Principal Data Architect

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

📋 Description

• Define the strategic vision for JLL's AI/BI ecosystem and articulate how semantic and contextual layers facilitate AI-driven data consumption capabilities.

• Advocate for standardized data consumption methodologies that foster business line adoption.

• Collaborate with product, platform, data engineering, business unit, and engineering teams across JLL.

• Develop data layers tailored for AI-first consumption and enhance analytics strategies.

• Create and implement ontologies, knowledge graphs, and semantic models.

• Design analytical data models and dimensional structures for both traditional analytics and AI-driven applications.

• Spearhead cloud-native data architecture projects utilizing the Databricks technology stack on Azure or AWS.

• Construct and implement AI-focused data consumption solutions via MCP and Text-to-SQL agent deployments using Databricks Genie or custom SQL query agents developed by JLL.

• Drive the architecture for agentic AI capabilities and intelligent data consumption scenarios.

• Establish evaluation frameworks to ensure consistency and scalability.

• Design and develop agentic solutions that integrate unstructured data through RAG agents and structured data via SQL query agents.

• Provide mentorship to technical leads and senior engineers.

• Facilitate architecture reviews, technical strategy discussions, and investment decisions regarding data platforms.

• Promote the adoption of AI-Harness for AI-driven development lifecycle capabilities.

• Set enterprise-wide standards, reusable patterns, technical guardrails, and measurable success metrics.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Over 12 years of experience in enterprise data architecture, data engineering, or technology leadership positions.

• Extensive experience in designing and deploying enterprise-grade AI/BI solutions in production settings.

• Profound knowledge of contemporary data architecture patterns, including LLM-based data applications, RAG, data query agents, and data serving via MCP.

• Expertise in distributed computing environments, including Apache Spark, DBT, and ETL/ELT frameworks for large-scale data processing.

• Proven experience in building semantic layers and enterprise ontologies that facilitate AI-driven data consumption.

• Strong grasp of data products, data contracts, data quality frameworks, and data authorization patterns.

• Practical experience with cloud-native data platforms, particularly the Databricks technology stack.

• Experience in establishing architectural standards, reference architectures, and technical guardrails across diverse teams.

• Demonstrated ability to influence senior technical and business stakeholders without direct authority.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of tailoring messages from engineering teams to executive leadership.

• Proven ability to balance innovation, speed, risk management, and long-term sustainability.

• Experience in large enterprise, platform-oriented environments with intricate stakeholder ecosystems.

• Track record of migrating BI platforms from Power BI and Tableau to modern cloud-native solutions like Databricks.

• Experience in developing Text-to-SQL agents utilizing Databricks Genie or similar agentic AI platforms.

• Familiarity with cloud AI platforms and services, including vector search, AI gateways, and observability frameworks.

• Experience in assisting engineering organizations with the adoption of AI-powered development tools and data engineering practices.

• Proven history of mentoring architects, engineers, or leading architecture communities of practice.

• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

🏝️ Benefits

• 401(k) plan with company match contributions.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental & Vision Care.

• Paid parental leave at 100% of salary.

• Paid Time Off and Company Holidays.

• Early access to earned wages through Daily Pay.

• Supportive culture that prioritizes mental, physical, and emotional well-being.

• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.