Harnham

Lead AI Architect

Chicago, Illinois, US

Role snapshot

Harnham is hiring a Lead AI Architect on a full-time basis. This is a hybrid role based in Chicago, Illinois, US.

Company: Harnham
Location: Chicago, Illinois, US
Work mode: Hybrid
Job type: Full-time
Experience: 5+ years
Pay listed: $180,000 - $200,000
Posted: Nov 2, 2026

Who this role suits

Practitioners with a few years behind them who can work independently, make trade-offs and help newer teammates.

How to prepare your application

Prepare examples of decisions you drove, how you measured the result, and how you worked with other teams.
Be ready to discuss trade-offs and scope, not only the tools you have used.
Read what Harnham publishes about its product or team, so you can say clearly why this role and this company.

Apply only on Harnham's own site. A genuine employer never asks candidates for money, deposits or bank details to apply, interview or “secure” a job. If something looks wrong, use Report a problem with this listing and we will review it. Read how we check listings.

About the role

Lead AI Architect

Chicago, IL (4 days onsite per week, Monday-Thursday)

$180,000-$200,000 base salary + annual bonus

THE COMPANY

Our client is a highly respected middle-market private investment firm with a strong track record of partnering with founder-led businesses. With a collaborative, entrepreneurial culture and a reputation for integrity, the firm is investing heavily in AI and digital transformation to enhance decision-making, productivity, and operational excellence across the business.

This is a unique opportunity to become the organization's first dedicated AI Architect/Solutions Lead, working directly with senior leadership to shape and execute the firm's AI strategy while delivering tangible business impact.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify and evaluate high-impact business workflows across investment, operations, investor relations, and corporate functions that can be enhanced through AI and automation.
Partner with stakeholders to understand existing processes, quantify business value, and prioritize opportunities for improvement.
Design, build, and deploy AI-driven solutions, agents, and workflow automations using modern LLM technologies and cloud-based platforms.
Drive adoption of AI tools by supporting change management, user training, stakeholder engagement, and ongoing feedback collection.
Collaborate with technical teams to establish scalable and sustainable AI capabilities across the organization.
Help develop and maintain data and document governance standards, including file structures, taxonomy, naming conventions, and information management best practices.
Monitor solution effectiveness and continuously improve tools based on user behavior, business outcomes, and stakeholder feedback.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Required

5+ years of experience in AI, automation, business intelligence, analytics, digital transformation, consulting, or a related field.
Hands-on experience building AI workflows, AI agents, or LLM-powered solutions using platforms such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft Copilot, Azure AI, or similar technologies.
Strong ability to translate business challenges into practical technology solutions.
Experience engaging directly with business stakeholders and managing cross-functional projects from concept through deployment.
Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
Strong problem-solving mindset with a focus on execution, outcomes, and continuous improvement.
Experience working with cloud platforms and modern data environments such as Azure, Databricks, Snowflake, or equivalent.

Preferred

Experience within consulting, financial services, private equity, investment management, or other fast-paced, client-facing environments.
Exposure to data governance, information architecture, and enterprise productivity tooling.
Experience supporting change management and enterprise-wide technology adoption initiatives.

BENEFITS

Competitive base salary of $180,000-$200,000
Annual performance-based bonus opportunity
High visibility role with direct exposure to senior executives and business leaders
Opportunity to build and shape AI capabilities from the ground up
Entrepreneurial, collaborative culture with significant ownership and autonomy
Clear opportunity for professional growth as the firm's AI function evolves

HOW TO APPLY

Please register your interest by submitting your CV via the Apply link on this page.

KEY TERMS