Senior Data and AI Architect (Contract)

Overt Minds

We are looking for a Senior Data & AI Architect to define and evolve an Azure-native enterprise Data & AI platform. The role will shape architecture across Microsoft Fabric, Microsoft Foundry, Copilot Studio, Microsoft Purview, and core Azure services, ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, governable, and aligned with business needs.

Requirements

Define the platform’s reference architecture, design standards, and target-state roadmap.
Lead architecture for data products, AI applications, and AI agents, including model selection, grounding, integrations, orchestration, evaluation, and lifecycle controls.
Design integrations across Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Dataverse, ERP, CRM, HR, ITSM, APIs, and custom Azure services.
Establish architecture guardrails for security, privacy, identity, access, DLP, observability, resilience, and scalability.
Guide teams on when to use Fabric, Foundry, Copilot Studio, Power Automate, or custom Azure services.
Facilitate architecture workshops, design reviews, and decision forums with engineering, business, governance, and security teams.
Mentor engineering and product teams and develop reusable architecture patterns and standards.

Must-Have Requirements

At least 5 years of architecture experience in Azure-based enterprise environments; 7+ years preferred.
Experience defining target architectures, reference patterns, or solution standards for complex platforms.
Strong experience in Azure cloud architecture, enterprise integration, and data platform design.
Deep understanding of Microsoft Fabric and modern data platform patterns for ingestion, storage, serving, and governance.
Hands-on understanding of Microsoft Foundry for AI applications and agents, including evaluation, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
Hands-on understanding of Copilot Studio, including connectors, actions, topics, orchestration, and enterprise deployment.
Strong knowledge of enterprise security, identity and access management, compliance, and operational governance in Azure.
Ability to translate business needs into scalable architecture decisions and work effectively with both business stakeholders and engineering teams.
Strong workshop facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and architecture documentation skills.

Preferred

Prior experience with AI platform architecture, agent architecture, or enterprise copilot design.
Microsoft certifications in Azure architecture, Fabric, Power Platform, or Azure AI.

Benefits

Learning and development opportunities, including cloud and AI exposure.
Competitive compensation package with performance based incentives.
Collaborative culture with cross-functional teams and strong leadership exposure.
Career growth in a rapidly expanding technology driven organization.