Azure AI Data Architect

Perficient
Denver, CO, United States
2 days ago

Role details

Contract type
Permanent contract
Employment type
Full-time (> 32 hours)
Experience level
Expert
Experience required
5 years minimum
Compensation
$82,000.0 - $178,000.0
Working hours
Regular working hours

Tech stack

Artificial Intelligence Business Analytics Applications Data Analysis Microsoft Azure Cloud Computing Security Computer Programming Data Architecture Information Engineering Data Governance Extract Transform Load (ETL) Data Warehousing Software Debugging
+32 more
DevOps Systems Analysis Python (Programming Language) SQL Azure Cloud Services Azure Machine Learning Azure Data Lake SQL Databases Enterprise Data Management Cloud Platform System Azure Data Factory System Availability Large Language Models Prompt Engineering Apache Spark Generative AI Data Strategy Microsoft Fabric Containerization Data Lakes Pyspark Information Technology Data Analytics Bicep Azure AKS Data Management Machine Learning Operations Terraform Stream Processing Azure Synapse Analytics Databricks Microservices

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Azure AI Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of enterprise-scale data and AI solutions on Microsoft Azure. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in cloud data architecture, modern data platforms, analytics, machine learning, and generative AI technologies. This role will partner with business stakeholders, engineering teams, and leadership to develop scalable, secure, and cost-effective data and AI ecosystems that enable advanced analytics and intelligent business solutions.

Job Overview

The Solutions Architect is expected to be knowledgeable in two or more technologies within the Data & Analytics domain. The Solutions Architect may or may not have a programming background, but will have expert infrastructure architecture, client presales / presentation, team management and thought leadership skills.

You will provide best-fit architectural solutions for one or more projects; you will assist in defining scope and sizing of work; and anchor Proof of Concept developments. You will provide solution architecture for business problems, perform platform integration with third party services, and design and develop complex features for clients’ business needs.

You will collaborate with some of the best talent in the industry to create and implement innovative high quality solutions, participate in Sales and various pursuits focused on our clients’ business needs. You will also contribute in a variety of roles in thought leadership, mentorship, systems analysis, architecture, design, configuration, testing, debugging, and documentation. You will challenge your leading edge solutions, consultative and business skills through the diversity of work in multiple industry domains., Data Architecture & Strategy

  • Design and implement enterprise-scale data platforms leveraging Azure cloud services.
  • Define data architecture standards, governance frameworks, and best practices.
  • Develop scalable data lake, lakehouse, and data warehouse architectures.
  • Design robust data integration, ingestion, transformation, and orchestration frameworks.

AI & Advanced Analytics

  • Architect AI and machine learning solutions using Azure AI services and Azure Machine Learning.
  • Design and implement Generative AI solutions leveraging Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Foundry.
  • Establish MLOps and AI governance frameworks for model deployment, monitoring, and lifecycle management.
  • Collaborate with data scientists and AI engineers to operationalize predictive and generative AI solutions.

Cloud Platform Leadership

  • Provide architectural leadership for Azure-based modernization and cloud migration initiatives.
  • Evaluate emerging Azure Data and AI technologies and recommend adoption strategies.
  • Ensure high availability, scalability, security, and performance of enterprise data platforms.
  • Drive cloud cost optimization and operational excellence initiatives.

Stakeholder Engagement

  • Translate business requirements into technical architecture solutions.
  • Present architectural recommendations and roadmaps to executive leadership.
  • Mentor engineering teams and establish architecture best practices.
  • Lead architecture reviews and participate in strategic planning discussions.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
  • 10+ years of experience in Data Engineering, Data Architecture, Analytics, or Cloud Solutions Architecture.
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience designing and implementing solutions on Microsoft Azure.
  • Proven experience architecting enterprise-scale data platforms including Data Lakes, Data Warehouses, and Lakehouse architectures.
  • Strong expertise in Azure Data Services including Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure SQL, and Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2.
  • Experience designing and implementing AI/ML and Generative AI solutions using Azure AI Services, Azure Machine Learning, Azure OpenAI, and Azure AI Foundry.
  • Strong hands-on programming skills in Python, SQL, Spark, and PySpark.
  • Experience implementing Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, prompt engineering, and LLM-based applications.
  • Deep understanding of data modeling, ETL/ELT frameworks, data integration patterns, and real-time data processing.
  • Experience with cloud security, governance, privacy, and compliance frameworks, including Microsoft Purview and Azure security services.
  • Strong knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Bicep, or ARM Templates), and MLOps.
  • Experience leading architecture reviews, technical design discussions, and mentoring engineering teams.
  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to engage executives, business leaders, and technical teams., * Experience with Microsoft Fabric and enterprise analytics modernization initiatives.
  • Experience building production-grade GenAI applications and AI copilots.
  • Knowledge of Responsible AI, AI Governance, and AI Risk Management practices.
  • Experience with Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), containerization, and microservices architecture.
  • Industry experience in Financial Services, Healthcare, Energy, Manufacturing, or Retail.
  • Consulting or client-facing architecture experience preferred., * Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional (preferred)

