SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Credit union offering savings, loans, accounts

Lead AI Solutions Architect

AI Application EngineeringUpdated on Nov 12

Full-time$129.9k - $214.3kHybrid

About the Job

Requirements

A high school diploma or GED is required.
A bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience is required.
Seven to ten years of prior relevant experience is required.
Demonstrated experience in one or more of traditional artificial intelligence, machine learning, generative AI, or agentic AI, including hands-on solution design, implementation, and production deployment.
Advanced knowledge of enterprise solution architecture, cloud platforms, systems integration, and distributed application design.
Demonstrated expertise designing API-driven, event-driven, and AI-enabled solutions that support enterprise scalability, security, and operational effectiveness.
Advanced knowledge of generative AI, large language models, retrieval-augmented generation, AI agents, intelligent automation, robotic process automation platforms, orchestration platforms, and low-code development technologies.
Strong knowledge of identity and access management, security architecture, data governance, privacy requirements, and zero-trust principles.
Knowledge of enterprise data architecture, integration patterns, observability frameworks, and operational support considerations.
Demonstrated ability to evaluate technologies, vendors, and architectural approaches and recommend options aligned with business needs and enterprise standards.
Ability to establish technical standards, reference architectures, design patterns, and governance practices that promote consistency, scalability, and maintainability.
Ability to lead cross-functional solution design efforts, influence technical decisions, and communicate complex architectural concepts and tradeoffs to technical and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, integration, testing, deployment, and operation of complex AI-enabled workflows, solutions, agents, and shared platform capabilities.
Own technical delivery for AI and automation initiatives from proof of concept through production deployment and ongoing support.
Create reusable reference implementations, components, and engineering patterns for knowledge assistants, retrieval-augmented generation solutions, agents, tool and API integrations, human-in-the-loop controls, and citizen developer capabilities.
Define the role of stand-alone and embedded robotic process automation workflows and AI agents within the enterprise architecture, and guide engineers in designing secure, scalable, and maintainable solutions.
Lead integrations across enterprise applications, data services, APIs, and approved AI and orchestration platforms.
Establish and enhance engineering practices for version control, continuous integration and continuous delivery, evaluation frameworks, regression testing, and release management across AI, agent, and workflow solutions.
Define and validate nonfunctional requirements, including reliability, scalability, performance, observability, auditability, and supportability.
Implement approved data access, identity, least-privilege, and governance controls in partnership with Architecture, Information Security, and Data teams.
Lead technical design, code, testing, and production-readiness reviews; resolve complex implementation issues and provide escalation support.
Establish monitoring, logging, alerting, operational dashboards, runbooks, and incident response procedures to improve platform performance, resiliency, and supportability.
Evaluate AI, automation, and agentic technologies through technical proofs of value and provide recommendations on platform, vendor, and solution approaches.
Provide thought leadership regarding emerging AI, automation, and digital transformation technologies.
Mentor engineers, coordinate delivery across teams, and promote reusable engineering practices that improve solution quality, consistency, and delivery effectiveness.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Comply with regulatory compliance and assigned training requirements, including applicable Bank Secrecy Act regulations corresponding to the role's specific duties.

Desired Qualifications

Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103) certification.
Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate (AI-300) certification.
Microsoft Certified: AI Agent Builder Associate (AB-620) certification.
AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional certification.

We’re always looking for diverse, talented, service-oriented people to join our exceptional team.

Lead AI Solutions Architect (Lead AI Engineer)

The pay range for this position is listed below. Our pay ranges are built to allow for candidates with various levels of skill and experience to be considered, as well as for room for growth and tenure achieved in a role over time. Typical new hire salary offers fall within the minimum to midpoint of a pay range for many candidates. Any offer extended to a candidate will be based upon their unique set of knowledge, skills, education, and experience as well as internal equity.

Pay Range:

$129,880.00 - $214,303.00

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

What You’ll Be Doing

Leads the design, delivery and continuous improvement of complex AI, automation and agentic solutions by establishing technical standards, driving enterprise integrations, guiding implementation through production deployment and mentoring teams to advance engineering quality, scalability and business value.

