Director, Microsoft AI & Data Solution Architect, UKI

In this Director-level role, you shape and deliver complex Microsoft AI and data transformation programmes for clients, combining pre-sales solution architecture with senior delivery leadership. You engage with executive stakeholders to translate objectives into secure, scalable architectures and drive credible, value-led proposals. You lead architecture decisions across data platforms, AI and security, ensuring delivery aligns with commitments. The role blends technical depth with consulting maturity in a client-facing environment, offering impact across opportunities from shaping to delivery.

• Lead architecture and solution shaping of complex Microsoft AI & Data opportunities, translating objectives into scalable solutions
• Facilitate architecture workshops with senior stakeholders
• Develop end-to-end architectures covering data, analytics, AI, security, governance and integration
• Provide technical leadership for proposals, RFPs, SOWs, ensuring credibility and deliverability
• Collaborate with delivery and commercial teams on estimates, delivery approaches, dependencies and scope
• Communicate complex concepts to diverse audiences
• Lead demonstrations and proofs of concept to illustrate possibilities
• Act as senior engagement lead or architect on major programmes
• Provide architectural direction and assurance across the delivery lifecycle
• Challenge and resolve complex architectural decisions with client and EY teams
• Ensure security, governance, resilience, operability and non-functional requirements are addressed
• Maintain alignment between pursuit commitments and delivery
• Lead multidisciplinary teams, providing technical direction, coaching and quality oversight

• Extensive experience designing enterprise-scale AI, data and analytics solutions using Microsoft technologies
• Strong solution architecture credentials with credibility to lead discussions with senior leaders
• Deep understanding of modern data platform architecture: data engineering, modelling, governance and analytics
• Knowledge of enterprise generative AI and agentic AI architectures and production readiness
• Experience in consulting or professional services with senior client stakeholders
• Proven support of sales/pre-sales activities: proposals, RFPs, shaping, estimation and SOWs
• Experience leading complex client engagements as senior architect or engagement lead
• Ability to balance technical ambition with business value, risk, security, governance and operability
• Excellent communication, able to explain complex concepts to technical and non-technical audiences
• Experience developing architects/engineers within multidisciplinary delivery teams

• Excellent communication
• Stakeholder management
• Leadership and coaching
• Microsoft Fabric
• Azure AI Foundry
• Azure OpenAI and Azure AI services