that balance value, feasibility, risk and adoption * Experience supporting pre-sales activity, including client calls, solution shaping, estimation and technical input into proposals or statements of work * Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex AI architecture choices in clear, practical and business-relevant language Desirable Experience * Experience with Power Platform, particularly Power Automate, Power Apps, Dataverse, connectors or AI Builder where these support AI-enabled workflow automation * Experience with Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, vector databases, semantic search or wider enterprise data and governance platforms * Experience with AI evaluation, red-teaming, model monitoring, content safety, LLMOps, GenAIOps or production support for AI systems * Experience with non-Microsoft AI platforms or services, such as AWS Bedrock, Amazon Q, SageMaker, Google Vertex AI, Anthropic Claude, OpenAI APIs or open-source model ecosystems * Familiarity with ISO 42001, NIST AI RMF, EU AI Act readiness or other AI governance and risk management frameworks * Relevant Microsoft certifications across Azure AI, Azure architecture, Power Platform, security or data Benefits At Sword, our core values and culture are based on caring about our people, investing in training and career development, and building inclusive teams where we are all encouraged to contribute to achieve success. We offer comprehensive benefits designed to support your professional development and enhance your overall quality of life. In addition to a Competitive Salary, here's what you can expect as part of our benefits package: * Personalised Career Development: We create a development plan customised to your goals and aspirations, with a range of learning and development opportunities within a culture that encourages growth. * Flexible working: Flexible work arrangements to support your work-life balance. We can't promise to always be able to meet every request, however, are keen to discuss your individual preferences to make it work where we can. * A Fantastic Benefits Package: This includes generous annual leave allowance, enhanced family friendly benefits, pension scheme, access to private health, well-being, and insurance schemes. At Sword we are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer, ensuring that all applicants receive fair and equal consideration for employment, regardless of whether they meet every requirement. If you don't tick all the boxes but feel you have some of the relevant skills and experience we're looking for, please do consider applying and highlight your transferable skills and experience. We embrace diversity in all its forms, valuing individuals regardless of age, disability, gender identity or reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Your perspective and potential are important to us. If we can do anything to help make the hiring process more accessible, please let our talent acquisition team know when you apply so we can support any adjustments.