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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Data AI Architect - **Company:** SPR - **Location:** Chicago, IL, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $150,000.0 - $185,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Java (Programming Language), Agile Methodology, Artificial Intelligence, Amazon Web Services, Data Analysis, Architectural Patterns, Microsoft Azure, Batch Processing, C Sharp (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Data Architecture, Data Cleansing, Information Engineering, Extract Transform Load (ETL), Data Transformation, Data Warehousing, Relational Databases, Cursor (Graphical User Interface Elements), Database Security, Elasticsearch, Middleware, Python (Programming Language), PostgreSQL, Logical Data Models, Microsoft SQL Server, MongoDB, MySQL, Neo4j, Oracle (Applications), Performance Tuning, Productivity Software, Software Engineering, SQL Databases, Data Streaming, TypeScript, Unstructured Data, Datadog, Data Processing, Data Ingestion, GitHub Copilot, Large Language Models, Snowflake, Prompt Engineering, Apache Spark, Data Layers, AI Platforms, Information Technology, Cassandra, Data Analytics, Performance Monitor, Google Bigquery, Data Management, Api Design, Azure Synapse Analytics, GPT, Data Pipelines, Amazon Redshift, Databricks, Programming Languages - **Published:** July 17, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=9de5ac8d42dd8ec2 ## About the Role | Motivated, self-starter with ability to learn quickly | Experienced with SQL, python skills (R is a strong plus) | Experience in architecting and engineering innovative data analysis solutions | Familiarity with architectural patterns for data-intensive solutions | Expertise in real-time streaming and migrating batch-style data processing to streaming and micro-batch solutions | Use of distributed messaging systems to rewrite systems in place | Knowledge of the RDBMS core principles; set up, tune, design, as well as newer unstructured data tools | Experience developing large scale, complex logical data models (along with physical implementations of the logical models) | Familiarity with consulting and traditional application design | Experience estimating technical solution builds and contributing to custom proposals | Excellent written and verbal communication skills | Display solid problem-solving abilities in the face of ambiguity | Must be a hands-on individual who is comfortable leading by example | Experience with Agile Methodology | Possess excellent interpersonal and organizational skills | Able to manage your own time and work well both independently and as part of a team TECHNOLOGIES WE USE Relational/SQL Databases (SQL Server, Postgres, Oracle, MySQL, etc.) Non-SQL Databases (MongoDB, Cassandra, ElasticSearch, Neo4j, etc.) Data Analytics Platforms (Snowflake, Databricks, Apache Spark, Google BigQuery, Azure Synapse, Amazon Redshift, etc.) Cloud AI Platforms (Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Google Vertex AI) Familiarity with LLMs, RAG, and Prompt Engineering Programming Languages (Python, TypeScript, C#, Java) AI Productivity Tools (Claude, Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Devin AI, etc.) EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE | Bachelor's Degree, preferably in Data Science, Analytics, Computer Science, Engineering or Science / Technology-based disciplines | 10+ years in data engineering or data architecture | Hands-on experience designing and building scalable data pipelines (ETL/ELT) in a production cloud environment (Azure, GCP, or AWS) | Strong data modeling and governance experience: defining source of truth, data quality standards, and golden record definitions | Experience designing data layers that feed AI/ML or LLM-based systems, including structured data transformation for model consumption | Proficiency in Python and SQL for pipeline development and data transformation | Strong understanding of API design and consumption patterns: connecting data layers to middleware and downstream application consumers | Demonstrated ability to lead architecture decisions, document standards, and enforce them across a team | Active, daily use of AI coding and productivity tools (e.g. Claude, Claude Code, ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, or similar) | Familiarity with AI observability tooling (e.g. Langfuse or similar) | Experience with evaluation frameworks for AI/LLM outputs | Experience with cloud AI platforms (Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, Google Vertex AI) | Experience with data platforms such as Snowflake or Databricks ## Description SPR is seeking an AI Data Architect to join our practice as a senior technical leader working for clients across our portfolio. This is a hands-on role for someone who can own data and AI architecture decisions, lead small teams of engineers, and translate complex client needs into scalable, production-grade solutions. The right candidate operates at the intersection of data architecture and AI platform engineering: designing the data layer that feeds generative and agentic AI systems, enforcing governance and quality standards, and building the pipelines and integrations that make AI solutions reliable in production. This is not a strategy-only role. SPR's architects write code, make and defend architecture decisions, and deliver alongside the teams they lead. This person will represent SPR at the client level, manage expectations with stakeholders up to the executive level, and contribute to SPR's internal practice through thought leadership, sales support, and candidate interviewing. RESPONSIBILITIES | Design and maintain sustainable data architecture | Work with business requirements and design innovative, repeatable solutions | Provide guidance for new application features | Collaborate with the data staff to create optimal data models for data ingestion and analytics | Develop, manage and maintain data models | Design implement and maintain database objects (tables, views, indexes, etc.) and database security | Maintain performance through tuning, parallelism, optimization, etc. | Ensure structure for existing data is effective | Design, implement and maintain database objects (tables, views, indexes, etc.) and database security | Architect/design and develop large complex ETL jobs | Ensure data quality through creation of audit controls, proactive monitoring and data cleansing techniques | Maintain the data warehouse performance by optimizing batch processing through parallelization, performance tuning etc., SPR prides itself on helping employees thrive in their work and life. As a result, SPR invests in benefits that include vacation time starting at 3 weeks, 5 days of sick time, 8 paid holidays and 3 floating holidays, maternity, and parental leave, and 401(k) with a match. Employees (and their families) are offered health, dental, & vision coverage, group life and AD&D, short/long-term disability, and flexible spending accounts. Employees receive a $150 reimbursement account for any well-being-related expenses and a premium subscription to the Calm app. ## Related Videos - [ Evaluating AI models for code comprehension](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1462-evaluating-ai-models-for-code-comprehension) - [Putting the Graph In GraphQL With The Neo4j GraphQL Library](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/257-putting-the-graph-in-graphql-with-the-neo4j-graphql-library) - [MySQL Protocol Features You Should Be Aware Of](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100267-mysql-protocol-features-you-should-be-aware-of) - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [Streaming AI Responses in Real-Time with SSE in Next.js & NestJS](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1630-streaming-ai-responses-in-real-time-with-sse-in-next-js-nestjs) - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1209-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou) ## Related Articles - [Navigating the AI Shift](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/629-navigating-the-ai-shift) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [MLOps And AI Driven Development](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/82-mlops-and-ai-driven-development) - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production) - [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering) - [MLOps – What’s the deal behind it?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/125-mlops-what-s-the-deal-behind-it)