AI Architect

Scientific Applications & Research Associates, Inc. (SARA) is a world-class Defense Research and Development enterprise, with a charter to create new and emerging technological innovations in support of Commercial & Government organizations. We have expertise in RF, EMP, Pulsed Power, Acoustics and Threat Warning Systems, and we prioritize partnering with our customers to address real-world problems with cost-effective solutions… that work.

SARA, Inc. is seeking an experienced AI Architect to architect and implement organization-wide AI capability out of our Colorado Springs, CO location. The primary responsibility focuses on secure onsite/private LLM deployments, enterprise data integration, and scalable adoption across business functions. This leader will define, deploy, and maintain enterprise AI operating models – spanning platform architecture, governance, evaluation standards, and production lifecycle management – ensuring AI solutions are reliable, compliant, and aligned to business priorities.

The AI Architect will work closely with executive leadership, IT, cybersecurity, data owners, and external partners to deliver AI‑enabled workflows that improve decision‑making, automate routine analysis, and increase efficiency. Success will be measured by adoption, business value realization, and sustainable production operations rather than isolated prototypes.

• Serve as internal AI program owner for all enterprise AI initiatives
• Define AI strategy, roadmap, and success metrics aligned to business goals
• Lead requirements definition for onsite and private LLM deployments
• Oversee external AI consultants and vendors; ensure delivery accountability
• Evaluate and select AI tools, LLMs, platforms, and architectures
• Design and oversee RAG pipelines, model hosting, and inference workflows
• Ensure AI systems meet security, privacy, and governance standards
• Partner with IT, cybersecurity, and technical teams
• Drive AI pilots into production‑ready solutions
• Develop AI usage guidelines and guardrails
• Lead internal AI training and adoption efforts
• Monitor AI performance, risks, and ROI over time

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or related field
• 8–10 years of professional experience in AI, data science, or related field
• 5+ years of experience leading complex technical initiatives
• Demonstrated experience deploying and maintaining AI systems
• Experience managing external consulting partners
• Proven ability to deliver systems beyond proof‑of‑concept
• Strong understanding of LLMs and generative AI concepts
• Experience with:
• LLM deployment (open‑source and/or proprietary)
• RAG architectures and vector databases
• AI infrastructure (on‑prem, private cloud, or hybrid)
• authentication/authorization methods and implementation
• evaluation/monitoring tools for LLM’s and accompanying hardware
• Familiarity with AI tooling ecosystems (e.g., Open WebUI, Lang Chain, Llama Index)
• Familiarity with Model Context Protocol (MCP) and client‑server architecture
• Familiarity with Model and Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG) Management
• Familiarity with authentication and security (JWT, OAuth, LDAP, API Key Mgmt)
• Understanding of GPU infrastructure and cost tradeoffs
• Strong data governance and security awareness
• Light physical effort, involving standing, sitting and use of hands while performing duties, carrying or lifting up to 50 pounds
• Working environment is indoor, moderately quiet, reasonably clean, well‑lighted, and well‑ventilated; moderate physical hazards may exist
• US Citizen with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top‑Secret security clearance

• Master’s degree or higher in related field
• 10–12 years of professional experience in deploying and maintaining AI systems
• Experience deploying onsite or air‑gapped AI systems
• Background in Government Contracting and/or IP‑sensitive environments
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Experience with high‑level IT network and systems architecture
• AI product management or AI platform ownership
• PMP, Agile, or similar program management certification

• Technically credible and hands‑on
• Strong communicator across…