Principal AI Solutions Architect

Company Overview Blue Orange Digital is a cloud-based data transformation and predictive analytics development firm with offices in NYC and Washington, DC. From startups to Fortune 500s, we help companies make sense of their business challenges by applying modern data analytics techniques, visualizations, and AI/ML. Founded by engineers, we love passionate technologists and data analysts. Our startup DNA means everyone on the team makes a direct contribution to the growth of the company.

With 250+ production deployments, a 95% strategy-to-build conversion rate, and delivery speeds 3–4x faster than traditional consulting, Blue Orange operates at the cutting edge of generative AI, agentic systems, and machine learning. We are scaling our practice by vertical — and we need senior technical leaders who can anchor an industry domain with hands-on credibility and client trust.

**Position Overview** We are looking for a Principal AI Solutions Architect to serve as our most senior technical IC within a designated industry vertical — such as financial services, healthcare, private equity, retail, or media. This is a hands-on, client-facing role for someone who architects AI solutions, leads complex technical engagements, and becomes the person clients call when the problem is hard.

The ideal candidate has a career arc similar to our current senior technical leaders: a progression from hands-on data engineering and cloud architecture through AI/ML solution design, evolving into a strategic, client-facing technologist who can go deep with engineering teams and wide with executive stakeholders. You speak the language of both the technology and the industry you serve — and you bring the credibility that comes from having built and shipped production AI systems, not just advised on them.

**Your Growth Path** This role is explicitly designed as an IC-to-practice-lead trajectory. On day one, your job is to be the best solutions architect in your vertical — winning client trust, delivering exceptional technical work, and building domain expertise that differentiates Blue Orange in the market. Over time, as you accumulate wins and develop relationships, you will have the opportunity to grow into full practice leadership: owning a P&L, building and managing a team, and setting the strategic direction for your vertical. We will invest in your development with executive coaching, leadership exposure, and increasing scope — but the foundation is technical excellence and client impact first.

**Your AI-Augmented Workflow** As a Principal at Blue Orange, you will operate with an augmented workflow powered by your own automation suite of AI tools and virtual agents. From client research and architecture documentation to competitive analysis and proposal development, your digital labor force handles the heavy lifting so you can focus on what matters most: solving hard technical problems, building client trust, and designing systems that deliver real business impact. You will continuously refine and expand this bot ecosystem as part of your daily practice — modeling the tech-forward culture we bring to our clients.

**What You’ll Do** **Technical Solution Leadership**

• Architect end-to-end AI solutions for clients in your vertical — from discovery and requirements through system design, technology selection, and delivery oversight. You own the technical vision for your engagements and ensure solutions are production-grade, scalable, and aligned to business outcomes.
• Provide hands-on architectural guidance across AI/ML pipelines, agentic systems, LLM deployments, cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, Databricks, Snowflake), and modern data platforms — drawing on real experience building and shipping these systems in production.
• Lead technical deep-dives, design reviews, and architecture sessions with client engineering teams. You set the technical bar for quality, and delivery teams look to you for guidance on complex problems.
• Evaluate emerging AI frameworks, foundation models, agentic architectures, and tooling — separating what’s production-ready from what’s hype, and bringing the best forward for your clients and your vertical.

**Client-Facing Expertise**

• Serve as the trusted technical advisor to senior stakeholders within your vertical — leading AI strategy workshops, technology assessments, and roadmap sessions that translate cutting-edge AI capabilities into concret…