AI Architect

*OUTSIDE IR35, MARKET RATES, MUTLIPLE ROLES, SC REQUIRED*

In this role, you will:
* Design, build, and oversee production AI systems end to end, from API to infrastructure.
* Work across LLMs, classical ML, retrieval systems, rules-based logic, and cloud-native services.
* Make pragmatic architectural decisions that balance performance, reliability, and cost.
* Decide when AI adds value and when simpler or more traditional approaches are the better solution.
* Communicate trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
LLMs are an important part of the work, but not the whole story. You will design solutions that combine multiple techniques and technologies, primarily on AWS and Azure, with a strong focus on long-term operability, observability, and cost control.

Typical Key Responsibilities
* Architect and oversee production-grade, full-stack AI systems.
* Design solutions combining LLMs, RAG, semantic search, classical ML, and rules-based components.
* Build and optimise retrieval and RAG pipelines, including vector search and indexing strategies.
* Deploy and operate self-hosted and managed models on CPU and GPU infrastructure, using tools such as Ollama, vLLM, SGLang, and AWS or Azure managed services.
* Design and build scalable Back End services and APIs, primarily in Python, with JavaScript or TypeScript as a plus.
* Leverage cloud-native AI and platform services, including Bedrock, SageMaker, Lambda, Azure AI Foundry, and App Service, as part of end-to-end architectures.
* Define, provision, and manage cloud infrastructure using Terraform.
* Optimise systems for latency, throughput, resilience, and cost efficiency.
* Apply advanced prompting, tool use, and agent-based patterns where they provide clear value.
* Fine-tune and adapt models using techniques such as LoRA and QLoRA, making informed trade-offs around quantisation and deployment.
* Design and implement evaluation, monitoring, and observability across AI pipelines and system components.
* Work closely with clients to scope, deliver, and iterate on solutions, clearly articulating limitations, risks, and expected impact.

LA International is a HMG approved ICT Recruitment and Project Solutions Consultancy, operating globally from the largest single site in the UK as an IT Consultancy or as an Employment Business & Agency depending upon the precise nature of the work, for security cleared jobs or non-clearance vacancies, LA International welcome applications from all sections of the community and from people with diverse experience and backgrounds.

Award Winning LA International, winner of the Recruiter Awards for Excellence, Best IT Recruitment Company, Best Public Sector Recruitment Company and overall Gold Award winner, has now secured the most prestigious business award that any business can receive, The Queens Award for Enterprise: International Trade, for the second consecutive period.