Principal Data & AI Consultant

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in India.

📋 Description

• Act as a senior trusted advisor to the CIO, CTO, CDO, CRO, and various business, product, and technology stakeholders.

• Spearhead Data & AI discovery initiatives, converting ambiguous business challenges into quantifiable, production-ready solutions.

• Create comprehensive end-to-end architectures that encompass data platforms, analytics, machine learning, GenAI, applications, APIs, governance, and integrations.

• Lead and critically evaluate advanced forecasting and predictive modeling strategies.

• Establish business and model success metrics, including R², WAPE, MAPE, statistical significance, and business-impact KPIs.

• Ensure point-in-time accuracy, prevent data leakage, and uphold stringent model development and validation practices.

• Provide direct technical leadership utilizing Python, SQL, Snowflake, notebooks, Git, and contemporary Data/AI platforms.

• Shape AI use cases across various domains such as forecasting, sponsorship sales, lead scoring, next-best-action, revenue intelligence, personalization, subscription growth, and commercial optimization.

• Assess when classical analytics/ML, GenAI, or agentic AI is the suitable solution.

• Facilitate architecture and solution design workshops, presenting recommendations to senior and executive audiences.

• Aid in proposals, SOWs, RFI/RFP responses, estimates, staffing models, and technical solution development.

• Mentor and lead multidisciplinary teams across Data Science, Data Engineering, AI Engineering, Software Engineering, and Architecture.

• Engage in client stand-ups, backlog refinement sessions, executive readouts, and strategic planning activities.

• Educate and transfer knowledge to client teams, ensuring documentation, reproducibility, and smooth handover processes.

• Challenge client requests when the suggested approach fails to address the fundamental business issue.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 7 years of practical experience in forecasting and data domains.

• Demonstrated experience leading a minimum of two comparable forecasting projects from discovery to production/handover.

• Extensive experience with comparable-unit/same-store-style forecasting methodologies.

• Proficiency in multivariable regression, collinearity analysis, VIF interpretation, model tuning, selection, and holdout validation.

• Strong grasp of sparse and zero-inflated datasets; must comprehend why nulls cannot be treated as zero.

• High level of metric fluency, including R², WAPE, MAPE, and p-values.

• In-depth understanding of data leakage and point-in-time feature accuracy.

• Strong skills in Python and SQL, with experience in crafting reproducible analytical workflows/notebooks.

• Familiarity with Git and pull-request-based software delivery methodologies.

• Solid capability in Data Architecture and Solution Architecture across ingestion, transformation, modeling, security, governance, APIs, cloud, and production operations.

• Strong understanding of ML, GenAI/LLMs, RAG, AI agents, and modern enterprise AI patterns.

• Proven executive communication abilities; must present to non-statistical audiences focusing on business outcomes first, followed by methodology.

• Capable of clearly articulating forecast/model limitations, uncertainty, and risk in simple terms.

• Established experience in client consulting and thought leadership, able to teach methodology rather than merely executing it.

• Proven track record leading senior client workshops, technical discovery sessions, architecture discussions, and executive readouts.

• Strong commercial acumen, capable of linking technical decisions to revenue, operational, or customer results.

• Preferred domain experience in sports, media, entertainment, streaming, ticketing, subscriptions, sponsorship, advertising, telecom, or commercial/revenue analytics.

• Desired expertise in hierarchical/mixed-effects modeling, ADRs, large-scale categorical encoding, MLOps, governance, and responsible AI practices.

• Extensive experience with Snowflake; proficiency in Snowflake ML/Model Registry is a plus.

• 10–12+ years of overall experience in Data, Analytics, AI, Architecture, or related technology fields.

• Willingness to participate in both internal and external meetings via video calls as required.

• Capability to work onsite at corporate or client offices when necessary.

• For roles requiring business travel and/or event participation, a valid driver's license and a satisfactory driving record are mandatory.

🏝️ Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare and benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability coverage, and various additional benefit options.

• Flexible Spending Accounts for Medical, Transit, and Dependent Care expenses.

• Employer-paid Life Insurance and AD&D coverages.

• Health Savings Account associated with our low-cost High Deductible Medical Plan.

• 401(k) Safe Harbor Retirement plan with employer matching and immediate vesting.

• An open, inclusive, and respectful workplace culture.

• Reasonable accommodations provided during the recruitment process upon request.