Principal - Tech Lead & Solutions Architect (AI)

Role: Principal - Tech Lead & Solutions Architect (AI)

Type: Permanent role 

Location: US (Ideally East Coast or Central US)

Who We Are:
AND Digital are a tech company focused on accelerating digital delivery and dedicated to closing the digital skills gap. We’ve been helping organisations build better digital products and stronger digital teams since 2014.

We believe our work should always make a remarkable impact for our clients. We do this through our regional offices (or ‘Clubs’) building strong relationships with our partners, so that they are always prioritised by a team within close proximity. 

This unique model has driven success for our clients and ourselves, evidenced by our remarkable organic growth since 2014. Today we number more than 1,300 people with Clubs all over the UK, Europe and the USA with plans for global expansion in the next couple of years.

The Role: 

As a Principal - Tech Lead & Solutions Architect (AI), you will provide hands-on technical subject matter expertise to win new clients, deliver tech solutions, and drive technical excellence in the US Hub in line with the go-to-market strategy. You will be the lead technologist and solutions architect for AND in the US market, with a particular technical emphasis within the AI domain. 

We are looking for someone who has demonstrable practical experience in software development and AI system/solution architecture, and is comfortable diving into technical details. This is key to drive client sales, deliver high-quality tech solutions, and support AND's growth aspirations in the US market.

Technical experience:

• Hands-on technical engineering and software delivery for transformative tech experiences
• Systems thinking and technical solution architecture across digital delivery and transformation
• Modern programming across platform, data, AI solutions including product mindset
• Example tech proficiencies, e.g. AI/ML models & frameworks (NLP, LLMs, Deep Learning), programming languages (e.g. Python, Java, C++), Microservices & cloud-based AI/ML platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP,... +), Dev/MLOps practices, Knowledge/Databases, tools/apps/processes etc.

1. Technical expertise:

• Lead technical design and solution architecture for significant/complex client pitches
• Provide oversight, guidance and hands-on expert support to delivery teams on complex technical delivery for new or significant client engagements
• Provide technical QA review for solutions for broader client bids, proposals and delivery
• Develop and implement best practices for technical solutions, delivery and quality
• Assess and recommend new emergent technologies and their potential impact 
• Keep abreast of latest advancements in AI e.g. LLMs, Generative AI, Agentic AI,...
• Develop AND ‘technology evolution’ roadmap to mature internal digitization 
• Define and deliver Technical Sales Strategy in-line with AND’s growth/sales aspirations

2. Delivery of new clients:

• Monitor local and regional tech trends/themes, client opportunities and competitive landscape, analysing opps won and lost and continually adapting tech strategy to win
• Promote AND’s bespoke solution offering, maximising opportunities with existing / established clients and strategically approaching new clients, developing a client base
• Build strong relationships and connections with key technical stakeholders / decision-makers to identify potential collaborations, shape and influence business opps and sales channels, focussing on strategic partnerships with clients aligned with AND
• Be the face of AND in your Hub for relevant technical opportunities and clearly communicate local technical sales strategy with Execs
• Be active in the market, elevating AND’s Client value proposition and Country GTM
• Collaborate to optimise pricing strategies and shape winning deals via close plan activity
• Lead, negotiate and successfully close our more technically complex client opportunities, ensuring sustainable growth for the Hub with consistent flow and flex
• Take ownership of relevant opportunities within the pipeline, driving them to closure and help others bring deals to a close as needed
• Collaborate across functions to bring the very best of AND (tech, people, social impact etc.)
• Drive a consistent client sales experience across AND’s go-to-market proposition, approach to partnering, nomenclature and best practice

3. Team leadership:

• Provide technical leadership, with clear goals for a culture of excellence and innovation
• Help build a team culture aligned with AND’s broader culture and People Promise
• Set the technical tone and direction for the team, role modelling AND’s commercial, solutions-based and relationship-driven sales approach
• Provide relevant technical mentoring for growth and development for team members

4. Managing interdependencies:

• Work with the team to identify actions or support that improve delivery and WoW
• Run regular service reviews, report on findings and build solid relationships with Hub

• Work with BUs to balance the technical skills with pipeline opportunities of ANDis and skills that BUs are developing
• Collaborate across Business Units and the Hub to develop technical client propositions and proposals which are in line with the Hub growth strategy, skills and capabilities

• Work closely with marketing to align activity to drive and nurture target relationships
• Provide analysis and feedback to Group Client Experience re. Proposition, product/solutions effectiveness and client messaging

Key performance metrics for this role:

1. Financial Performance Metrics:

• Revenue: Delivery of the agreed annual/quarterly revenue contribution targets

2. Tech & Business Execution Metrics:

• Achievement of Hub Plan: Achievement of non-financial goals and objectives with tech lens
• Market Share Growth: Monitor the company's market share growth in the region for core AND tech domain area/target solutions (e.g. AI market, AND specific solutions, wider tech context)
• Achieve target level of in-market client activity:  Build net new technical stakeholder/buyer relationships (& adjacent within existing clients), including through technical delivery work

3. Reporting Metrics and Compliance:

• Timely and Accurate Reporting: Timely and accurate reports to relevant stakeholders on tech solutions and new client opps properly weighted with accurate forecasts
• Compliance: Ensure relevant regulatory/compliance requirements are met for tech solutions

Equal Opportunities Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. We actively encourage applications from women, ethnic minorities, and individuals with disabilities. We consider all flexible working arrangements, subject to the requirements of the role. Where reasonable adjustments are needed, we will strive to make changes to accommodate them.