AI Data and Solution Architect

Skip to main content AI Data and Solution Architect Vamstar United Kingdom Apply AI Data and Solution Architect Vamstar United Kingdom 1 month ago 198 applicants See who Vamstar has hired for this role Apply Save Report this job Location: UK only | Remote / Client site hybridReports to: Engagement DirectorType: Contract or PermClient: Tier 1 Financial InstitutionCore responsibilities & objectivesProvide strategic leadership and hands-on oversight for a large-scale data-to-AI transformation programme, ensuring architecture decisions align with AWS best practices and fintech regulatory requirements.Design, review, and govern agentic AI systems and LLM-powered workflows (Claude, GPT, or similar) end-to-end: prompt engineering, tool calling, multi-step reasoning, retries, fallbacks, and state management.Architect and steer the build of scalable data pipelines and AI/ML platforms on AWS (Glue, Lambda, SageMaker, Bedrock), with deep involvement in distributed computing, performance, and cost optimisation.Own the technical roadmap and mentor delivery teams; if the AI platform is misaligned, unscalable, or non-compliant, it is on you.Influence C-level stakeholders and engineering teams directly, translating complex AI architecture into clear business outcomes and risk-mitigated execution plans.Work autonomously to programme deadlines with minimal hand-holding; this is a strategic leadership role, not a task-execution role.Key qualifications & skills (non-negotiable)12+ years in data engineering, AI/ML, or cloud architecture.8+ years leading large-scale data transformation initiatives (minimum 3 engagements delivered).5+ years hands-on with generative AI, LLMs, or agentic AI systems in production.3+ years deep AWS experience (Glue, Lambda, SageMaker, Bedrock) with proven AI/ML platform implementations.Expert-level knowledge of agentic AI architecture and design patterns; hands-on experience with Claude API or similar LLM APIs.Highly proficient in Python and PySpark; strong understanding of distributed computing and scalability patterns.Solid experience with data pipeline orchestration (Airflow, Step Functions, or equivalent) and ETL/ELT patterns at scale.Executive presence and demonstrated ability to influence C-level stakeholders and make decisions under uncertainty.Proven mentoring and knowledge transfer experience; you must uplift the team, not just direct it.Preferred background (strong signals)Financial services background and experience with regulated industries (banking, insurance, or fintech).Direct knowledge of PCI-DSS, FCA, SOX, and/or GDPR compliance requirements in AI/data contexts.Experience with Ab Initio or similar legacy ETL platforms; familiarity with large-scale migration scenarios (5,000+ jobs).Previous engagements with Capital One or similar Tier 1 financial institutions.AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional and/or AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty.Experience with AWS Incident Detection & Response (IDR), data governance, metadata management, and cost optimisation.Track record of delivering complex programmes on-time and within budget.What will get you rejectedLess than 5 years of production generative AI/LLM experience; tutorials and side projects are not enough.No proven track record of successful AI/ML platform implementations at enterprise scale."I designed it, someone else delivers it" mindset; this role requires both strategic oversight and...