Leads the design, development, integration, testing, deployment and operation of complex AI-enabled workflows and solutions, agents and shared platform capabilities.
Owns technical delivery for AI and automation initiatives from proof of concept through production deployment and ongoing support.
Creates reusable reference implementations, components and engineering patterns for knowledge assistants, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) solutions, agents, tool and API integrations, human-in-the-loop controls and citizen developer capabilities.
Defines the role of stand-alone and embedded RPA workflows and AI agents within the enterprise architecture and guides engineers in designing secure, scalable and maintainable solutions.
Leads integrations across enterprise applications, data services, APIs and approved AI and orchestration platforms.
Establishes and enhances engineering practices for version control, CI/CD, evaluation frameworks, regression testing and release management across AI, agent and workflow solutions.
Defines and validates nonfunctional requirements, including reliability, scalability, performance, observability, auditability and supportability.
Implements approved data access, identity, least-privilege and governance controls in partnership with Architecture, Information Security and Data teams.
Leads technical design, code, testing and production-readiness reviews, resolving complex implementation issues and providing escalation support.
Establishes monitoring, logging, alerting, operational dashboards, runbooks and incident response procedures to improve platform performance, resiliency and supportability.
Evaluates AI, automation and agentic technologies through technical proofs of value and provides recommendations on platform, vendor and solution approaches. Provide thought leadership regarding emerging AI, automation and digital transformation technologies.
Mentors engineers, coordinates delivery across teams and promotes reusable engineering practices that improve solution quality, consistency and delivery effectiveness.

Additional Job Functions

Performs other duties as assigned

Complies with regulatory compliance and assigned training requirements including but not limited to BSA regulations corresponding to their specific job duties. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary and other employment related actions.

Qualifications

High School Diploma or GED required

Bachelor's Degree in a related field or equivalent years of experience required

7-10 years of prior relevant experience required

Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Apps and Agents Developer Associate (AI-103) preferred

Microsoft Certified: Machine Learning Operations Engineer Associate (AI-300) preferred

Microsoft Certified: AI Agent Builder Associate (AB-620) preferred

AWS Certified Generative AI Developer – Professional preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Demonstrated experience with one or more of the following areas: traditional artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), generative AI and agentic AI, including hands on solution design, implementation and production deployment.

Advanced knowledge of enterprise solution architecture, cloud platforms, systems integration and distributed application design.

Demonstrated expertise in designing API-driven, event-driven and AI-enabled solutions that support enterprise scalability, security and operational effectiveness.

Advanced knowledge of generative AI, large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, intelligent automation and robotic process automation (RPA) platforms, orchestration platforms and low-code development technologies.

Strong knowledge of identity and access management, security architecture, data governance, privacy requirements and zero-trust principles.

Knowledge of enterprise data architecture, integration patterns, observability frameworks and operational support considerations.

Demonstrated ability to evaluate technologies, vendors and architectural approaches and provide recommendations that align business needs with enterprise standards.

Ability to establish technical standards, reference architectures, design patterns and governance practices that promote consistency, scalability and maintainability.

Ability to lead cross-functional solution design efforts, influence technical decisions and communicate complex architectural concepts and tradeoffs to technical and business stakeholders.

SchoolsFirst FCU is committed to Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive Hiring

At SchoolsFirst FCU we are dedicated to building and growing a diverse, inclusive, and authentic Dream Team, so if you’re excited about a position or wanting to make a career change but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. Many skills are transferrable and you may be just the right candidate for the position, or for other roles we are working on.

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. SchoolsFirst FCU is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, or genetic information.

This organization participates in E-Verify.

About the Company

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Credit union offering savings, loans, accounts

SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union provides financial services to members, especially school employees and their families, including savings and checking, auto loans, mortgages, credit cards, investments, and insurance through branches and online tools. Members join and use member-owned accounts with online/mobile banking, deposits, payments, and planning help. It differs from many competitors by being member-owned, federally insured, and focusing on the education community, offering educator-focused loan programs and lower fees. Its goal is to help teachers and school staff manage money effectively with affordable products and education resources while building a loyal member base.

Company size: 1,001-5,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Santa Ana, CA
Founded: 1934

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