Position Function:

The AI Systems Architect oversees the administration and operational support of Mississippi State University's enterprise AI platforms, including Microsoft AI services, ensuring alignment with university governance standards.

This role within ITS manages licensing, provisioning, governance, and cost management across Microsoft AI and other enterprise platforms, including AWS and local or cloud-based AI services.

Positioned in ITS, the role keeps deployment and license administration close to existing systems and staff, while collaborating with the AI service team, CITE, and the Senior Advisor for AI and Data Governance.

A strong understanding of the higher education environment is essential, supporting academic, research, and administrative needs in accordance with institutional governance.

The position also provides supporting assistance for cloud service provider (CSP) environments as needed to complement enterprise platform operations and service continuity.

Salary Grade: 17

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Enterprise AI Platform Administration
• Administer Microsoft AI services in accordance with university standards and governance, including Copilot license assignment, Copilot Studio configuration, and tenant-level AI policy.
• Serve as ITS's specialist for enterprise AI tool administration: user provisioning and license management for Microsoft Copilot, Claude (Anthropic Console), ChatGPT, Gemini, and additional platforms MSU adopts.
• Configure and maintain Power Platform AI governance settings in partnership with the broader Microsoft 365 administration team.
• Manage AWS-based and other cloud-based AI workloads in support of academic and research users (IAM, credits tracking, account coordination).
• Track service usage and expenditures across AI services and assigned cloud resources; flag overages and inform annual license renewal decisions.
• Support analysis of cost drivers, usage trends, and optimization opportunities; provide documentation and reporting to support budget planning, forecasting, and operational decision-making.
• Participate in review and documentation of new AI and cloud use cases for compliance with university standards.

Cross-Functional Partnership and Continuous Improvement
• Coordinate with ITS Information Security on AI-related security review, data classification, data protection, and access control.
• Coordinate with the Senior Advisor for AI and Data Governance on data-handling decisions for AI deployments that touch institutional data.
• Develop and maintain technical and operational documentation related to AI services and supported cloud platforms.
• Stay current on enterprise AI platform updates, new admin features, policy changes, security advisories, and integration opportunities. Translate those into recommendations for ITS and the AI service team.
• Contribute to MSU's external AI presence at technical venues (AWS, NVIDIA, Microsoft Ignite) and in-state technical convenings.
• Support AI platform adoption initiatives through coordination with campus stakeholders and ITS teams.

Supervisory Responsibility:
This position does not have direct supervisory responsibility for full-time staff.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, data science, information systems, information technology, or a related field. AI focused jobs are emerging and related fields of study will be considered broadly based on demonstrated experience with tools.

5 years of professional experience that includes building and deploying software solutions, AI applications, or supporting enterprise IT platforms and cloud infrastructure. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Hands-on experience with at least one major LLM API (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, or Azure OpenAI).
• Experience supporting Microsoft AI services or comparable enterprise AI platforms.
• Experience with Copilot Studio, Power Platform governance configuration, Anthropic Console administration, or comparable enterprise AI platform admin work.
• Familiarity with cloud environments such as AWS or Azure.
• Prior experience in higher education, government, or another large, decentralized institution.
• Familiarity with AI governance, security, data classification, and responsible-use frameworks.
• Relevant technical certifications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Proficiency in Python and one or more relevant supporting environments (e.g., JavaScript/TypeScript, SQL, REST APIs).
• Knowledge of enterprise AI platforms, service administration practices, and governance-aligned technology adoption.
• Understanding of cloud computing fundamentals, identity and access management, and cost management practices.
• Ability to interpret and apply institutional policies, standards, and vendor requirements to technology operations.
• Ability to support evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies in a structured and compliant manner.
• Strong analytical, documentation, and communication skills; ability to work directly with non-technical departmental customers.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

No unusual physical requirements. Most work is performed in an indoor office environment with frequent interaction and coordination across campus stakeholders.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply: http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

All applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu by attaching a cover letter and resume which includes the names and addresses of 3 professional references. We will accept applications only from persons with indefinite employment authorization in the U.S., and will not sponsor for nonimmigrant or immigrant status for this position.