Solutions Architect AI

About the Solutions Architect AI Role at Deakin University

Are you a strategic thinker who can turn complex technology landscapes into clear, future-focused solutions? Deakin University is seeking an experienced Solutions Architect AI to lead the design and delivery of innovative digital solutions that enable meaningful outcomes across the University in the AI space. This is an opportunity to influence enterprise-wide decision-making and help shape a modern, integrated and customer-centric AI digital ecosystem.

Why Work With Us?

At Deakin University, you’ll find more than a job - you’ll find a community and a way of working that supports you to do your best work. Across our campuses in Geelong, Melbourne and regional Victoria, we offer an environment designed to help you thrive, with on-site childcare, gyms, medical centres, cafés, accessible public transport and convenient parking. We support flexible and hybrid working, generous leave provisions - including extended parental leave and the option to purchase additional leave - and a wide range of staff benefits and discounts. Combined with our strong focus on health, wellbeing and professional development, Deakin offers a supportive, inclusive culture where leaders are trusted, people are valued and careers can grow.

Role Overview

Deakin isn't just adopting AI - we're building it. With Deakin GEM now live and our AI Factory, a multi-disciplinary AI squad, accelerating AI capability across the institution, ambitious work is underway across multiple streams. As a Solutions Architect AI, you will lead a diverse portfolio of digital solutions - spanning projects, platforms, applications and shared infrastructure services. You’ll ensure solutions align with enterprise architecture roadmaps, governance standards and strategic priorities, while enhancing the experience of students and staff through seamless integration of digital and physical services. This role sits at the intersection of business and technology - translating complex requirements into scalable, secure and forward-thinking architecture. Join us to build AI systems that transform how businesses operate. We need a solutions architect who can translate AI into real-world impact, designing architectures that scale, integrating models that deliver, and solving problems that matter.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide architectural leadership across your assigned portfolio, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy and future-state architecture.
• Lead solution evaluation, design and analysis across business applications and technology domains.
• Identify capability gaps and develop holistic change recommendations across business processes, systems and information.
• Guide informed architectural decision-making and define principles, standards and solution patterns.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the University to deliver impactful, high-quality outcomes.

About You

You bring extensive experience designing and implementing contemporary digital solutions within large, complex organisations. You’ll demonstrate:

• Strong knowledge of solution architecture frameworks and governance practices.
• The ability to align technology initiatives with strategic business drivers.
• Experience with major cloud platforms (AWS, Azure) and deep AI services.
• Familiarity with vector databases, embedding models, and modern AI infrastructure.
• Strong understanding of ML/AI fundamentals and when to apply different approaches.
• Strong experience in AI solutions implementation.
• Exceptional analytical capability and systems thinking.
• Proven stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• A collaborative leadership style that fosters inclusive, high-performing teams.

How to Apply

Please submit your updated resume and a short cover letter outlining your skills and experience. For a confidential discussion regarding this role, please contact Paul Cheng - Director, Enterprise Architecture via p.cheng@deakin.edu.au. Applications close 11.55pm on Sunday, 15 March 2026.

Deakin University Culture

Deakin is a Victorian university with a global impact. We are an agile, dynamic, and innovative university committed to making a positive impact through our excellence in education, research and innovation and the contributions we make to the wider community. We understand that our reputation has been built on the dedication and expertise of our staff and we offer a dynamic and diverse working environment with opportunities to grow and develop careers. We believe that a progressive, thriving culture will ensure that people choose to come, and stay at Deakin and contribute to our ongoing success. We value diversity and aim to build an inclusive environment that champions, embraces and respects differences. We support and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, sexual orientation, and genders.

Key Skills/Competency

• Solution Architecture
• AI/ML Fundamentals
• Cloud Platforms (AWS, Azure)
• Enterprise Architecture
• Digital Transformation
• Stakeholder Engagement
• System Design
• Vector Databases
• Embedding Models
• AI Infrastructure