Solution Architect - Apps & AI

<b>Overview</b><br><div><p><span>Microsoft Industry Solutions Delivery brings together strategic sellers, industry and security experts, engineers, data scientists, architects, consultants, and delivery specialists to help Microsoft’s most strategic customers solve complex business challenges. Together with our partners, we deliver industry-specific solutions that accelerate customers’ </span><span>digital and AI transformation</span><span> using Microsoft Cloud and AI.</span><span> </span></p></div><div><p><span>As a </span><span>Solution Architect – Apps &amp; AI</span><span>, you will shape and architect enterprise </span><span>application modernization, Generative AI, and Agentic AI solutions</span><span> that deliver measurable customer outcomes and accelerate cloud and AI adoption. You will combine business understanding, deep application and AI architecture expertise, customer-facing solution leadership, and architecture governance to translate complex requirements into secure, scalable, resilient, and production-ready solutions.</span><span> </span></p></div><div><p><span>You will engage with business and technology leaders to understand their priorities, define the solution vision and value proposition, and develop architecture strategies and modernization roadmaps. You will lead solution shaping from early customer conversations and presales through architecture, delivery governance, production deployment, adoption, and value realization.</span><span> </span></p></div><div><p><span>As an experience individual contributor, you will provide architectural leadership across multidisciplinary teams, evaluate technology choices and trade-offs, manage technical risks, and ensure architecture quality throughout the solution lifecycle. You will champion </span><span>AI-first architecture and engineering practices</span><span>, Responsible AI, modern cloud-native platforms, and reusable intellectual property to help customers modernize applications and adopt AI at enterprise scale.</span><span> </span></p></div><div><p><span>Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. We come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. We build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.</span><span> </span></p></div><br><br><b>Responsibilities</b><br><div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Lead solution envisioning and shaping:</span><span> Engage with customer executives, business sponsors, enterprise architects, security teams, and engineering leaders to understand priorities and define outcome-based Apps &amp; AI transformation solutions.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Define solution architecture:</span><span> Create the architecture vision, value proposition, modernization strategy, target architecture, transition roadmap, architecture decisions, requirements, constraints, dependencies, assumptions, and risks.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Architect application modernization:</span><span> Define modernization strategies and architectures for complex enterprise applications using </span><span>cloud-native, API, microservices, containers, serverless, event-driven, integration, and platform engineering patterns</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Architect AI-powered applications:</span><span> Design intelligent applications incorporating </span><span>Generative AI, RAG, enterprise knowledge, AI services, APIs, search, copilots, and contextual experiences</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Architect Agentic AI solutions:</span><span> Define enterprise agent and multi-agent architectures incorporating </span><span>reusable skills, tool integration, grounding, orchestration, memory, workflows, human-in-the-loop controls, and evaluation</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Shape complex opportunities:</span><span> Lead technical discovery, architecture workshops, solution modeling, demonstrations, proofs of concept, estimation, and solution proposals in collaboration with sales, account, consulting, engineering, and partner teams.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Connect architecture to business value:</span><span> Translate architecture and technology choices into </span><span>business outcomes, modernization value, engineering productivity, cloud adoption, consumption, operating efficiency, and measurable value realization</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Provide architecture governance:</span><span> Establish architecture principles, standards, quality gates, and decision processes across design, development, testing, deployment, production, and optimization.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Drive security and Responsible AI:</span><span> Embed </span><span>security, identity, API security, privacy, Responsible AI, observability, resilience, regulatory compliance, and operational controls</span><span> into application and AI architectures.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Champion AI-native engineering:</span><span> Define how copilots, agents, and AI-assisted engineering practices can transform the software development lifecycle across requirements, architecture, development, testing, code review, documentation, and operations.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Guide production delivery:</span><span> Provide architectural direction to consultants, engineers, and partners, resolve complex design challenges, and manage technical dependencies and risks throughout delivery.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Scale architectural impact:</span><span> Develop and reuse reference architectures, modernization patterns, agent skills, solution accelerators, architecture decision records, and delivery IP across customer engagements.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div></div><div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Provide technical thought leadership:</span><span> Mentor architects and technical professionals, communicate architecture and business value to senior stakeholders, and contribute to broader Apps &amp; AI technical communities.