AI Senior Solutions Architect - Automotive

We currently have a career opportunity for an AI Senior Solutions Architect  to join our team in support of clients within the Automotive Industry.

Job Overview:

Lead and scale Perficient’s Product Development practice focused on AI‑enabled Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) transformation for the automotive industry, with emphasis on software‑defined vehicles (SDV), ADAS/Autonomous Driving, connected vehicle platforms, and embedded + cloud ecosystems.
This strategic leadership role combines practice management, presales excellence, platform engineering, and innovation governance to drive AI‑First, safety‑by‑design delivery capabilities across highly regulated automotive environments. Enable safe, scalable AI‑driven development for systems handling vehicle control, driver assistance, telematics, OTA updates, and mobility services.

Key Mandate: Transform automotive software development delivery using AI‑enabled engineering methodologies while maintaining rigorous compliance with ISO 26262 (Functional Safety), ASPICE, UNECE R155/R156 (Cybersecurity & OTA), ISO 21434, SOC 2, IATF 16949, and SOX, alongside cloud and enterprise security standards where applicable.

Perficient is always looking for the best and brightest talent and we need you! We’re a quickly-growing, global digital consulting leader, and we’re transforming the world’s largest enterprises and biggest brands. You’ll work with the latest technologies, expand your skills, and become a part of our global community of talented, diverse, and knowledgeable colleagues.

Practice Leadership & Business Development

• Build and scale Perficient’s AI‑enabled Automotive SDLC offering, creating, leading, and training multidisciplinary teams across embedded systems, vehicle platforms, cloud backends, and data‑centric mobility products
• Lead complex RFPs ($500K–$10M+) in the automotive and mobility sector, including OEM vehicle programs, Tier‑1 supplier platforms, ADAS/AV stacks, connected vehicle and fleet solutions, with end‑to‑end solution ownership
• Establish automotive thought leadership through white papers, industry events, standards working groups, and strategic partnerships (e.g., SDV ecosystems, AUTOSAR, mobility alliances)
• Create go‑to‑market strategies including automotive‑specific productized offerings, pricing models, and partner ecosystems (cloud hyperscalers, silicon vendors, middleware providers, AI platform partners)

Platform Engineering & Architecture 

• Design enterprise AI SDLC platforms (cloud‑agnostic: Azure/AWS/GCP/on‑prem) supporting embedded + cloud co‑development, secure vehicle data isolation, traceability, and auditability
• Build compliance‑by‑design frameworks translating ISO 26262, ASPICE, ISO 21434, UNECE R155/R156, and SOC 2 into concrete engineering patterns, safety artifacts, and CI/CD guardrails
• Deliver platform MVPs in 6–8 weeks with small, elite teams (2–4 engineers), balancing speed, quality, functional safety, and vehicle program milestones
• Create reference architectures for:
  • Software‑defined vehicle platforms
  • ADAS / autonomous feature development
  • OTA update pipelines
  • Connected vehicle and telemetry systems
  • Regulated ML pipelines (including model explainability, versioning, deployment gates, and safety evidence automation)

Innovation & Governance

• Lead and enable Forward‑Deployed Engineers through structured automotive AI curricula, including intensive 1–2 week bootcamps
• Drive AI toolchain evaluations addressing safety, cybersecurity, bias, data provenance, and regulatory risk in vehicle systems
• Establish model risk management, validation frameworks, audit‑readiness patterns, and software safety governance aligned with OEM and Tier‑1 expectations

Client Delivery & Team Development 

• Provide solution architecture leadership for engagements involving vehicle platforms, embedded systems, connected services, and AI‑enabled driver or fleet experiences
• Conduct executive workshops and architecture deep dives with client CTOs, CIOs, CISOs, Heads of Vehicle Software, and Engineering VPs
• Develop team capabilities through mentorship, training programs, and structured career development paths
• Create demo environments, technical documentation, and reusable assets that accelerate delivery while standing up to functional safety and cybersecurity audits

Experience & Education

• 10+ years in software development, platform engineering, or technology consulting with demonstrated technical depth
• 5+ years in senior technical or practice leadership roles
• 3+ years in presales / solution architecture for enterprise B2B with proven $5M+ deal