Senior Application Architect – AI Agentic, Integration & Architecture COE - SAA 26-14100

Job Title: Senior Application Architect – AI Agentic, Integration & Architecture COE
Location: New York, NY (Hybrid – 3 days onsite and 2 days remote per week)
Duration: 12 Months / CONTRACT [NO BENEFITS]
Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Position Level: Senior Level
Certifications: Cloud certification and other relevant certifications preferred.

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Application Architect with deep expertise in agentic AI architecture, enterprise integration, and application architecture standards. This is a hands-on senior-level role responsible for designing AI-enabled and agent-based solutions, defining enterprise integration patterns, establishing application architecture standards, and contributing to the development of an Architecture Center of Excellence (COE).

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience designing enterprise-scale solutions across Microsoft Azure, AWS, and hybrid cloud environments. The role requires strong technical leadership, a solid understanding of AI/LLM architectures, and the ability to establish secure, scalable, and reusable architectural patterns across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities

1. AI Agentic Architecture

• Design reference architectures for agentic AI solutions, including multi-agent orchestration, tool calling, Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and human-in-the-loop controls.
• Define secure architectural patterns for integrating AI agents with enterprise systems, APIs, and services, including Model Context Protocol (MCP) and event-driven triggers.
• Establish governance guardrails for agent identity, access management, auditability, observability, evaluation, and cost optimization.
• Ensure AI-enabled solutions meet enterprise security, scalability, reliability, and governance requirements.
• Develop reusable architectural frameworks and best practices for enterprise AI adoption.

2. Enterprise Integration Architecture

• Design and govern API-led, event-driven, and messaging-based integration architectures.
• Define API lifecycle management strategies, API gateway standards, and enterprise integration patterns.
• Establish integration approaches for legacy applications, SaaS platforms, and cloud-native systems.
• Ensure integration architectures support interoperability, scalability, security, and maintainability.
• Promote reusable integration components and standardized architectural practices across enterprise applications.

3. Architecture Standards and Center of Excellence (COE)

• Develop, publish, and maintain application, integration, API, and AI architecture standards.
• Create reference architectures, technical guidelines, reusable design patterns, and implementation playbooks.
• Help establish and operate an Architecture Center of Excellence, including its charter, governance forums, design reviews, training programs, and operational processes.
• Define architecture governance processes to ensure consistency, compliance, and alignment with enterprise technology strategy.
• Establish metrics to measure architecture standards adoption and COE effectiveness in coordination with AI and IT adoption tracking initiatives.
• Provide architectural guidance and support to development teams to encourage adherence to established standards.

4. Application Modernization, Security, and Collaboration

• Guide application modernization initiatives and cloud architecture design across Azure, AWS, and hybrid environments.
• Ensure architectural designs align with applicable security frameworks and organizational requirements, including NIST, the NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF), CIS, ISO 27001, and relevant transportation-sector security requirements.
• Collaborate with product management, software engineering, DevOps, and Cybersecurity teams to deliver secure and scalable enterprise solutions.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend architectural approaches that support business objectives and technology modernization.
• Communicate architectural decisions, technical strategies, and recommendations effectively to executive leadership, business stakeholders, and technical teams.
• Provide technical leadership throughout solution design, architecture reviews, and implementation activities.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in application architecture or enterprise architecture.
• Demonstrated experience designing cloud-native applications and enterprise solutions using Microsoft Azure and/or AWS.
• Hands-on experience delivering enterprise AI, Large Language Model (LLM), or agentic AI solutions.
• Strong understanding of agentic AI architecture, multi-agent orchestration, RAG, tool calling, and AI governance.
• Proven experience developing, documenting, and maintaining enterprise architecture standards and reference architectures.
• Experience establishing or operating an Architecture Center of Excellence (COE), architecture review board, or similar governance function.
• Extensive knowledge of enterprise integration architecture, API management, event-driven architecture, and messaging patterns.
• Understanding of application modernization strategies, hybrid cloud environments, and enterprise technology integration.
• Strong knowledge of security architecture, risk management, and enterprise governance frameworks.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including the ability to present architectural strategies and recommendations to executive-level audiences.

Technical Skills and Experience

• Complex Data Architecture: 6+ years of experience.
• Information Architecture: 6+ years of experience.
• IT Architecture: 6+ years of experience.
• Cloud Architecture: Experience with Azure, AWS, and/or hybrid cloud environments.
• AI and Agentic Architecture: Experience with enterprise AI/LLM solutions, multi-agent orchestration, RAG, and secure AI integrations.
• Enterprise Integration: Strong expertise in API-led integration, event-driven architecture, messaging, and API lifecycle management.
• Architecture Governance: Experience developing standards, reference architectures, governance frameworks, and COE operating models.
• Security and Compliance: Familiarity with NIST AI RMF, CIS, ISO 27001, and enterprise security requirements.

Preferred Certifications

• Microsoft Azure or AWS cloud certification.
• Additional relevant certifications in enterprise architecture, cloud architecture, AI, cybersecurity, or integration architecture.