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div></div><br><br><b>Qualifications</b><br><div><div><p><span>Required/Minimum Qualifications</span><span> </span></p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Bachelor's degree in </span><span>Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Business, or a related field</span><span> AND </span><span>6+ years of relevant solution architecture, application architecture, software engineering, technical presales, cloud, AI, consulting, or technology delivery experience</span><span>, OR equivalent experience.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience shaping and architecting enterprise </span><span>application modernization, cloud-native, Generative AI, Agentic AI, or digital transformation solutions</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Good experience with modern application architecture patterns including </span><span>APIs, microservices, containers, serverless, integration, event-driven architecture, and cloud-native development</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience designing </span><span>AI-powered applications or Agentic AI solutions</span><span>, including RAG, grounding, tool/function calling, reusable skills, workflows, orchestration, memory, and evaluation.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Knowledge of modern application and AI technologies, preferably across </span><span>Microsoft Azure, Azure AI, Azure OpenAI, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure App Service, Azure Functions, API Management, GitHub, and related technologies</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Good understanding of modern software engineering and DevOps practices including </span><span>Git, CI/CD, Infrastructure as Code, automated testing, observability, and secure software development</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience translating business requirements into </span><span>architecture strategies, modernization roadmaps, solution designs, delivery approaches, estimates, risks, and measurable success criteria</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience taking solutions from </span><span>envisioning and proof of concept through secure, scalable production deployment and adoption</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Understanding of </span><span>application and AI security, identity, privacy, Responsible AI, resilience, observability, compliance, performance, and cost optimization</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Good executive communication, customer consulting, solution-shaping, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management skills.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Ability to independently lead complex architecture workstreams and influence technical decisions across business, sales, engineering, delivery, and partner teams.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><p><span>Additional or Preferred Qualifications</span><span> </span></p></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>12+ years of relevant solution architecture, application engineering, technical presales, cloud and AI transformation, consulting, or solution delivery experience.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Deep architecture expertise across </span><span>Microsoft Azure application platforms, cloud-native technologies, Generative AI, Agentic AI, enterprise integration, APIs, and modern software engineering</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Demonstrated experience leading end-to-end </span><span>solution shaping and technical presales</span><span>, from opportunity discovery and business-value definition through proposal, proof of concept, architecture governance, and production adoption.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience leading complex </span><span>application modernization and cloud transformation programs</span><span>, including migration, re-platforming, refactoring, and AI-enabled application transformation.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience designing enterprise-scale </span><span>AI-powered applications, copilots, multi-agent architectures, enterprise knowledge solutions, or intelligent process automation</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience applying </span><span>GitHub Copilot, agents, and AI-native software engineering practices</span><span> to improve developer productivity, software quality, and engineering velocity.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div></div><div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Ability to evaluate architecture alternatives, articulate trade-offs, estimate cost and cloud consumption, manage technical risks, and present recommendations to senior and executive stakeholders.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Experience establishing reusable </span><span>reference architectures, modernization patterns, technical standards, architecture decision records, agent skills, and solution accelerators</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Relevant technical certifications aligned to the solution area, such as </span><span>Azure Solutions Architect, Azure Developer, Azure AI Engineer, DevOps Engineer, Security, or equivalent certifications</span><span>.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Architecture or delivery methodology certifications such as </span><span>TOGAF, Agile, Scrum, DevOps, PMP, or Change Management</span><span> are advantageous.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div><div><ul style="list-style-type: disc;"><li><p><span>Demonstrated ability to mentor architects and engineers, lead technical communities, and contribute thought leadership across Apps &amp; AI.</span><span> </span></p></li></ul></div></div> <br><p>This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.</p><br><hr><br><p>Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about <a href="https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html"><b><u>requesting accommodations.</u></b></a></p>