Head of AI Platform & Agentic Architecture - NI

We are seeking a Head of AI Platform & Agentic Architecture / Distinguished Engineer - AI platforms and Network autonomy in the Network Infrastructure organization. The successful candidate will define and lead the technical foundation of our cross-domain AT and Agentic platform across the Network infrastructure organization. The role will be to architect and drive/implement the unified platform spanning Optical, IP, and Fixed Networks, enabling capable automation with cross-domain intelligence and L4+ network autonomy. The Architect will serve as a senior technical authority on AI architecture, ensuring a cohesive end-to-end solution for both internally and externally focused cross-domain use cases, while accelerating the integration of AI into production-grade networking systems and processes. This is a high-impact, technical leadership role requiring deep expertise in distributed systems, multi-agent architectures, AI/ML infrastructure, and network automation. Responsibilities 1. Define and lead the cross-domain AI platform architecture - spanning key domains, ensuring scalable, interoperable, and production-ready 2. Architect agentic and autonomous systems frameworks that enable a distributed intelligence with cross-domain automation with a clear path to L4+ network autonomy. 3. Establish architectural governance for AI initiatives, eliminating duplication and ensuring architectural alignment to a unified platform strategy 4. Drive research to product integration, translating advanced AI innovations into deployable, production grade capbilityes 5. Partner across R&D, PLM, Sales, customers, Bell Labs, and the leadership team to ensure implementation meets architecture with AI-driven differentiation and customer co-creation. Qualifications 15+ years in networking, distributed systems, or AI systems architecture Deep expertise in: o Multi-agent systems o Distributed computing o ML infrastructure (training + inference) o Network automation o SDN / control-plane architectures · Experience transitioning research into production systems · Strong cross-functional influence skills · Ability to operate at executive technical depth · Comfort challenging domain fragmentation