We’re partnering with a leading investment firm operating across multiple asset classes, renowned for its data driven decision making, high performance culture, and commitment to innovation. As the business accelerates its use of AI across front, middle, and back office functions, they are now seeking a Lead AI Architect to define and drive the group wide AI strategy.

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This is a rare opportunity to own the AI vision of a major financial institution and shape how advanced AI technologies transform investment insights, operational efficiency, and business performance.

As the Lead AI Architect, you will be the senior technical authority for all AI initiatives across the business. Working directly with the C suite, you will design the organisation’s AI blueprint, architect end to end solutions, and lead the development of AI frameworks, pipelines, and intelligent agents.

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You’ll collaborate with every division, Investments, Research, Risk, Operations, Compliance, and Technology, to identify opportunities where AI can unlock value, improve decision making, and modernise key workflows.

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This role suits someone who combines strong technical depth with the ability to communicate complex concepts to senior stakeholders, influence strategy, and lead enterprise wide transformation.

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Key Responsibilities

• Define and lead the firm wide AI strategy, roadmap, and architectural standards.
• Advise and collaborate with C suite executives, presenting insights, capabilities, and emerging opportunities.
• Partner with business units to understand their challenges and design AI powered solutions that drive measurable outcomes.
• Build AI frameworks, pipelines, RAG systems, and intelligent agents to support investment analysis, automation, and decision support.
• Oversee AI model development, validation, governance, and ethical use of AI across the organisation.
• Evaluate and integrate multiple AI vendors and platforms including GPT based solutions, Claude, Copilot, and other enterprise LLM ecosystems.
• Lead technical design across data engineering, model deployment, prompt engineering, and enterprise architecture.
• Ensure robust security, compliance, and risk controls around AI and data usage.
• Mentor engineering and data teams and help establish best practices, patterns, and reusable components.

• Proven track record as a Lead AI Architect, Principal Engineer, or Senior AI/ML Specialist, ideally in investment management, hedge funds, or financial services.
• Deep technical experience across LLMs, agent based systems, vector databases, model orchestration, and scalable AI architectures.
• Strong experience working with multiple AI vendors and ecosystems (e.g., ChatGPT/GPT models, Claude, Copilot, Azure AI, GCP Vertex, Amazon Bedrock).
• Solid understanding of data engineering, MLOps pipelines, secure AI deployment, and integration with enterprise systems.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence executive leadership and translate business needs into technical design.
• Experience leading AI programmes in complex, regulated environments.

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Ideal Background‍

Experience in the following sectors is particularly relevant, though we also welcome exceptional applicants from other data-heavy, multi-stakeholder industries:

• Asset Management / Investment Management
• Hedge Funds / Private Equity / Trading Firms
• Financial AI / Quantitative Technology

• Influence the AI direction of a major investment organisation.
• Shape enterprise wide architecture and build new AI capabilities from the ground up.
• Work directly with senior leadership in a strategic, high impact role.
• Join a forward thinking firm investing heavily in modern technology and automation.