Sr. Solutions Architect - Microsoft AI

Job description

About Us Since 1989, SHI International Corp. has helped organizations change the world through technology. We’ve grown every year since, and today we’re proud to be a $16 billion global provider of IT solutions and services. Over 17,000 organizations worldwide rely on SHI’s concierge approach to help them solve what’s next. But the heartbeat of SHI is our employees – all 7,000 of them. If you join our team, you’ll enjoy: Our commitment to diversity, as the largest minority- and woman-owned enterprise in the U.S. Continuous professional growth and leadership opportunities. Health, wellness, and financial benefits to offer peace of mind to you and your family. World-class facilities and the technology you need to thrive – in our offices or yours. Job Summary The Senior Solutions Architect – Microsoft AI is a revenue-carrying presales leader responsible for driving new business within SHI’s Data & AI professional services practice. This role is the practice’s primary technical authority on Microsoft’s AI and automation capabilities: Copilot for Microsoft 365, Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, and Power Platform. This individual will own a personal bookings target and operate across the full presales lifecycle—from discovery and technical qualification through solution design, proposal development, proof-of-concept delivery, and executive presentation. A critical aspect of this role is close collaboration with SHI’s specialist Solution Architects in data platform (Fabric & Power BI), data governance (Purview), and security to assemble holistic, integrated solutions for clients. While the specialist SAs bring deep expertise in their respective domains, this role ensures that the AI and agent layer is architected to take full advantage of those foundations—and that client-facing solutions tell a unified story rather than a collection of disconnected workstreams. A key growth area for this role is AI agent development and multi-agent orchestration. As enterprises move beyond simple chatbots toward autonomous agents that reason, plan, and take action, this SA will be responsible for developing SHI’s capabilities, methodologies, and market positioning in this rapidly emerging space. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience building production agents and a clear vision for how multi-agent architectures will reshape enterprise operations. Role Description Revenue Ownership & Pipeline Development Own and achieve an annual gross profit target for AI-led professional services engagements Partner with SHI Account Executives and Microsoft co-sell teams to identify , qualify, and advance AI and Copilot opportunities across the existing customer base Build and manage a qualified pipeline across multiple engagement types: pilot programs, platform foundations, advanced AI acceleration, adoption recovery, and targeted point solutions Develop account-level AI readiness assessments and multi-phase engagement roadmaps that create long-term revenue expansion Contribute to quarterly pipeline reviews, forecasting, and win/loss analysis AI Agent Development & Market-Making Serve as SHI’s subject matter expert on agentic AI, Copilot Studio agent development, Azure AI Foundry, and multi-agent orchestration patterns Develop and evolve SHI’s service offerings for AI agent design, development, and deployment—from single-purpose task agents through complex multi-agent environments Build reusable reference architectures, demo environments, and proof-of-concept templates that demonstrate real-world agent scenarios to prospective clients Track Microsoft’s agent platform roadmap (Copilot Studio, Azure AI Agent Service, Semantic Kernel, AutoGen ) and translate emerging capabilities into client-ready service offerings Advise clients on agent governance, safety guardrails, and responsible AI practices for autonomous systems Technical Presales & Solution Design Lead discovery workshops and technical assessment sessions to understand client current state, pain points, and strategic AI objectives Architect AI and automation solutions using Copilot for M365, Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, and Power Platform, ensuring designs account for the data, governance, and security foundations required for production-grade deployment Collaborate closely with SHI’s Fabric/Power BI, Purview, and Security specialist SAs to assemble integrated, multi-discipline solutions—ensuring the AI layer is designed to leverage the client’s data platform and governance investments Design solutions using SHI’s modular, productized service catalog, assembling engagements from standardized delivery modules to provide clients with fixed-price predictability and rapid time-to-value Translate technical designs into commercially viable proposals with clear scope boundaries, assumptions, and risk considerations Client Engagement & Executive Presentation Serve as the trusted technical advisor to client stakeholders from IT directors through C-suite executives on AI strategy and Copilot adoption Deliver compelling executive presentations that articulate why successful AI adoption requires an integrated approach—connecting unified data, robust governance, and organizational readiness as interdependent foundations Lead competitive displacement conversations, positioning SHI’s integrated, end-to-end approach against competitors who offer only data engineering, only governance, or only chatbot development in isolation Build and maintain demo environments showcasing real-world agent scenarios, including multi-agent workflows, Copilot extensibility, and Power Platform automation Proposal Development & Deal Structuring Author technical content for proposals and SOWs including solution overviews, design rationale, delivery plans, and work breakdown structures Collaborate