Job Description
The Principal AI Architect to design and lead the technical strategy for our AI infrastructure, platforms, and systems. In this role, you will own the architectural vision for how we build, deploy, and scale AI solutions across the organization. You'll work at the intersection of AI/ML innovation, systems design, and engineering excellence, partnering with product, data science, and infrastructure teams to build robust, scalable, and responsible AI systems.
This is a high-impact technical leadership role ideal for someone who is passionate about AI systems, thinks deeply about architecture and design patterns, and is excited about solving complex technical challenges at scale.
What you’ll be doing
What will your essential responsibilities include?
Product Strategy & Innovation (40%)
- Own the strategic vision and multi-year roadmap for AI product initiatives
- Identify market opportunities, emerging AI trends, and competitive threats
- Evaluate new AI technologies (LLMs, multimodal models, agents, fine-tuning, RAG) for strategic relevance
- Define product positioning, target use cases, and customer segments with precision
- Build business cases and investment recommendations for new AI product lines
- Present strategic initiatives to executive leadership and board stakeholders
Product Leadership & Execution (30%)
- Drive the end-to-end technical delivery of AI products, actively engaging in planning, development, and deployment processes.
- Define detailed technical requirements, success metrics, and acceptance criteria to guide implementation.
- Collaborate directly with engineering teams to scope complex AI initiatives, manage dependencies, and mitigate technical risks.
- Work closely with design and data science teams to ensure AI solutions deliver seamless, explainable, and transparent user experiences.
- Prioritize features and technical enhancements based on data insights, customer feedback, and technical feasibility.
- Manage product backlog, facilitate sprint planning, and oversee release schedules to ensure continuous delivery.
- Ensure on-time, high-quality deployment of AI solutions, balancing speed, technical rigor, and operational stability.
Customer Discovery & Insights (15%)
- Conduct both qualitative and quantitative analysis to identify customer pain points, needs, and preferences.
- Foster robust relationships with key business, prospects, and industry influencers to gather valuable insights.
- Analyze customer feedback, usage data, and market signals to generate actionable products and business insights.
- Define and monitor business success metrics such as NPS, adoption rates, retention, and engagement levels.
- Advocate for business needs within the organization, ensuring their voice influences product and strategic decisions.
- Collaborate closely with business teams to develop customer strategies and identify expansion opportunities.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration (10%)
- Mentor and develop junior product managers and product analysts
- Lead product discussions with Marketing, Sales, Legal, Ethics, and Compliance teams
- Coordinate go-to-market strategy including positioning, messaging, pricing, and launch campaigns
- Align stakeholders across the organization on product vision and roadmap
- Build and maintain outstanding working relationships with key partners and influencers
- Champion a culture of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement
Responsible AI & Governance (5%)
- Establish and enforce responsible AI practices including bias detection, fairness, and transparency
- Define ethical guidelines and guardrails for AI model performance and deployment
- Navigate regulatory landscape and ensure compliance with AI regulations (AI Act, etc.)
- Lead internal discussions on AI ethics, safety, and responsible product decisions
- Communicate clearly with business about AI capabilities, limitations, and responsible use
- Build customer trust through transparency on model performance and data usage
You will report to the Global Head of Digital Factory.
What you will BRING
We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:
Required Skills and Abilities:
- Extensive product management experience, with some experience in leading AI/ML products
- Proven track record of shipping multiple AI products from conception to scale
- Deep understanding of AI/ML capabilities, limitations, architectures, and business applications
- Robust business acumen: experience with P&L responsibility, pricing models, and business strategy
- Demonstrated ability to lead and mentor product teams
- Exceptional communication skills across technical, business, and executive audiences
- Experience with cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management at scale
- Customer obsession and ability to deeply understand user needs and pain points
- Strategic thinking with ability to balance short-term execution and long-term vision
- Intellectual curiosity and passion for staying current with AI/ML trends and innovations
- Leadership presence and ability to influence without direct authority
- Comfort with ambiguity and ability to navigate complex, evolving AI landscape
- Outstanding written and verbal communication with ability to tell compelling stories
- Track record of building and scaling high-performing product teams
- Experience mentoring product managers who advanced into leadership roles
- Thought leadership in AI product strategy (speaking engagements, publications, etc.)
Desired Skills and Abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Computer Science, Project Management or a related field. Engineering, computer science, data science, or machine learning background
- Understanding of AI infrastructure, model training, deployment, and MLOps
- Familiarity with prompt engineering, fine-tuning, and LLM customization
- Knowledge of RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), agents, and advanced AI architectures
- Experience in enterprise SaaS, B2B, or B2B2C product management
- Track record in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, enterprise) or compliance-heavy environments
- Previous experience with platform or ecosystem products
- Demonstrated understanding of AI safety, fairness, bias mitigation, and responsible AI frameworks
- Experience navigating AI regulation or compliance requirements
- Knowledge of AI ethics principles and ability to operationalize them in product decisions
- Experience with generative AI, LLMs, or conversational AI products
Who WE are
AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.
How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.
With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.
Learn more at axaxl.com.
What we OFFER
Inclusion
AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic. At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and enables business growth and is critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most inclusive workforce possible, and create a culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.
- Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe.
- Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
- Enhanced family-friendly leave benefits
- Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
- Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter
Learn more at Inclusion & Diversity at AXA XL | AXA XL. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Total Rewards
AXA XL’s Reward program is designed to take care of what matters most to you, covering the full picture of your health, wellbeing, lifestyle and financial security. It provides competitive compensation and personalized, inclusive benefits that evolve as you do.
We’re committed to rewarding your contribution for the long term, so you can be your best self today and look forward to the future with confidence.
Sustainability
At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience”, focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.
Our Pillars:
- Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
- Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far-reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
- Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
- AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.
For more information, please see Sustainability at AXA XL.
Applicants for this role must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship now or in the future.
The U.S. base salary range for this position is USD 141,000 - 222,200.
Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.
At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as a competitive retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. We also believe in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers. For more details about AXA XL’s benefits offerings, please visit US Benefits at a Glance 2026.