Application Architect - Hybrid Work Environment Available

The position of Application Architect is a salaried, exempt individual contributor level position responsible for leading the design and deployment of scalable, secure, and high-performing Ai-driven applications across the organization. Additionally, this position is responsible for application development, system integration, and architecture best practices, and will play a key role in driving scalable, secure, and maintainable systems across the organization. This position reports to the Senior Director, Software Development, has no direct reports and is located onsite at the Mansfield Oil Company (MOC) location in Gainesville, Georgia.

Responsibilities:

Ai Architecture:

• Design and lead the implementation of AI-enabled enterprise applications that integrate with core systems (ERP, CRM, data lakes, etc.).
• Define architectural principles, patterns, and governance models for deploying AI across departments at scale.
• Work with business leaders, data scientists, software engineers, and DevOps teams to translate enterprise needs into robust Ai application designs.
• Evaluate new AI tools, LLMs, frameworks, and cloud services; drive adoption of emerging technologies such as Generative AI, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and enterprise AI agents.
• Ensure AI models are production-ready with proper MLOps practices, version control, CI/CD pipelines, and monitoring.

Application Design & Development:

• Design end-to-end application architectures that integrate AI/ML components into enterprise software systems.
• Define architecture standards, design patterns, and best practices for scalable and secure AI application development.
• Collaborate with data scientists, engineers, product managers, and business stakeholders to translate business requirements into technical solutions.
• Lead proof-of-concept and prototyping efforts to validate architectural decisions and model performance.
• Collaborate with product managers, business analysts, and development teams to define technical requirements and create system blueprints.
• Under the direction of the Senior Director, Software Development, work to establish architecture standards, development guidelines, and reusable frameworks to streamline software development.

Team Collaboration:

• Collaborate with product managers, business analysts, and development teams to define technical requirements and create system blueprints.
• Mentor engineering teams on Ai model integration, MLOps, and application lifecycle management.
• Create and maintain technical documentation, architecture diagrams, and decision records.

Emerging Technologies:

• Stay up-to-date with industry trends and emerging technologies and apply them to improve our development processes and methodologies.
• Share knowledge and expertise in order to foster team growth and development.
• Engage with interdisciplinary teams to conceptualize, design, and release new product functionalities and user experiences.

Position Requirements:

Formal Education & Certification:

• Minimum of a four (4) year Bachelor's Degree in Computer Systems, Engineering or similar degree path.
• Certifications in Cloud Architecture (AWS, Azure) and/or AI/ML (e.g., Google Professional ML Engineer).

Knowledge & Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of software architecture experience with 2+ years in AI/ML solution design.
• Proficient in Python and one or more programming languages (SQL, C#, etc.).
• Hands-on experience with AI/ML frameworks (e.g., Azure AI Foundry).
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (preferably Azure) and serverless components.
• Knowledge of API design, microservices, and data pipeline architectures.
• Experience with LLMs (e.g., GPT, Claude), prompt engineering, and MCP protocols.
• Familiarity with architecture decision records and architecture review boards.

Qualifications & Characteristics:

• Strong understanding of enterprise IT operations and alignment with organizational goals and business objectives.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into user-friendly language.
• Ability to prioritize and execute tasks effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, including during critical or emergency situations.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with keen attention to detail and a commitment to delivering quality outcomes.
• Self-motivated, resourceful, and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated customer service orientation, with a focus on responsiveness, reliability, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Comfortable working in team-oriented, collaborative environments with cross-functional partners.

Work Environment & Travel:

• 40-hour work week with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote, business conditions permitting. Eligibility for the hybrid work week begins after completion of the ninety-day introductory period of employment where all training will occur onsite.
• This position will have planned, overnight travel to other site locations within the Company that could include weekends and Holidays.
• Must be available to work flexible hours as needed.
• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Dexterity of hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other computer components.
• Close visual acuity needed to review diagrams and for discerning fine print.
• Lifting and transporting of moderately heavy objects, such as computers and peripherals.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.