with delivery leadership and specialist SAs to ensure proposals reflect realistic scope, timelines, and resource requirements across all disciplines involved Structure engagements using SHI’s fixed-price delivery model with appropriate phase gates and risk mitigation Participate in internal proposal reviews and quality assurance processes before client submission Microsoft Ecosystem & Thought Leadership Maintain deep, current expertise in Copilot for M365, Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry, Power Platform, and the broader Microsoft AI ecosystem Maintain strong working knowledge of Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Microsoft Purview, and Microsoft security capabilities—sufficient to collaborate effectively with specialist SAs and contribute to integrated solution designs Represent SHI at Microsoft events, industry conferences, and client-facing workshops, with particular emphasis on agent development and AI thought leadership Contribute to SHI’s internal knowledge base, proposal templates, and solution accelerators Pursue and maintain relevant Microsoft certifications and community recognition (MVP status encouraged) Behaviors and Competencies Problem-Solving: Can proactively identify and take ownership of complex problem-solving initiatives, initiate preventative measures, collaborate with others to find solutions, and drive successful outcomes. Communication: Can effectively communicate complex ideas and information to diverse audiences, facilitate effective communication between others, and mentor others in effective communication. Adaptability: Can lead others through change, help teams adapt to new directions, and create a culture open to change. Leadership: Can take ownership of complex team initiatives, collaborate with others in decision-making processes, and drive team performance. Teamwork: Can build and lead multiple teams, fostering a cooperative environment and ensuring effective communication between team members. Self-Motivation: Can take ownership of complex personal or professional initiatives, collaborate with others when necessary, and drive results through self-motivation. Skill Level Requirements Proficiency in overseeing and directing projects to completion, ensuring goals are met, resources are utilized efficiently, and stakeholders are satisfied - Expert Ability to systematically identify, document, and manage the technical needs and specifications of a project by engaging with stakeholders and analyzing business objectives to ensure successful project outcomes - Expert Ability to define, design, build, and maintain robust systems and solutions by leveraging systems and infrastructure effectively - Expert Ability to write, debug, and maintain code in various scripting and programming languages to automate tasks and develop software solutions - Expert Ability to understand and manage various infrastructure components (firewalls, load balancers, hypervisors, storage, monitoring, security) and use orchestration tools to develop comprehensive technical solutions - Expert Ability to develop detailed Statements of Work (SOWs) and drive revenue growth through professional services engagements - Expert Extensive experience working on large scale IT projects related to design, deployment and configuration - Expert Other Requirements 8+ years of experience in solution architecture, presales engineering, or technical consulting within the Microsoft ecosystem 3+ years of hands-on experience with Microsoft AI and automation technologies: Copilot Studio, Azure AI Foundry (or Azure OpenAI Service), Power Platform, or Copilot for M365 extensibility Demonstrated experience designing and building AI agents, conversational AI solutions, or intelligent automation workflows in a production or client-facing context Demonstrated track record of carrying and achieving a personal revenue or bookings target ($3M+ annually preferred) Working familiarity with Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and Microsoft Purview—sufficient to participate in integrated solution design alongside specialist architects Strong executive communication skills with proven ability to present to C-level audiences and lead strategic technology conversations Experience developing proposals, SOWs, and commercial structures for professional services engagements Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science , Information Systems, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent practical experience) Preferred Requirements Hands-on experience with multi-agent orchestration frameworks (Semantic Kernel, AutoGen , LangGraph , or similar) Microsoft certifications: Power Platform Solution Architect (PL-600), Azure AI Engineer (AI-102), Fabric Analytics Engineer (DP-600), or Azure Data Engineer (DP-203) Microsoft MVP designation in any relevant category Experience with RAG architectures, prompt engineering, grounding techniques, and responsible AI/safety considerations for autonomous agents Prior employment at a Microsoft partner, VAR, or consulting firm with a productized services model Experience with competitive displacement against firms such as Slalom, Ahead, WWT, or Big 4 consultancies Understanding of data platform architecture patterns including lakehouse /medallion architecture and modern data warehousing Background in one or more industry verticals: financial services, healthcare, retail, or gaming/hospitality The estimated annual pay range for this position is $175,000 - $235,000 which includes a base salary and bonus. The compensation for this position is dependent on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location and, therefore, will vary from individual to individual. Benefits may include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending. Equal Employment Opportunity – M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status