Principal AI Architect (Google Cloud)

At Datatonic, we are Google Cloud's premier partner in AI, driving transformation for world-class businesses. We push the boundaries of technology with expertise in machine learning, data engineering, and analytics on Google Cloud. By partnering with us, clients future-proof their operations, unlock actionable insights, and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving world.

As a Principal AI Architect, you will own the end-to-end design and delivery of scalable data and AI platforms, bridging the gap between initial scoping and production-ready execution. This is a builder-led, delivery-focused architecture role - not a pure pre-sales position.

You will work directly alongside engineering teams to take client proofs-of-concept and scale them into robust enterprise systems capable of serving hundreds to thousands of users. You will act as the technical anchor across project lifecycles, translating complex AI capabilities into tangible business outcomes for executive stakeholders.

• Architecture & Delivery: Design and build data platforms, full-stack application architectures, and agentic AI platforms from initial discovery through to production deployment.

• Technical Ownership: Own the end-to-end technical design of complex projects, ensuring architectures are scalable, secure, and aligned with client business objectives.

• Pre-Sales & Scoping: Conduct technical scoping during client intake, support account growth, and design viable technical solutions without losing connection to hands-on execution.

• Client & Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the primary technical interface for client-side CTOs, Heads of Engineering, and Transformation Leaders; translate complex technical architectures into clear, non-technical business strategy.

• Infrastructure Strategy: Define and implement strategies across networking, data acquisition, security, guardrails, and AI/data workload orchestration.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with internal delivery leads, AI/data engineers, and commercial teams to drive cohesive project execution.

Technical Expertise:

• AI & Agentic Systems: Proven experience designing, solutioning, and deploying agentic platforms and AI systems into production. Deep understanding of AI evaluation methodologies and guardrail implementations.

• Frameworks & Tools: Hands-on experience with agentic frameworks (Google ADK, LangGraph), LLMs (Gemini, Claude, open-source), cloud and database architecture (Cloud SQL, Firestore, BigQuery, Postgres), and AI security & observability (OpenTelemetry, guardrails, LLM gateways).

• Data & Workload Orchestration: Mastery of data preparation strategies for AI workloads, data acquisition, and orchestration frameworks for both data and AI pipelines.

• Platform Architecture: Strong background in either Data Platform Infrastructure or Full-Stack Application Architecture (with high awareness of application design and UX principles).

• Enterprise Fundamentals: Advanced proficiency in cloud security, networking, and production deployment environments.

Soft Skills & Mindset:

• Proven Delivery Track Record: Prior hands-on experience building and deploying platforms

• Stakeholder Leadership: Strong presentation capabilities with a demonstrated history of advising senior client stakeholders.

• Adaptability & Ownership: Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities under tight timelines (e.g., 4-week design sprints), and take absolute ownership of project outcomes.

• Hands-on experience within Google Cloud (GCP) environments.

• Background working within high-growth startups, scale-ups, or modern enterprise transformation environments.

• End-to-End Impact: Drive the full lifecycle of cutting-edge platforms - from pre-sales and strategy to active deployment in production.

• Engineering-First Culture: Work within an architecture group embedded alongside senior and principal engineers, focusing on real execution rather than static slide decks.

• Next-Gen AI Exposure: Lead the industry in designing scalable AI agents, evaluation systems, and production guardrails.

• Direct Stakeholder Influence: Shape customer transformation strategies by directly connecting technical architecture to business value.

We believe in empowering our team to thrive, with benefits including:

• Holiday: 25 days plus bank holidays (obviously!)

• Health Perks: Private health insurance (Vitality Health) and Smart Health Services

• Fitness & Wellbeing: 50% gym membership discounts (Nuffield Health, Virgin Active, Pure Gym).

• Hybrid Model: A WFH allowance to keep you comfortable.

• Learning & Growth: Access to platforms like Udemy to fuel your curiosity.

• Pension: (Auto-enrollment after probation period. 3% employer contributions raising 1% per year of service to a max of 10%)

• Life Insurance: (3 x your base salary!)

• Income Protection: (up to 75% of base salary, up to 2 years)

• Tusker Green Car Scheme

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Tech Scheme

Join us to work alongside AI enthusiasts and data experts who are shaping tomorrow. At Datatonic, innovation isn’t just encouraged - it’s embedded in everything we do. If you’re ready to inspire change and deliver value at the forefront of data and AI, we’d love to hear from you!

Are you ready to make an impact?

Apply now and take your career to the next level.