Principal Consultant AI | Azure, AI & Intelligent Applications
nexwave · Greater Melbourne Area
Apply & track with Apply EdgeTechnology is moving fast, we move fasternexwave is a Microsoft-focused technology consultancy specialising in Data, Cloud, AI and intelligent applications. What sets us apart is our team and our mindset: fast, pragmatic, collaborative, curious, deeply technical, AI forward and genuinely passionate about solving complex problems for our clients.We’re looking for a Principal Consultant AI who combines exceptional technical depth with genuine consulting leadership.This is not a role for someone who simply knows the latest AI frameworks.We want someone who can take an ambiguous client problem, understand what actually matters, shape the architecture, build the solution, guide the team and stand in front of senior stakeholders with confidence.Someone who can go from strategy to architecture to code to production.You’ll work across Azure AI, Microsoft Foundry, Copilot, agentic architectures and modern software engineering to solve complex problems while helping shape the AI capability, IP and consulting practice we’re building at nexwave.What you will doLead the architecture and delivery of complex AI and intelligent application solutions on Microsoft AzureTranslate ambiguous business problems into pragmatic AI strategies and production-ready technical solutionsDesign and build enterprise AI applications, agents and AI-enabled software using modern Microsoft technologiesWork deeply across Azure AI, Microsoft Foundry, Azure OpenAI, AI Search, Copilot and related servicesApply strong software engineering principles to AI systems, including architecture, testing, security, observability and production operationsDesign RAG, agentic and tool-using architectures appropriate to the problem rather than forcing a particular patternLead technical discovery, architecture workshops and solution-shaping sessions with senior client stakeholdersOwn technical outcomes across engagements from discovery through architecture, implementation and productionMake architectural trade-offs around cost, security, performance, scalability, maintainability and AI riskWork hands-on alongside engineers while providing technical direction and removing delivery blockersMentor Senior Consultants and other engineers, lifting the technical capability of the wider teamShape proposals, estimates, statements of work and technical approachesIdentify opportunities for follow-on work and help grow client relationshipsDevelop reusable AI IP, accelerators, patterns and delivery approaches for nexwaveHelp shape nexwave’s AI engineering standards and technical directionWhat you’ll bringExtensive experience delivering software and technology solutions in complex enterprise environmentsDeep hands-on experience across Azure and modern application developmentStrong software engineering fundamentals, ideally including .NET, C#, Python or comparable pro-code technologiesProven experience designing and delivering production AI solutions rather than primarily prototypes or demonstrationsStrong knowledge of Azure AI, Microsoft Foundry, Azure OpenAI, AI Search, Copilot or equivalent enterprise AI technologiesPractical understanding of RAG, agents, tool calling, orchestration, evaluation and AI application architectureStrong understanding of cloud architecture, APIs, integration, identity, security, DevOps and production operationsExperience leading technical delivery across the full lifecycleStrong consulting experience and the ability to operate confidently with senior technical and business stakeholdersDemonstrated experience mentoring engineers and raising technical standardsThe ability to communicate complex technical ideas clearly to both engineers and executivesWhat sets you apartYou’re still hands-on. Principal doesn’t mean you’ve stopped building.You’ve delivered systems into production and understand what happens after the demoYou can challenge a client’s proposed solution when there is a better way to solve the underlying problemYou understand that the best AI solution isn’t necessarily the most sophisticated oneYou can explain an architecture to an engineer and the business case to an executiveYou naturally look for the commercial opportunity behind a technical problemYou generate follow-on work because clients trust your judgementYou create reusable approaches rather than solving the same problem from scratchYou actively develop the people around youYou’re comfortable operating without a playbook and creating one when it doesn’t existYou’re curious about what’s next, but disciplined enough to know what is production-ready todayNice to haveMicrosoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert or Azure AI Engineer AssociateExperience with Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search and Microsoft CopilotExperience with Copilot Studio, MCP, agent-to-agent patterns or modern agent orchestration frameworksInfrastructure as Code using Bicep or TerraformAzure DevOps or GitHub ActionsExperience with LangGraph or comparable orchestration frameworksExperience with evaluation, observability, governance and responsible AIExperience contributing to technical thought leadership, open source or the Microsoft communityWhy join nexwaveWork alongside genuinely senior Microsoft and AI specialistsSolve complex problems where the answer isn’t already in the playbookBuild AI that ships into production, not just PowerPointHave a direct influence on our technical direction and AI capabilityWork closely with senior client stakeholders and technology leadersBuild reusable IP and approaches that become part of how nexwave deliversJoin an AI-first consultancy that values technical craft, commercial thinking and low-ego collaborationReceive professional development and certification supportEnjoy a flexible hybrid work model and annual BYOD tech allowanceEmployment type: Full-time, permanent