Head of AI Product & Architecture Consulting

About the role

You will own the end-to-end vision and execution of Ippon's AI Product and Architecture Consulting practice in the United States, defining what success looks like for clients and for the team. You will translate the firm's strategic partnerships and market positioning into a differentiated practice that delivers measurable business value through applied AI and modern software engineering. You will set the quality bar for delivery, coaching consultants to combine technical depth with structured problem-solving so that every engagement advances a client's digital transformation. You will act as the primary external thought leader for the practice, shaping conversations with clients and partners on how AI should be architected and productized responsibly. You will build repeatable playbooks, reference architectures, and delivery frameworks that allow Ippon to scale high-quality AI solutions without compromising craftsmanship. You will align the practice vision with the broader Ippon culture, leveraging values of ambition and excellence to attract and develop top-tier consultants. You will own the commercial outcomes of the practice, including proposal strategy, win themes, and positioning against competitors in fast-moving AI markets. You will ensure that every engagement reflects a balance between innovation and operational rigor, so that clients receive solutions that are both visionary and production-ready.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define and evangelize the AI Product and Architecture Consulting practice vision, translating Ippon's strategy into a clear roadmap and measurable objectives for the US market.

Build and lead a high-performing consulting team, setting hiring standards, performance expectations, and career pathways for AI practitioners and delivery leads.

Design and own the end-to-end practice delivery methodology, including playbooks, templates, and governance models tailored to AI-driven product and architecture initiatives.

Partner with Sales and Marketing to develop compelling narratives, win themes, and client value propositions that differentiate Ippon in the competitive AI consulting landscape.

Establish and maintain deep relationships with key strategic partners, including Snowflake and AWS, to align practice offerings with platform capabilities and joint go-to-market opportunities.

Champion architectural excellence by defining reference architectures and guardrails that guide consultants in designing scalable, secure, and maintainable AI solutions.

Lead the discovery and scoping process for complex client engagements, ensuring that problem statements, success metrics, and technical approaches are rigorously defined.

Drive the productization of AI capabilities within Ippon's service offerings, identifying patterns that can be reused across clients and packaged as cohesive solutions.

Coach and mentor consultants on applied AI practices, combining hands-on technical guidance with agile delivery principles to elevate the overall quality of delivery.

Own the commercial outcomes of the practice, including profitability, client satisfaction, and renewal or expansion opportunities within existing engagements.

Collaborate with Finance and Operations to set practice-level budgets, track performance against KPIs, and optimize resource allocation for maximum impact.

Represent Ippon in key industry forums, conferences, and thought-leadership initiatives that enhance the visibility of the AI Product and Architecture Consulting practice.

Ensure all client deliverables reflect the highest standards of craftsmanship, aligning with Ippon's coaching mindset and commitment to long-term client success.

Continuously scan the market for emerging AI trends, tooling, and competitive moves, feeding insights back into the practice roadmap and capability investments.

Requirements

You must have at least eight years of progressively responsible experience in software development, product management, or technology consulting, with a strong focus on AI and data-intensive systems.

You must demonstrate deep expertise in modern software engineering practices, including cloud architecture, DevOps, and agile delivery, and you must have applied these in production environments.

You must have hands-on experience applying AI technologies in real-world product or enterprise settings, covering areas such as data strategy, model integration, and responsible AI considerations.

You must have a track record of leading cross-functional teams through complex, multi-phase engagements, delivering measurable outcomes for clients in the financial services or similarly regulated industries.

You must be comfortable operating at the intersection of business strategy and technical execution, translating ambiguous problems into well-defined solution hypotheses and validation approaches.

You must have strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders, facilitate workshops, and articulate technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

You must be willing to travel up to 25% within the USA for client engagements, working across the Richmond, VA, Atlanta, GA, Washington, DC, New York City, and Charlotte, NC metro areas.

You must be eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship, as Ippon is currently not able to sponsor visas for this role.

Nice to have

Preferred experience with Snowflake and AWS platforms, including architecture patterns, cost optimization, and integration strategies for AI workloads.

Background in financial services domain expertise, including knowledge of regulatory considerations, risk management, and compliance expectations for data and AI.

Experience coaching or mentoring consultants, with a demonstrated ability to develop talent and build high-performing delivery teams.

Familiarity with product management frameworks for AI-driven products, including metrics definition, experimentation, and lifecycle management.

Practical notes

This is a full-time direct hire position based in the United States, with a standard four-week vacation policy and a hybrid schedule requiring 1 to 2 days per week in the office.

Travel is expected within the specified metro areas, with a maximum of 25% of time spent on client sites.

Ippon is currently unable to sponsor visas for this role, and candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.