Benefits & conditions

Be an Early Applicant In-Office or Remote Hiring Remotely in United States 82K-178K Annually Expert/Leader In-Office or Remote Hiring Remotely in United States 82K-178K Annually Expert/Leader Lead the architecture and implementation of enterprise-scale Azure data and AI platforms, including data lakes, lakehouses, warehouses, integrations, machine learning, and generative AI solutions. Establish governance, security, MLOps, and AI frameworks; guide cloud modernization, migration, performance, and cost optimization. Translate business needs into technical architectures, present recommendations to executives, lead architecture reviews, support client pursuits, and mentor engineering teams. The summary above was generated by AI, 86K-187K Annually Junior 86K-187K Annually Junior Software * Quantum Computing * Metaverse * Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Design and deliver secure, compliant Azure and hybrid cloud infrastructure and AI-ready platforms for federal customers. Lead architecture, proofs of concept, governance, identity, networking, resiliency, and operational controls. Advise customers, enable partners, mentor peers, and drive cloud adoption while ensuring compliance with federal security requirements. Top Skills: Ai/MlAWSAzureAzure Landing ZonesGCPGovernanceHybrid CloudIdentityMulti-CloudNetworkingSecurity Scotch, United States Easy Apply 150K-170K Annually Mid level 150K-170K Annually Mid level Artificial Intelligence * eCommerce * Fintech * Payments * Retail * Software * Analytics Own the end-to-end data onboarding product roadmap, including legacy POS extraction, transformation, validation, internal tooling, and customer-facing onboarding experiences. Drive automation, improve install readiness and specialist efficiency, define product requirements and metrics, and develop a path toward self-service onboarding. Partner with engineering, onboarding, go-to-market, and customers while planning for scale and using AI tools to accelerate discovery and workflow automation. Top Skills: Ai ToolingClaudeData ConversionData MigrationE-CommerceETLPayments PlatformsPos Systems CrowdStrike, 120K-180K Annually Entry level 120K-180K Annually Entry level Cloud * Computer Vision * Information Technology * Sales * Security * Cybersecurity Designs and engineers secure network and cloud architectures across AWS, GCP, Azure, and physical data centers. Responsibilities include threat modeling, network segmentation, monitoring, alerting, automation, attack-surface reduction, and secure connection patterns. The role drives strategic security improvements, partners with product and infrastructure teams, communicates architectural decisions, and mentors engineers. Candidates need deep hybrid networking and cloud security expertise, protocol knowledge, scripting ability, independent problem-solving skills, and strong communication. Top Skills: AIApplied CryptographyAWSAzureCi/CdDnsGCPGoHttp/SHybrid Cloud NetworkingPrivate EndpointsPythonService MeshesShell ScriptingTcp/IpTlsTransit GatewaysVpcsZero Trust Architecture

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About the company

Perficient is a global AI-first consultancy. Our team of strategists, designers, technologists, and engineers partners with the world’s most innovative enterprises and admired brands to deliver real business results through the transformative power of AI. As part of our AI-First strategy, we empower every employee to build AI fluency and actively engage with AI tools to drive innovation and efficiency. We break boundaries, obsess over outcomes, and shape the future for our clients. Join a company where bold ideas and brilliant minds converge to redefine what’s possible - while building a career filled with growth, balance, and purpose., The Perficient Data & Analytics Solutions organization supports a wide variety of clients, technologies, and applications. Our Team members drive innovation in the arena of data and analytics solutions. We work on innovative digital transformation deployment for various clients across the globe. We had explosive growth in the last few years to meet the demands of a massive transition to digital with an AI First approach. Our practice groups include Artificial Intelligence, Analytics, Content Management, Data Governance, Data Management, Data Strategy and Search.

Perficient is always looking for the best and brightest talent and we need you! We’re a quickly growing, global digital consulting leader, and we’re transforming the world’s largest enterprises and biggest brands. You’ll work with the latest technologies, expand your skills, and become a part of our global community of talented, diverse, and knowledgeable colleagues., About UsPerficient is the global AI and technology consulting firm disrupting the traditional consulting model. Powered by our 7,000+ advisors, engineers, and designers, Perficient implements AI-first solutions that break conventions and deliver outcomes that matter. Proudly serving clients that represent the world’s most innovative brands, and in collaboration with our powerful technology partner ecosystem, we bring deep industry expertise and data-driven design to redefine how businesses run and succeed. Perficient is different. For real. Learn more at perficient.com.

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