Generative AI Solutions Architect

Benefits: Competitive salary Location Remote (Candidates must reside in South Carolina and be available for occasional onsite visits.) Experience Level Mid-Level (2 or more years of experience) Role Overview The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Consultant / Engineer supports the state's central information technology division and its AI Center of Excellence by providing technical expertise for the evaluation, design, and responsible implementation of artificial intelligence solutions. This role assists state agencies in assessing AI use cases, tools, risks, and opportunities, while contributing to the development of secure architectures, reusable technical patterns, prototypes, and feasibility assessments. This is a 12-month remote contract opportunity with a possibility of extension, requiring mandatory state background screenings and CJIS security certification. Key Responsibilities AI Solution Design & Prototyping • Support the state’s AI Center of Excellence by designing secure architectures, developing reusable technical patterns, and constructing prototypes and feasibility assessments. • Design, develop, and implement AI agents and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions. • Integrate advanced AI capabilities and platform services with Azure and AWS cloud environments. • Use AI-assisted coding tools to accelerate software development, testing, debugging, and system documentation. Evaluation, Governance, & Risk Assessment • Establish proof-of-concept success criteria and systematically evaluate third-party AI solutions against those operational metrics. • Define AI use case success criteria, key performance indicators (KPIs), and production monitoring measures to ensure the safe deployment of AI tools. • Build comprehensive dashboards and analytical reporting models to track AI adoption, performance, cost, risk, and operational outcomes across agencies. • Contribute to the statewide review and approval process for AI use cases and vendors to verify compliance with privacy, security, and data governance frameworks. Strategy & Agency Support • Assist state agencies and public sector entities in identifying opportunities, understanding risks, and implementing AI strategies that align with organizational goals. • Support and promote the adoption of standardized, responsible AI processes and policies across the state. • Maintain a high level of expertise in emerging AI trends, tooling, models, and platforms to position the technology division as an industry leader. Required Qualifications • 2 or more years of hands-on experience developing with or configuring ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and comparable generative AI platforms. • 2 or more years of experience designing, configuring, and implementing AI agents and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) solutions. • 1 or more years of proven experience establishing proof-of-concept success criteria and evaluating AI solutions. • 1 or more years of experience utilizing AI-assisted coding tools to accelerate development, testing, debugging, and documentation. • 1 or more years of experience defining AI use case success criteria, KPIs, and production monitoring protocols. • 1 or more years of experience building dashboards and reporting models for AI adoption, performance, cost, risk, and operational outcomes. • 1 or more years of hands-on experience integrating AI capabilities with Azure and AWS cloud environments. • Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a related field. • Ability to successfully pass mandatory background checks (including credit, driving record, E-Verify, and state law enforcement checks) and obtain CJIS security certification once onboard. Preferred Qualifications • Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in Computer Science, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, or a highly related field. • Technical background in a variety of programming languages and object-oriented development principles. • Familiarity with the foundations of artificial neural networks (ANNs), transformers, natural language processing (NLP), image classification, and time-series data. • Practical experience using database tools and data engineering techniques for storing, retrieving, and cleaning data. • Experience working on complex, change-oriented enterprise technology projects in the public sector. Core Skills & Attributes • Strong communication, presentation, and knowledge-transfer skills. • Advanced technical report writing and documentation abilities. • Confident public speaking capabilities to present AI strategies, opportunities, and risks to diverse agencies and executive stakeholders. • Outstanding attention to detail, organization, and independent task execution. This is a remote position. Established in 2004, Smart Tech Skills is a top technology and professional services firm specializing in innovative technologies. Headquartered in Marlborough, MA, the company effectively addresses clients’ technology needs nationwide, making advanced technology management easier.