Summary
Location: London, Peterborough, Reading
Job Family: Digital & Technology
Job Type: Full Time
Posted Date: 13-Jan-2026
Ref #: 71115
Enterprise Architect - AI & Automation to join our Technology Transformation team.
As Enterprise Architect – AI & Automation, you will shape and drive the enterprise architecture for AI-enabled platforms, data products and hyper-automation across the CTO estate.
You will work across CTO verticals to embed architectural patterns that enable AI at scale, closed-loop automation, and measurable cost and efficiency benefits, while ensuring solutions remain secure, governed and cloud-agnostic by design.
This is a hands-on, highly influential role requiring deep technical credibility, strong stakeholder engagement, and the ability to translate ambition into executable architecture.
This role would be well suited for an existing AI/Automation Architect or Tech Lead, Senior Developer, Senior DevOps Engineer with extensive AI/Automation.
Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities
* Define and own enterprise-level AI and automation architecture patterns, reference designs and guardrails.
* Shape the evolution of the AI factory (data → model → inference → action), leveraging GCP capabilities while avoiding provider lock-in.
* Establish standards for ML Ops, model lifecycle management, data governance, observability and ethical AI.
* Embed within CTO verticals to guide initiatives from early discovery through to delivery and operationalisation.
* Partner with Solution Architects, Tech Leads and engineering squads to ensure architectural intent is realised.
* Drive reuse of common AI, data and automation capabilities to reduce duplication, cost and time to value.
* Identify opportunities where AI and automation can drive cost reduction, operational efficiency and resilience.
* Architect closed-loop automation patterns spanning intent ingestion, decisioning, orchestration and assurance.
Who we are
The UK's fastest broadband network. The nation's best-loved mobile brand. And, one of the UK's biggest companies too. We put our customers first, making life simpler, smoother, and more joyful. With big ambitions and a brilliant team, we're building a more connected future for everyone.
Our ways of working
We're a flexible-first organisation, because we know people do their best work when they have choice and clarity. To support meaningful collaboration, we ask everyone to spend at least eight days each month connecting in person. That doesn't just mean time in the office, it could be team meetings, offsites, volunteering days, cross-functional projects, or away days - anywhere meaningful collaboration happens. What matters is making those moments purposeful, so when we come together, it really counts.
Accessible, inclusive and equitable for all
Virgin Media O2 is an equal opportunities employer and we're working hard to remove bias and barriers for our people and candidates. So, we build equity and inclusion into everything we do, from the policies we craft to the relationships we shape. We support and encourage you to be your authentic self throughout your application journey with us.
The must haves
* Proven experience as an AI/Automation Architect or Tech Lead, Senior Developer, Senior DevOps Engineer with extensive AI, data and automation experience
* Strong hands-on understanding of AI/ML architectures, MLOps, data pipelines and event-driven systems.
* Proven hands‑on experience with key AI technologies and concepts such as LLMs, Scikit, prompt engineering, LangChain, vector databases, graph databases, Lucene, Lakehouse and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG).
* Hands on production experience deploying and monitoring AI/ML systems on cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP or Azure
* Knowledge of modern data architectures (data products, data contracts, governance, lineage, quality).
* Experience with automation, decisioning engines, workflow orchestration and closed-loop control.
* Strong understanding of agentic AI concepts, including: Tool-using agents, Planning and reasoning loops, Multi-agent coordination, Memory, context and state management
* Experience designing AI systems that combine LLMs/SLMs with deterministic components such as rules engines, policies, workflows and orchestration.
* Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
The other stuff we are looking for
* Experience in telecoms, OSS, network operations or large-scale distributed platforms.
* Familiarity with GCP services such as BigQuery, Pub/Sub, Dataflow, Vertex AI, Cloud Run or Anthos.
What's in it for you
Our goal is to celebrate our people, their lives and everything in-between. We aim to create a culture that empowers everyone to bring the best versions of themselves to work each and every day. We believe the most inclusive and diverse culture makes for a better business and a brighter world.
Working at Virgin Media O2, you get a bumper reward package bursting with benefits, and loads of extras you can add if you’d like. These are designed to support both you and your loved ones, making sure that you’re covered no matter what life throws your way.
Next steps
When you apply, you'll be asked about any adjustments you might need to support the recruitment process. Let us know, and we'll be sure to discuss it with you.
We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as possible. If you’re offered a job with us, it will be conditional, based on the passing of background checks. All roles require a criminal record check and some roles need a financial probity check. Your recruiter can provide you with more information if needed.
Thanks for your patience and for showing an interest in joining the Virgin Media O2 family.
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