Principal Architect - Data and AI

Our Opportunity

Work Location: Perth Office - Fortescue's Perth office is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk people. Ad hoc site travel as required.

Roster: Monday to Friday

Summary

Fortescue is transforming its business using AI and data to automate, optimise and decarbonise operations across mining and energy. The Data and AI Platform team builds and maintains the technical foundations that enable scalable, secure and high-impact AI delivery across the business.

As Principal Architect - Data and AI, you will provide enterprise-level architectural leadership across AI, data and technology, shaping strategies, roadmaps and solutions that align with business objectives and enterprise standards. You will help accelerate Fortescue's AI ambitions by enabling reusable AI capabilities, enterprise-grade applications, GenAI agents and MLOps workflows, while ensuring solutions are secure, scalable, trusted and fit for purpose.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture and evolution of shared AI platforms, capabilities and services, defining strategies and roadmaps aligned with Fortescue’s business priorities and future needs.
• Architect secure, scalable production AI solutions spanning generative AI, large language models, intelligent agents, cloud infrastructure and enterprise data integrations.
• Establish reusable architecture patterns, clear platform responsibilities and governance that enable federated teams to develop, adopt and operate AI solutions effectively.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership, evaluate design alternatives and resolve complex challenges across security, identity, data access, performance and cost.
• Partner with engineering, product and business stakeholders to identify capability gaps, align architectural decisions and guide implementation towards shared outcomes.
• Mentor architects and engineers, strengthen technical capability and promote engineering excellence across the organisation.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and drive continuous improvement, measuring success through capability adoption, operational performance and business value.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering or a related field.
• 8+ years' experience in solution architecture, including 2+ years in enterprise architecture roles.
• Proven experience designing and delivering complex AI and data solutions at enterprise scale, preferably within mining, resources or operational technology environments.
• Strong expertise in enterprise architecture frameworks and tools such as TOGAF, Archi, BizzDesign and Draw.io.
• Strong software development experience, including Python or C#, modern development frameworks and GitHub-based CI/CD using GitHub Actions.
• Strong understanding of systems design, data modelling, data management, Snowflake, Databricks, MQTT and Kafka.
• Strong experience with AWS and/or Azure, Docker, security considerations, infrastructure as code and DevOps practices.
• Strong understanding of contemporary and traditional AI frameworks and services, including Azure, OpenAI and Amazon Bedrock, with experience in GenAI and machine learning.
• Demonstrated leadership, mentoring, stakeholder management, organisational capability development, problem-solving and communication skills.
• Experience with quality management and governance frameworks, a strong focus on emerging technology and innovation, and the ability to demonstrate the Fortescue Values.

About Us

Be part of something big. Fortescue is leading the world with our plan to decarbonise our iron ore operations, projects that harness renewable energy and the development of technology that will change our planet forever.

Our Commitment

Fortescue celebrates individual strengths and team members are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Our global workforce drives and promotes an inclusive culture, both within our organisation and throughout the communities we interact with. Diverse backgrounds include First Nations Peoples, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ community, gender, neurodiverse, cultural diversity, all age groups, and those with an intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

https://fortescue.com/careers 

Internal Candidates / Current Contractors please apply via Success Factors Careers Portal. For further information on how to apply please visit the Fortescue Hub. 

Fortescue reserves the right to close applications early should a suitable pool of candidates be identified. Fortescue will never contact you to ask for payment of any kind, whether directly or through a third party.