AI Architect

Position Summary

The AI Architect is responsible for designing, building, and deploying production AI applications, agents, integrations, and workflow solutions for OD Labs, the firm's AI incubator, in support of attorney-facing legal work. Working in partnership with the Project Manager and Business Analysts assigned to OD Labs, this role translates practice group and client needs into secure, maintainable solutions that meet the firm's security, confidentiality, and data standards. The position reports to the Director of OD Labs.

Essential Functions

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain AI applications, agents, retrieval systems, integrations, and workflows that support legal practice and firm operations.
• Select models, platforms, APIs, and tools based on project requirements, and make build-versus-buy recommendations that favor the simplest effective solution.
• Build and maintain integrations between AI tools, enterprise systems, and firm data sources using APIs, tool calling, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and approved integration standards.
• Implement authentication, authorization, logging, retention, and least-privilege access controls that protect client and firm information, consistent with firm security and confidentiality requirements.
• Work with practice groups, Business Analysts, and the Project Manager to define user needs, workflows, data requirements, success measures, and acceptance criteria.
• Establish and apply standards for prompts, context, tool use, and evaluation, and validate response quality, reliability, performance, and cost before production release.
• Monitor usage, adoption, cost, and user feedback for deployed solutions, and troubleshoot and resolve production issues.
• Maintain technical and operational documentation sufficient for maintenance, review, and knowledge transfer.
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies and recommend enhancements that improve effectiveness, scalability, and user adoption.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline or equivalent related experience.

Required Experience

• Six (6) years of relevant experience.
• Hands-on experience designing, building, and deploying AI-powered systems in production, such as agentic workflows, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) applications, or multi-model pipelines.
• Experience writing production-quality code in at least one language commonly used for AI and integration work (e.g., Python, JavaScript).
• Experience developing workflows on agentic or low-code orchestration platforms (e.g., Newcode, Neota, Power Automate).
• Experience connecting enterprise systems through APIs, MCP, or other integration platforms.

Preferred Experience

• Law firm or legal industry experience, or experience in another complex professional services environment. A background in Labor & Employment, single plaintiff litigation, or class action practice is beneficial.
• Experience with AI platforms and models (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini), including local large language model (LLM) deployment.
• Experience with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, AWS, iManage, NetDocuments, or comparable platforms.
• Experience developing ROI analyses and business justifications using adoption metrics, user feedback, and operational data.

Compensation

The pay range for this remote position varies by location. Pursuant to applicable state and local regulations, the pay range for each location is listed below. Actual compensation is contingent on relevant experience, education, skills, and other job-related factors as permitted by law. This role is also eligible for performance-based bonuses and the benefits described below.

Ogletree is a multi-state employer. The pay ranges listed reflect compensation for the specific location identified. For roles performed in locations not listed, compensation will be determined based on the applicable location for the position.

• California: $130,273 – $197,660
• Colorado: $138,574 – $179,331
• Connecticut: $138,574 – $187,189
• Hawaii: $152,737 – $197,660
• Illinois: $144,646 – $187,189
• Jersey City, New Jersey: $152,737 – $197,660
• Maryland: $130,273 – $179,331
• Massachusetts: $152,737 – $197,660
• Minnesota: $130,273 – $168,588
• Nevada: $126,351 – $163,513
• New Jersey: $152,737 – $197,660
• New York City, New York: $152,737 – $197,660
• New York State: $126,351 – $197,660
• Ohio: $126,351 – $163,513
• Rhode Island: $126,351 – $163,513
• Washington, D.C.: $144,646 – $187,189
• Washington: $144,646 – $187,189

Benefits

Ogletree Deakins offers a robust suite of benefits for Staff including:

• Paid Time Off
• Paid Sick Leave
• 401(k) matching program
• Profit Sharing
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Affordable Health and Life Insurance including Dental & Vision coverage
• Health Savings Account / Flexible Spending Accounts to help offset the cost of dependent care and/or health care expenses
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program

Firm Overview

With more than 1,200 attorneys in 62 offices worldwide, Ogletree Deakins is one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management. We handle all types of employment-related legal matters, including traditional labor and employment, workplace safety, employee benefits, and business immigration matters. Guided by our Client Pledge, we focus on understanding clients' business and objectives, collaborating and anticipating needs, harnessing technology and innovation, communicating effectively, and providing quality representation with exceptional value.

We are fully committed to the importance of diversity within the legal profession, as well as all workplace environments.

Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact Information

If you have questions, please email Andrew Doucet at Andrew.Doucet@Ogletreedeakins.com with "AI Architect" in the subject line. Please note, applications submitted via email will not be considered.

Application deadline: [APPLICATION_DEADLINE]