Principal Solutions Architect – Master Data, Product Data, AI Automation

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

📋 Description

• Establish strategic architectural direction for enterprise master data capabilities, focusing on product data, data quality, AI automation, enrichment, and cross-reference solutions.

• Convert intricate business, data, AI, and technical requirements into scalable solution designs, roadmaps, implementation guidance, and architectural guardrails.

• Oversee the architecture for product data models, hierarchies, taxonomies, mappings, transformations, validation rules, match and merge logic, and enrichment workflows.

• Develop responsible AI-enabled patterns that enhance data quality, expedite enrichment, automate repetitive analysis, and facilitate human-in-the-loop reviews.

• Evaluate solution architecture to ensure that security, compliance, scalability, performance, reliability, maintainability, and operational support requirements are adequately addressed.

• Offer technical leadership and mentorship to architects, engineers, analysts, product owners, and delivery teams.

• Identify architecture risks, gaps, dependencies, and trade-offs; propose practical solutions that balance speed, quality, cost, supportability, and long-term sustainability.

• Collaborate with senior business and technology leadership, vendors, and third-party providers to assess capabilities, resolve complex challenges, evaluate roadmaps, and align solutions with Ferguson’s master data and AI strategy.

⛳️ Requirements

• 12+ years of IT experience with substantial depth in data architecture, solutions architecture, enterprise application architecture, or related fields.

• 7+ years of practical experience in designing, implementing, or governing enterprise Master Data Management solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Data Management, or a related discipline; equivalent experience may be considered.

• Profound expertise in master data architecture, encompassing domain modeling, data quality, governance, hierarchy management, stewardship, matching, merging, survivorship, and integration patterns.

• Familiarity with major MDM platforms such as Stibo Systems, Informatica MDM, Reltio, SAP MDG, Semarchy, or comparable platforms.

• Experience with contemporary cloud data, analytics, and AI platforms, including Databricks Lakehouse, Databricks AI/BI tools like Genie, Claude, or similar generative AI technologies, Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake, cloud storage, SQL and NoSQL platforms, APIs, and modern integration patterns.

• Solid experience with product data capabilities, including product information management, enrichment, classification, cross-reference, catalog data, and item setup.

• Practical experience in applying AI, machine learning, generative AI, or automation to enhance data quality, enrichment, classification, validation, matching, or operational workflows.

• Proven ability at the Principal level to define target-state architecture, influence senior leaders, solve complex problems, mentor technical teams, and deliver scalable architecture strategies.

• Experience in wholesale, distribution, eCommerce, or other industries heavily reliant on product data is preferred.

• Familiarity with product data governance operating models, stewardship workflows, data ownership structures, and measurable data quality initiatives is preferred.

• Experience in shaping responsible AI patterns, human-in-the-loop review models, AI evaluation methodologies, and operational controls for AI-enhanced data processes is preferred.

• Relevant certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Databricks, data architecture, cloud architecture, or similar are advantageous.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Paid time off

• Life insurance

• 401(k) with company match

• Mental health coverage

• Gender affirming benefits

• Family building benefits

• Paid parental leave

• Associate discounts

• Opportunities for community involvement

• Eligibility for bonus or incentive plans