AI Solutions Architect

Who we are

United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.

Role Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join the expanding AI & Innovation team within Architecture & Engineering function at a key stage in SMBC EMEA’s AI journey. The team plays a central role  in shaping and delivering AI strategy, governance, product discovery, adoption and enterprise AI solutions across the region.

We are seeking a hands-on AI Solutions Architect to take end-to-end ownership of AI solution design, from initial use case intake through to architecture, governance approval and delivery . The role is focused on turning high-value business use cases into secure, scalable and production-ready solutions aligned to SMBC’s enterprise technology stack.

The successful candidate will work closely with business stakeholders, technology teams, and control functions to design and drive solutions through Solution Design Authority (SDA) and AI governance processes, ensuring alignment with security, data privacy, and regulatory requirements.

This is a highly practical role, combining solution architecture with hands-on engagement in prototyping, validation and delivery. It requires a strong technical foundation across enterprise architecture (including cloud, integration, and security), as well as the ability to operate effectively across a complex stakeholder landscape.

The role will suit someone who is proactive, delivery-focused and technically credible, with the ability to take ownership, drive outcomes end-to-end, and work collaboratively across teams to bring solutions into production.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of AI solutions from initial use case intake through to production deployment, ensuring designs are practical, scalable and aligned to business objectives.
• Translate business requirements into end-to-end solution architectures aligned to SMBC’s current and evolving technology stack.
• Design and implement AI solutions across enterprise platforms, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, Azure AI services, Google GCP and other approved technologies
• Define solution options, trade-offs and implementation approaches, ensuring designs are fit for purpose and deliverable in practice.
  Lead solution design through Solution Design Authority (SDA) and other internal architecture forums, driving outcomes and securing approvals.
• Prepare and own architecture artefacts, including design documents, technical specifications, integration patterns and governance submissions.
• Support and drive AI governance processes, including risk assessments, control alignment and production readiness activities.
• Ensure all solutions align with AI Policy, AI Standard, security, data privacy and regulatory requirements
• Work closely with engineering and delivery teams to ensure solution designs are effectively implemented and meet intended outcomes.
• Provide hands-on support in prototyping, validation and troubleshooting where required.
• Act as the technical point of accountability for solution design decisions throughout the delivery lifecycle.
• Design solutions with full consideration of enterprise architecture, including integration, data flows, identity, access controls, security boundaries, infrastructure and operational resilience.
• Collaborate with business, technology, architecture, security, data privacy and risk teams to drive solutions forward and resolve design challenges.
• Engage stakeholders confidently, clearly communicating solution approaches, constraints and trade-offs.
• Work with strategic partners, vendors approved suppliers to shape and validate solution designs.
• Develop reusable architecture patterns, templates and technical guidance for common AI use cases.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of AI solution standards, design practices and governance processes.
• Support business adoption through practical examples, demonstrations and hands-on guidance
• Operate as a proactive, hands-on team player, taking ownership of outcomes and driving progress across multiple initiatives

Required Experience

• Strong understanding of AI and generative AI solution architectures, including large language models (LLMs), agent-based patterns, workflow orchestration and enterprise AI integration
• Practical experience applying techniques such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), knowledge grounding, prompt engineering and human-in-the-loop design patterns
• Experience designing secure and controlled AI solutions, including guardrails, responsible AI, explainability and governance considerations
• Proven experience designing and delivering complex technology solutions in a regulated enterprise environment, with ownership from initial requirements through to production deployment
• Strong hands-on experience in solution architecture, with the ability to translate business requirements into end-to-end, implementable designs
• Experience working with enterprise AI platforms (e.g. Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, Azure AI, Power Platform or comparable ecosystems), with the ability to design solutions across multiple technologies
• Ability to lead solution design through formal architecture governance processes (e.g. Solution Design Authority), including preparation of high-quality design artefacts and technical documentation
• Experience working with AI governance, risk and control functions, ensuring solutions meet requirements for security, data privacy, auditability and regulatory compliance
• Strong technical foundation across enterprise architecture, including cloud platforms, infrastructure, networking, identity and access management, security controls and integration patterns
• Experience designing solutions that consider end-to-end system architecture, including data flows, APIs, connectivity, security boundaries and operational resilience
• Hands-on experience supporting prototyping, validation and early-stage delivery, with the ability to troubleshoot and refine solutions in collaboration with engineering teams
• Experience working across the full delivery lifecycle, including requirements shaping, solution design, testing, deployment and transition to BAU support
• Experience working with early-stage or ambiguous problem definitions, shaping use cases into structured, deliverable solutions
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to work effectively across business, technology, risk and control functions, and to clearly communicate technical concepts and trade-offs
• Experience working with external vendors and partners, with the ability to challenge, shape and validate solution designs
• Proactive and self-driven, with a strong sense of ownership and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-moving environment
• Comfortable working as part of a small, high-impact team where the role requires both architectural leadership and hands-on technical contribution

Desirable Experience

• Experience delivering AI solutions within financial services or another highly regulated industry
• Familiarity with AI governance frameworks, model risk considerations, data privacy, and regulatory requirements (e.g. EU AI Act, GDPR, DORA)
• Experience with Azure AI services, Azure OpenAI or comparable enterprise GenAI platforms, including practical implementation of patterns such as retrieval‑augmented generation, grounding and prompt orchestration
• Experience with enterprise data and knowledge architectures, including semantic search, vector databases, embeddings and enterprise search solutions
• Exposure to Microsoft Graph, SharePoint-based knowledge sources and integration with enterprise collaboration platforms (e.g. Teams, Outlook)
• Experience with emerging Microsoft AI ecosystem components (e.g. Microsoft Foundry, Fabric or similar platforms) or equivalent cloud AI ecosystems
• Understanding of model lifecycle considerations, including evaluation, monitoring, guardrails and responsible AI controls
  Exposure to advanced AI techniques such as fine-tuning approaches, prompt optimisation and model selection (where appropriate for enterprise use cases)
• Experience building reusable architecture patterns, technical standards, design templates or developer guidance
• Experience supporting AI adoption and enablement initiatives, including demonstrations, workshops, training sessions or champion networks

Education and Qualifications

• Degree-level education in Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Business Information Systems or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Relevant professional certifications in Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Power Platform, Microsoft 365, AI, cloud architecture, data engineering, security, Agile/Scrum or ITIL are advantageous but not essential.

Competencies

What we offer

For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.

As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:

• Hybrid and flexible working 
• Competitive paid leave days
• Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance 
• Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services  
• Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities 
• Ambitious remuneration package

So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!