Principal AI Architect

Job description

Position Description:

Location: Sydney
Role Type: Permanent

Recognised as one of the world’s largest IT and business consulting firms, CGI has offices across Australia, supporting local public and private sector clients to solve real business problems.

We have an opportunity for a Principal AI Architect to join our Data & AI Engineering practice and lead AI strategy, architecture, and enterprise-scale solution design for a major client. Drawing on your deep expertise in AI, data engineering, and cloud architecture, you will shape next-generation AI platforms, influence C-suite stakeholders, and contribute to our strong culture of technical leadership and innovation.

Flexible work is available including hybrid work from home

Your future duties and responsibilities:

• Report to Head of Data/AI Engineering and lead enterprise-wide AI/data architecture
• Develop AI strategy, reference architectures, design patterns, and architectural standards
• Evaluate technologies, drive POCs, and provide guidance on complex technical decisions
• Build business cases with roi/tco analysis and translate technical concepts for c-suite
• Establish architecture governance (ADRs), ensure security/compliance requirements
• Mentor architects/engineers, present to senior leadership, represent organization at events
• Stay current with emerging AI/ML technologies and industry best practices

Required qualifications to be successful in this role:

• Proven leadership in defining AI/data strategy and enterprise architecture
• Deep expertise in ML/AI, LLMs/GenAI, and production-grade MLOps practices
• Strong data engineering background including Lakehouse, ETL/ELT, governance, and cloud platforms
• Hands-on proficiency with at least one major cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP) and modern vector databases
• Expertise designing RAG pipelines, retrieval strategies, and hybrid search architecture
• Strong experience with AI evaluation, safety, guardrails, and governance frameworks
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence C-suite stakeholders

What you can expect from us:

Together, as owners, let’s turn meaningful insights into action.

Life at CGI is rooted in ownership, teamwork, respect and belonging. Here, you’ll reach your full potential because…

You are invited to be an owner from day 1 as we work together to bring our Dream to life. That’s why we call ourselves CGI Partners rather than employees. We benefit from our collective success and actively shape our company’s strategy and direction.

Your work creates value. You’ll develop innovative solutions and build relationships with teammates and clients while accessing global capabilities to scale your ideas, embrace new opportunities, and benefit from expansive industry and technology expertise.

You’ll shape your career by joining a company built to grow and last. You’ll be supported by leaders who care about your health and well-being and provide you with opportunities to deepen your skills and broaden your horizons.

Come join our team—one of the largest IT and business consulting services firms in the world.