About the role
Version 1 has 98% AI adoption across the business, live agentic deployments, and a governance framework that routes each use case to self-service AI or CoE-led transformation. The AI Centre of Excellence (CoE) takes the complex, high-value use cases and turns them into production systems. Demand is growing and the CoE is taking on more production work. We are adding an AI CoE Architect, alongside an AI CoE Engineer, to give the team stable, senior capability.
You will be the CoE's link between business need and technical design. You will work with business and delivery leaders to understand how their processes work and where AI can change them, then design solutions the engineering team can build. You will stay hands-on: you will build proofs of concept to test your designs, review the team's work, and help others grow. This is an architecture role for someone who still builds.
Key responsibilities
- Understand the business. Work with business and delivery leaders to map processes, challenges and goals, and shape them into well-scoped AI use cases with clear value.
- Architect solutions. Design agentic and generative AI solutions end to end, covering model choice, data, integration, security, cost and operations.
- Prove the design. Build proofs of concept to test feasibility and show stakeholders what is possible, then hand strong candidates into delivery.
- Guide delivery. Work with CoE engineers through build and release, review designs and code, and resolve technical trade-offs.
- Set standards. Create reusable reference architectures, patterns and guidance, and feed lessons back into the CoE's governance model.
- Develop others. Coach CoE engineers and interns, and run training that raises AI skills across the business.
- Stay current. Track new models, tools and techniques, test them, and bring forward those that earn a place in our work.
What we are looking for
Technical skills
- Solution or enterprise architecture experience, with a record of designing systems that reached production.
- Practical understanding of large language models (AWS Bedrock, Anthropic, OpenAI), retrieval-augmented generation, tool use and agentic workflows.
- Working knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS preferred), data platforms and integration patterns.
- Able to code well enough in Python or similar to build prototypes and review others' work.
How you work
- Strong business sense: you ask why before you design, and can link technical choices to outcomes.
- A doer who takes a problem and runs with it. Startup or fast-moving product experience is a strong advantage.
- Naturally curious and quick to learn as the technology changes.
- Clear communicator who can move between executives, business teams and engineers.
- Patient, practical mentor who enjoys helping others improve.
Experience
- Typically 5 to 8 years in software, data or solution architecture roles, with recent AI work. Evidence of what you have designed and delivered matters more than years served. Consulting or client-facing experience is a plus.
Why Version 1?
At Version 1, we believe in providing our employees with a comprehensive benefits package that prioritises their wellbeing, professional growth, and financial stability.
Share in our success with our Quarterly Performance-Related Profit Share Scheme, where employees collectively benefit from a share of our company's profits
Strong Career Progression & mentorship coaching through our Strength in Balance & Leadership schemes with a dedicated quarterly Pathways Career Development programme
Flexible/remote working, Version 1 is tremendously understanding of life events and people’s individual circumstances and offer flexibility to help achieve a healthy work life balance
Financial Wellbeing initiatives including; Pension, Private Healthcare Cover, Life Assurance, Financial advice and an Employee Discount scheme
Employee Wellbeing schemes including Gym Discounts, Bike to Work, Fitness classes, Mindfulness Workshops, Employee Assistance Programme and much more. Generous holiday allowance, enhanced maternity/paternity leave, marriage/civil partnership leave and special leave policies
Educational assistance, incentivised certifications, and accreditations, including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Red Hat
Reward schemes including Version 1’s Annual Excellence Awards & ‘Call-Out’ platform.
Environment, Social and Community First initiatives allow you to get involved in local fundraising and development opportunities as part of fostering our diversity, inclusion and belonging schemes.
And many more exciting benefits… drop us a note to find out more.
Version 1 is an equal opportunities employer.
We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences, and we value the different perspectives people bring including those shaped by disability and neurodiversity.
We want every candidate to have a positive and accessible recruitment experience. If you need reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please contact your recruiter at Version 1. We will consider all requests carefully, respectfully and confidentially.
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