AI Architect

The Data Architect (AI) is responsible for defining, governing, and assuring AI-enabled data architectures that are commercially viable, technically robust, and aligned to Cigna’s enterprise and data strategy.

Embedded within the International Health Global Architecture function, the role shapes architectural direction and ensures that strategic intent is consistently realised through delivered data and AI solutions.

Operating at enterprise scale, this role balances long-term architectural outcomes with the practical constraints of project and product delivery.

This role collaborates closely with business leaders, product teams, engineering, and third-party partners to ensure data and AI investments deliver measurable value while meeting regulatory, operational, and security requirements.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

Strategy & Architecture Leadership

• Define and maintain target-state data and AI architectures for International Markets, aligned to enterprise architecture standards and data strategy.
• Act as a senior architectural authority for AI-enabled data solutions, ensuring consistency, reuse, and long-term sustainability across the landscape.
• Advocate for AI-driven data design, embedding modern AI and analytics patterns into enterprise data platforms and services.
• Maintain an active awareness of emerging trends in data architecture, AI/ML, and enterprise technology, assessing their potential impact and value for Cigna.

AI & Data Architecture

• Define architectural patterns and standards to support AI model lifecycle management, AI and data pipelines, feature engineering, and associated design artefacts.
• Provide expert guidance on the use of machine learning, natural language processing, and advanced analytics within business solutions.
• Ensure that data architectures support the needs of data science, analytics, and AI use cases, including scalability, performance, data quality, and governance.
• Work with Solution Architects and engineering teams to translate business and technical requirements into coherent end-to-end data and AI solution designs.

Delivery & Governance

• Participate across the full delivery lifecycle, from early concept shaping and investment cases through to design assurance and governance during build and implementation.
• Provide architecture governance through design reviews, standards definition, and participation in architecture review and approval forums.
• Capture and manage architectural risks, issues, and assumptions, articulating their financial, operational, and delivery impacts.
• Support sponsors in the creation of well-rounded and compelling business cases for data and AI-led change.

Stakeholder & Commercial Leadership

• Proactively engage with stakeholders across Business, IT, and third-party partners to ensure solutions are cost-effective, appropriate, and aligned to business outcomes.
• Take a lead role in the selection and assessment of third-party data and AI solutions, establishing and maintaining effective supplier and partner relationships where required.
• Apply strong commercial awareness, including financial planning, budgeting, and cost-benefit considerations, in architectural decision-making.

Capability Building & Mentoring

• Provide high-level mentoring and guidance to architects, design, and development teams to embed data and AI principles, standards, and best practices.
• Contribute to the maturity of Cigna’s data and AI architecture capability through knowledge sharing, standards development, and continuous improvement.
• Take a lead role in the selection and assessment of third-party data and AI solutions, establishing and maintaining effective supplier and partner relationships where required.
• Apply strong commercial awareness, including financial planning, budgeting, and cost-benefit considerations, in architectural decision-making.

Skills & Experience

• Significant IT experience (10 years +), including multiple years’ operating in a senior Data Architecture role within complex, enterprise-scale environments.
• Proven experience designing and governing large-scale data platforms, such as data warehouses, data lakes, and lakehouse architectures.
• Strong understanding of the architecture requirements of data science, analytics, and AI initiatives, gained through direct involvement in their delivery.
• Deep expertise in data modelling and data design (relational and non-relational), data quality, metadata management, semantic data design, and business intelligence.
• Experience working effectively within globally distributed teams and complex stakeholder environments.
• AI & Cloud Expertise
• Strong understanding of machine learning, deep learning, and AI model deployment patterns, with experience guiding or supporting these implementations.
• Experience designing data and AI architectures on modern cloud platforms, including secure, scalable, and governed solutions.
• Familiarity with AI governance, model lifecycle considerations, and responsible use of data and AI, particularly within regulated environments.
• Certification in data management, AI/ML frameworks, cloud platforms, or enterprise architecture disciplines.
• Broad technical acumen across application, infrastructure, security, service management, and business process architecture.
• Experience influencing architecture strategy and delivery through formal governance and review forums.
• Highly collaborative with a strong ability to influence and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to balance architectural integrity with delivery pragmatism.
• Motivated to grow with Cigna as the organisation continues to evolve its data and AI capabilities.

Why You'll Love Working here

• Competitive salary

• Multicultural and hybrid working environment

• Private Medical Insurance

• Employee Wellbeing Benefits

• Educational Development Program