Lead Architect AI
Lead Architect AI
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Summary
Posted in:About this vacancy
You translate cutting-edge AI and cloud innovation into real-world impact at top-tier organizations!
Location: Netherlands (hybrid)
Employment type: Permanent
Experience level: Senior | Architecture | Leadership (8–10 years)
Languages: Dutch (strong preference) & English
🚀 Build the Next Generation of AI Solutions
You see opportunities where others see complexity. While many organizations struggle to turn AI and cloud concepts into tangible business value, you make it real.
As a Lead Architect (AI), you guide the digital future of the Netherlands.
You are the visionary who transforms strategy into scalable solutions — not with off-the-shelf templates, but with vision, courage, and tailored approaches. You connect AI, cloud, data, and engineering to build ecosystems that not only function, but grow sustainably.
With an engineering mindset and focus on automation, you help organizations modernize their technology landscape; from tools and processes to teams and culture. Step by step, you bring the strategic vision closer to reality.
💡 Why Your Role Matters
The Dutch market is evolving rapidly. The introduction of the EU AI Act, stricter data sovereignty requirements, and the explosive growth of Generative AI and agentic AI demand new ways of thinking about architecture.
Leading organizations in high-tech, automotive, healthcare, banking, and energy face critical decisions:
- How to use AI responsibly within a European regulatory framework?
- How to maintain control over data ownership, compliance, and costs?
- How to scale AI solutions across hybrid, nearshore, and offshore ecosystems?
You are the one providing direction.
At both strategic and technical levels, you work with CIOs, CTOs, and engineering teams to:
- Embed AI solutions within a compliant, future-proof landscape (AI Act, NIS2, GDPR).
- Unite cloud platforms (Azure, GCP, AWS) in a sovereign cloud architecture.
- Achieve efficiency and scalability through automation, microservices, and DevSecOps.
- Transform near- and offshore models into a coherent, collaborative delivery ecosystem.
Each sector presents unique challenges, and you ensure the solution fits. In healthcare, it’s about data privacy; in finance, governance and transparency; in high-tech, speed and integration with digital twins and edge technology.
YER is a leading consultancy that helps organizations grow by connecting innovation, technology, and talent. With a strong focus on IT, data, AI, and engineering, we support clients across sectors such as high-tech, automotive, healthcare, banking, and energy. At YER, you combine entrepreneurship, knowledge-sharing, and impact in a dynamic, multidisciplinary environment.
Vision
We believe technology is not an end in itself, but a means to make people and organizations stronger, more agile, and smarter.
Our vision is a future where organizations have the digital maturity to innovate independently, operate safely, and grow sustainably — empowered by knowledge, not dependent on others.
Mission
We help organizations achieve lasting progress by turning complex technological and organizational challenges into scalable, future-proof solutions. Our strength lies in combining deep expertise with a pragmatic approach that promotes self-reliance, not dependency.
We build systems, processes, and teams with our clients that can sustain themselves, ensuring that digital ambitions are truly realized.
- A key, challenging role within an ambitious, innovative company where you shape AI, cloud, and data transformations for top-tier clients.
- Permanent contract offering stability and space to make your mark.
- Entrepreneurial freedom within the YER framework: room for initiative and leadership.
- Work in a tight-knit, multidisciplinary, and entrepreneurial team where your vision matters.
- Hybrid role within the Netherlands/Benelux, including opportunities for international collaboration.
- International growth opportunities: contribute to the most advanced AI, cloud, and data projects.
- Excellent benefits package suitable for a senior tech leadership role, including pension plan and additional perks.
👩💻 What You Will Do
- Design and lead AI-driven, cloud-native enterprise platform architectures.
- Determine the right combination of AI, data, MLOps, Infrastructure as Code, API-first development, and microservices for each client — translating it into a scalable, goal-oriented solution.
- Collaborate with CIOs, CTOs, and lead engineers on strategic roadmaps that unite innovation and compliance.
- Guide organizations toward an AI-ready culture, focusing on security, governance, and automation.
- Translate vision into tangible plateaus: MVPs, iterative builds, and scalable reference architectures.
- Ensure solutions built by teams are end-to-end consistent, measurable, and future-proof.
- Act as an AI evangelist within YER and with clients, sharing knowledge, providing guidance, and inspiring others.
🧠 What You Bring
- 8–10 years of experience in enterprise IT and cloud environments, focused on architecture, data, and AI.
- Strong technical foundation (Computer Science or equivalent) with proven experience in Azure’s data and AI stack: Databricks, Synapse, Data Factory, Purview, Fabric.
- Experience with Generative AI, LLMs (GPT, Claude, Gemini), agentic AI, vector databases, and AI orchestration frameworks (LangChain, Semantic Kernel, Azure AI Studio).
- Deep understanding of AI governance (bias, explainability, fairness, ethical AI) and European regulations (AI Act, GDPR, NIS2).
- Cloud Native & IaC expertise: Terraform, Bicep, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, automation by design.
- Experience with Building as a Service principles (Monolith vs. Microservices).
- Knowledge of security standards, compliance frameworks, and data sovereignty (ISO27001, SOC2, EU Cloud Code of Conduct).
- Familiarity with Agile and Waterfall delivery models and the ability to choose the right approach for each context.
- Language proficiency in Dutch (B1–C1) and English.
- Thinks in plateaus and MVPs; builds iteratively with a clear strategic horizon.
- Technology-agnostic; selects what adds value, not what’s trendy.
⚙️ What Characterizes You
- You are not a distant architect — you are an architect in motion.
- You lead by doing, creating buy-in through content, vision, and results.
- You think strategically, communicate clearly, and remain grounded in complex projects.
- You are curious, analytical, and pragmatic; your designs are ambitious but actionable.
Above all, you build trust, not just technology.
🎯 Your Impact
At a large financial institution, you develop an AI reference architecture compliant with the AI Act, featuring secure model deployments, explainability templates, and CI/CD pipelines for ML.
At a high-tech client, you design an agentic AI ecosystem on Azure enabling nearshore teams to automate data processing and modeling — 40% faster, with lower costs and higher quality.
Every solution you design has measurable impact: more predictable, more manageable, and fully scalable.
Wesley is happy to help you.
The steps to a successful match
Application
If you respond to an appealing job opening, the consultant will contact you to schedule an exploratory meeting in the next few days.
Analysis
Together with the consultant, you determine whether your profile is a good fit for the position. You also assess whether your ambitions are aligned with the direction of the organi…
Initial interview
If the fit is right on both sides, there will be a first-round interview with your potential new employer in the next two weeks.
Follow-up interview(s)
Depending on the process, the consultant will invite you to the next round(s) of interviews and possibly an assessment center.
Offer
If you are selected for the position, you will receive an attractive job offer. We will be happy to advise you on realistic terms of employment.
Frequently asked questions about our vacancies
YER connects you with inspiring organizations throughout the Netherlands and beyond. Is your question not listed? Please contact our team.
We offer a range of contracts for candidates. If you are a starter, a YER traineeship is a great way to get to know interesting employers. With our temporary contracts for professionals, you work for a client on a temporary basis. In both cases, you can transfer to the client’s organization at the end of your YER contract. If you are an experienced specialist, manager or board member, our consultants will put you directly in touch with interesting organizations. Depending on the job opening, you are offered a temporary or permanent contract, or start working as an interim professional.
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