AI Data Solutions Architect - Cloud Based Database (Snowflake, BigQuery, Etc.)

AI Data Solutions Architect Contract Commute = hybrid with 3 days on-site in Lincolnshire (less than 30 miles are preferred) AI Data Solutions Architect to support a client in the commercial services industry located in a northern suburb of Chicago. This role offers a hybrid work model, with an expectation of 2–3 days per week onsite. The client is open to both contract and direct-hire candidates. This role is responsible for designing and supporting the data architecture that enables AI and machine learning initiatives across the organization. The ideal candidate will bring a strong blend of data architecture, cloud and data engineering, and AI enablement experience, ensuring that data is structured, accessible, and optimized for AI-driven use cases. This individual will work closely with engineering, analytics, and business teams to translate requirements into scalable data solutions. Key Responsibilities • Design and implement data architectures to support AI and machine learning use cases, including data lake, warehouse, and feature stores • Develop data models, pipelines, and integration patterns across structured and unstructured data sources (e.g. Snowflake, Postgres, Azure, BigQuery, etc.) for consumption by AI/ML. • Design and implemented integration patterns that connect structured and unstructured data sources (Snowflake, Salesforce, SharePoint, PDFs, APIs) into unified, AI-ready datasets. • Define standards for real-time and batch data ingestion, transformation, storage, and access • Collaborate with engineering and AI teams to ensure data readiness for model development and deployment • Support data governance practices, including data quality, lineage, and access controls • Evaluate and recommend tools and technologies to support AI data workflows (e.g., data platforms, vector stores) • Document architecture patterns and provide guidance to technical and business stakeholders Required Skills & Experience • 7+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related roles • Strong experience with cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Snowflake, BigQuery, or similar) • Proficiency in SQL and familiarity with Python or similar scripting languages • Experience designing data models and building ETL/ELT pipelines • Understanding of data requirements for AI/ML use cases (e.g., feature engineering, unstructured data) • Strong communication skills and ability to work across technical and business teams Preferred Skills & Experience • Experience supporting AI/ML or GenAI initiatives • Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) • Exposure to vector databases, RAG pipelines, or AI data frameworks • Experience with data governance, cataloging, or lineage tools