IoAI | The Institute of AI
Solutions Architect
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What we do.
The Institute of AI is the UK's professional body for artificial intelligence. We set the standard of AI practice, work to that standard ourselves, and put it within reach of everyone else. Our work runs across four areas.
Accreditation
We accredit AI professionals at four levels, from Student to Fellow, against our own competency framework for what a practitioner should be able to do, and we assess organisations separately against a five-pillar maturity model.
Practice
We run an independent practice that advises organisations on adopting AI, from readiness and strategy to governance and policy, and then builds what we recommend, taking AI solutions from proof of concept into production.
Platforms
We build software: our own digital platforms and AI systems, which we design, engineer, and operate for anyone to use.
AI for All
Our public programme brings AI literacy and enablement to schools, charities, and young people through events, pro bono consultancy, and resources.
There is more to our work than any summary can hold: education platforms and multi-player AI games, regulatory trackers, the UK AI Readiness Charter and plenty more.
If that sounds like work worth doing, come and do it with us.
The role.
When an organisation asks us to solve a problem with AI, you're the person who decides what we build.
You'll work with clients to understand how their organisation operates, what constraints matter and what success actually looks like. From there, you'll design solutions that can be delivered, adopted and operated long after we've left.
This isn't enterprise architecture for its own sake, and it isn't a role where you hand over a diagram and move on. You'll work alongside Forward Deployed Engineers throughout delivery, helping shape technical decisions as new information emerges and making sure the architecture survives contact with reality.
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We optimise for architectural judgement over technical novelty. The best solution is rarely the most complicated one.
Core responsibilities.
- Design end-to-end AI solutions that balance technical ambition with operational reality.
- Define system architecture, data flows, integrations, security, governance and operational ownership before delivery begins.
- Make pragmatic build versus buy decisions, selecting technologies that solve the client's problem rather than chasing trends.
- Challenge client assumptions and recommend better approaches where appropriate, even when they're not what was originally asked for.
- Partner with Forward Deployed Engineers throughout delivery to ensure architecture and implementation remain aligned.
- Own the non-functional requirements that determine whether a system succeeds in production, including security, resilience, cost, maintainability and supportability.
- Turn successful solutions into reusable reference architectures, patterns and standards that improve every engagement that follows.
What we're looking for.
- Significant experience designing and delivering production software systems with real architectural ownership.
- Strong software engineering fundamentals and the ability to engage confidently with implementation, not just design.
- Extensive experience incorporating AI into production systems, with a practical understanding of where it creates value and where it does not.
- Comfortable making architectural decisions with incomplete information and adapting them as projects evolve.
- Experience designing systems for complex or regulated environments where security, governance and compliance matter.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical decisions clearly to engineers, executives and clients alike.
- Strong engineering judgement. You know when to optimise, when to simplify and when not to use AI at all.
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This role is not for you if…
- You want to design systems and leave someone else to build them.
- You optimise for elegant architecture over practical outcomes.
- You're uncomfortable telling a client that there's a better way to solve their problem.
- You'd rather work with ideal requirements than real organisations.
You might be…
- A solution or enterprise architect who wants to stay close to engineering and delivery.
- A principal or staff engineer who has become the person everyone turns to for technical direction.
- A technical lead from a complex or regulated environment who wants broader architectural ownership.
Checks before you start.
Practitioners who apply to us for accreditation must evidence what they claim, and we verify it. Joining the team is no different. Every offer we make is conditional on background checks, which normally include:
- Identity checks
- Right to work in the UK
- Past employment references
- Education and qualification checks
- A DBS check or equivalent
Please note that certain positions may also require more extensive vetting, such as an enhanced DBS check or security clearance.
An equal opportunities employer.
Diversity matters to us at the Institute of AI, and we are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We welcome people from all walks of life. If you need any adjustments during the application process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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