LAB3 is one of Australasia's largest Azure engineering practices, specialising in Cloud & DevOps, Data, IoT & AI, Modern Workplace, Security, and Networks. We're seeking a Principal Consultant- AI to join our Professional Services team. This is a senior, client-facing leadership role accountable for shaping, selling, and delivering high impact AI and Agentic AI programs for enterprise clients, working across the AI lifecycle from prototyping to production.

The Role:

Client Leadership & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders
• Lead AI strategy engagements, including use case prioritization, value articulation, and delivery roadmaps.
• Translate business strategy into scalable AI architectures and operating models.

Solution Architecture & Technical Authority

• Provide architectural leadership across Agentic AI, GenAI, RAG, MLOps, and data platforms on Azure.
• Define reference architectures, nonfunctional requirements, and design patterns for enterprise AI systems.
• Review and approve HLD/LLD produced by delivery teams; intervene on complex or high-risk designs.
• Guide model selection, orchestration patterns, governance approaches, and platform choices aligned to business constraints.

Delivery Oversight & Risk Management

• Own end to end technical accountability for large or complex AI programs.
• Derisk delivery through early architecture validation, proof points, and phased adoption strategies.
• Establish delivery standards across security, observability, MLOps, and responsible AI.
• Support engagement leads with estimates, delivery plans, and dependency management.

PreSales & Commercial Contribution

• Lead or support pre-sales activities including discovery, solution shaping, estimates, SOW input, and technical assurance.
• Contribute to win-strategy through differentiated architecture, accelerators, and compelling narratives.
• Act as a technical escalation point during bids and client negotiations.

Practice & Capability Development

• Define and evolve AI standards, accelerators, and reusable assets for LAB3.
• Mentor Senior Engineers and Consultants; uplift architectural thinking and consulting maturity.
• Contribute to hiring, role design, and skills benchmarking.
• Represent LAB3 externally through thought leadership, client showcases, and partner engagements.

Governance, Security & Responsible AI

• Set best practice approaches for AI governance, risk, compliance, and ethics.
• Ensure solutions align with enterprise security models
• Champion responsible AI principles

Our ideal candidate:

Core Technical Expertise:

• Microsoft AI & Data Stack: Azure AI Foundry, Azure AI Search (vector & hybrid), Azure OpenAI, Azure ML, Fabric / Databricks.
• Agentic AI & GenAI: Agent frameworks, RAG at scale, orchestration patterns, tool/function calling, prompt optimisation.
• Architecture: Distributed systems, event driven design, API strategies, data platform integration.
• MLops & Platform Engineering: CI/CD, model lifecycle management, IaC, containers, AKS.
• Observability: End to end telemetry across application, data, and model layers.
• Security: Enterprise identity, networking, data protection, and compliance patterns.

Consulting & Leadership Capability

• Proven experience leading large or complex client engagements.
• Strong commercial acumen: value framing, estimation, and scope control.
• Exceptional communication—credible with executives and deeply technical teams alike.
• Ability to coach, influence, and set direction without direct authority.

Must be based anywhere in Australia, a citizen, and ideally hold security clearance

What's in it for you?

• Be part of a team that leverages modern technologies to solve real problems and provides top level of customer satisfaction
• Work with a Microsoft Partner of the Year award winner with multiple specialisations
• Be supported by experienced peers and leaders that value technical expertise and encourages innovation, with clear career pathways and ongoing learning
• Enjoy a supportive workplace that promotes inclusion, flexibility, diversity, and celebrates differences.
• Take advantage of largely working from home in our remote/hybrid workplace and enjoy the flexibility to balance your life
• Thrive in a community with strong values #BeTrue #TeamUp #StandOut #ThinkAhead #FearLessAchieveMore

Apply now, call or connect on LinkedIn for further information.