ABOUT FOUNDEVER
Foundever™ is a global leader in the customer experience (CX) industry. With 170,000 associates across the globe, we are the team behind the best experiences for 750+ of the world's leading and digital-first brands. Our innovative CX solutions, technology and expertise are designed to support the operational needs of our clients and deliver a seamless experience to customers in the moments that matter.
ABOUT THIS ROLE
We are building an AI Professional Services practice from the ground up. We need a technically savy Lead Architect who can own the build end-to-end: from client brief to working prototype, from prototype to production, and from solo contributor to the technical anchor of a growing team.
This is a rare founding opportunity. You will personally ship the first solutions, establish what great AI delivery looks like at Foundever, and grow into a Tech Lead role as the practice scales. You will work closely with Sales, Product, and client stakeholders - bringing engineering credibility and realistic delivery judgment to every engagement.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
1. Client Delivery & Technical Build
- Be the primary builder in every early client engagement - take a scoped brief to a working prototype within days, not weeks
- Design and deliver tailored AI solutions using LLMs, agents, RAG pipelines, and AI-assisted development workflows - from discovery through go-live
- Build live demos and proof-of-concepts that directly support deal closure, working alongside commercial stakeholders
- Own technical quality across all solutions: security, scalability, maintainability, and production readiness
- Lead the transition of delivered solutions to production - including monitoring, cost control, reliability, and support handoff
- Apply responsible AI delivery standards: data privacy, model selection, prompt and version management, and safeguards where required
2. Commercial & Scoping Judgment
- Assess client needs and determine the best solution path: EverSuite capability, off-the-shelf tooling, or custom AI build
- Estimate build costs with precision - time, infrastructure, tooling, and ongoing maintenance
- Join client scoping sessions and technical discovery calls, bringing engineering credibility and realistic timelines
- Flag reusable solution patterns that can evolve into packaged service offerings
- Partner with Sales to scope, price, and validate new services opportunities from a technical standpoint
3. Product Feedback Loop
- Identify recurring custom client requests that signal mid-term product opportunities
- Communicate technical insights clearly and actionably to Product Managers
- Define what "productizable" looks like technically - providing the feasibility foundation for roadmap decisions
- Feed client insights back into the EverSuite roadmap through structured cross-functional collaboration
4. Practice Building
- Document architecture patterns, reusable components, and build playbooks from day one
- Establish delivery methodologies and quality standards for AI implementations
- Create repeatable offerings: AI discovery workshops, rapid prototyping packages, paid pilots, and managed AI solution support
- As the team grows, step into a Tech Lead role - setting technical standards, reviewing work, and mentoring junior architects and engineers
- Define technical hiring criteria for future team members
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
Must-Haves
- 7+ years in solutions architecture, software engineering, or technical consulting - ideally in an AI, data, or SaaS context
- Strong hands-on track record building and shipping solutions - not just designing them
- Deep fluency with AI-assisted development workflows (Cursor, Copilot, Claude, v0, Replit, etc.) - you build with these tools daily
- Solid understanding of LLM application patterns: RAG, agents, prompt engineering, tool use, and fine-tuning
- Strong engineering judgment - you know when to move fast and when production readiness requires slowing down
- Ability to present your own work clearly to both technical teams and non-technical client stakeholders
- Proven ability to estimate, scope, and defend technical build decisions commercially
- Demonstrated ability to operate autonomously and lead without a fully formed team around you
Nice-to-Haves
- Background in enterprise software, cloud platforms, or AI/ML infrastructure
- Experience in a startup, scale-up, or zero-to-one environment - comfortable building without a playbook
- Familiarity with MLOps, vector databases, or AI safety considerations
- Prior experience influencing a product roadmap from field or client insights
- Exposure to P&L ownership, SOW management, or professional services revenue models
- Background in BPO, CX, or contact center technology
- Experience in regulated industries where responsible AI is non-negotiable
WHAT "AI BUILD FLUENCY" MEANS HERE
This isn't an architecture-on-paper role. We expect our Lead Architect to personally ship working software - not just produce diagrams and hand off to others. You use AI-assisted development tools as a force multiplier, not a crutch. You review AI-generated code critically, make real-time architecture decisions without committee alignment, and have a clear point of view on where these tools accelerate delivery and where they introduce risk.
You should be able to demonstrate all of the following:
- Spin up a working prototype within hours of a client brief
- Critically review AI-generated code - not just prompt and ship
- Make real-time architecture decisions without waiting for committee sign-off
- Scaffold, ship, and iterate on real solutions under commercial pressure
- Coach clients on integrating AI-assisted workflows into their development culture
- Maintain engineering rigor around security, scalability, and maintainability
