AI Architect, Director

About this role

Role Overview

The Director, AI Architecture is a senior technical leader responsible for defining and delivering enterprise‑grade AI architecture that enables transformation across BlackRock’s Technology & Operations functions. This role involves hands‑on architectural leadership with senior leaders and plays a critical role in shifting AI adoption from isolated solutions to a scalable, platform‑first operating model.

The role partners closely with teams across Aladdin Engineering, Data, Business Operations Services, and Client Services to embed AI into end‑to‑end workflows, delivering measurable improvements in productivity, cost efficiency, speed, and control.

What Makes This Opportunity Unique

• This role sits at the intersection of AI, architecture, and operating model transformation, with a mandate to move AI from experimentation to a core execution layer within Technology & Operations—delivering sustained operational alpha at scale.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and evolution of enterprise AI architecture for Technology & Operations, ensuring solutions are scalable, secure, governed, and production‑ready.

• Act as a hands‑on lead architect for priority AI initiatives, shaping solution design, reviewing architectures, and guiding critical technical decisions.

• Drive the transition from point AI solutions to reusable, platform‑based AI capabilities and shared architectural patterns.

• Architect AI‑led, end‑to‑end operational workflows that reduce manual effort and shift human focus toward judgment, risk management, and exception handling.

• Ensure AI designs incorporate traceability, explainability, human‑in‑the‑loop controls, and auditability aligned to firmwide risk and governance standards.

• Partner with operations and business leaders to align AI architecture with operating model transformation and measurable outcomes.

• Define architectural standards, reference patterns, and guardrails that accelerate delivery while maintaining strong controls.

• Build, mentor, and lead a high‑caliber team of architects and senior technical leaders anchored in India and integrated into global delivery.

• Influence AI investment decisions, roadmap priorities, and technology choices through clear architectural and business trade‑off analysis.

Qualifications:

Required

• Engineering degree (Bachelor’s or higher), preferably in Computer Science, from reputed institutes in India or globally recognized universities.

• 12+ years of experience in architecture or senior Engineering roles, with demonstrated experience designing enterprise‑scale platforms.

• Proven delivery experience building and deploying AI applications using agent development frameworks/toolkits (e.g., Google ADK or comparable agentic/LLM orchestration frameworks).

• Hands‑on experience working with large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT (OpenAI), Claude (Anthropic), and/or similar models, including real‑world production use cases.

• Strong understanding of agent‑based architectures, tool‑use orchestration, prompt design/versioning, and human‑in‑the‑loop workflows.

• Solid background in distributed systems, APIs, data platforms (structured and unstructured), and security‑by‑design.

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex initiatives across engineering, operations, and business teams.

• Experience mentoring senior technical talent and setting architecture standards at scale.

Preferred

• Experience in financial services or other highly regulated environments.

• Exposure to AI systems supporting operational decisioning, workflow automation, or exception management at scale.

• Familiarity with AI governance, model lifecycle controls, and production observability for LLM‑based systems.

• Experience supporting large‑scale platform or operating model transformations.

Our benefits

To help you stay energized, engaged and inspired, we offer a wide range of benefits including a strong retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, comprehensive healthcare, support for working parents and Flexible Time Off (FTO) so you can relax, recharge and be there for the people you care about.

Our hybrid work model

BlackRock’s hybrid work model is designed to enable a culture of collaboration and apprenticeship that enriches the experience of our employees, while supporting flexibility for all. Employees are currently required to work at least 4 days in the office per week, with the flexibility to work from home 1 day a week. Some business groups may require more time in the office due to their roles and responsibilities. We remain focused on increasing the impactful moments that arise when we work together in person – aligned with our commitment to performance and innovation. As a new joiner, you can count on this hybrid model to accelerate your learning and onboarding experience here at BlackRock.

About BlackRock

At BlackRock, we are all connected by one mission: to help more and more people experience financial well-being.  Our clients, and the people they serve, are saving for retirement, paying for their children’s educations, buying homes and starting businesses. Their investments also help to strengthen the global economy: support businesses small and large; finance infrastructure projects that connect and power cities; and facilitate innovations that drive progress.

This mission would not be possible without our smartest investment – the one we make in our employees. It’s why we’re dedicated to creating an environment where our colleagues feel welcomed, valued and supported with networks, benefits and development opportunities to help them thrive.

For additional information on BlackRock, please visit @blackrock | Twitter: @blackrock | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/blackrock

BlackRock is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to age, disability, family status, gender identity, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation and other protected attributes at law.