AI & Data Solutions Architect (CPG/Retail)

It's fun to work in a company where people truly BELIEVE in what they are doing! We're committed to bringing passion and customer focus to the business. AI & Data Solutions Architect (CPG/Retail) Fractal is a strategic AI partner to Fortune 500 companies with a vision to power every human decision in the enterprise. Fractal is building a world where individual choices, freedom, and diversity are the greatest assets. An ecosystem where human imagination is at the heart of every decision. Where no possibility is written off, only challenged to get better. We believe that a true Fractalite is the one who empowers imagination with intelligence. Fractal has been featured as a Great Place to Work by The Economic Times in partnership with the Great Place to Work® Institute and recognized as a ‘Cool Vendor’ and a ‘Vendor to Watch’ by Gartner.  Please  Fractal | Intelligence for Imagination  for more information about Fractal  Note:  This position is not eligible for Immigration Sponsorship at this time  Coverage:  Multiple U.S. accounts (deep focus on 2–3 strategic clients)  Travel:  Frequent travel required  Location Preference:  Dallas or Chicago (flexible based on candidate)  Role Overview   We’re looking for a Principal AI & Data Solutions Architect to drive growth across our CPG/Retail portfolio in the U.S. This role sits at the intersection of thought leadership, solutioning, and hands-on technical execution.  You will operate as a trusted advisor and AI/Data leader to clients—partnering closely with account teams to shape opportunities, define engineering roadmaps, and solve complex business problems using modern data and AI foundations.  This is not a pure delivery role. The focus is on driving growth through technical depth, client engagement, and high-impact solutioning, with selective involvement in execution when needed. You’ll work deeply with 2–3 strategic clients, while supporting a broader set of accounts across the region.  Responsibilities Client Leadership & Growth   Act as a trusted technical advisor to client stakeholders across AI, data, and engineering Drive account growth through thought leadership, proactive idea generation, and solution shaping  Partner with account and sales teams during pre-sales, including discovery, solutioning, and proposal development  Translate business problems into scalable, high-impact AI/data solutions Solution Architecture & Engineering Leadership  Define and drive end-to-end data and AI architecture (data platforms, pipelines, ML/AI systems, AIF)  Develop engineering roadmaps aligned to client business objectives  Design scalable, enterprise-grade solutions across data platforms, cloud ecosystems, and AI/ML frameworks  Ensure solutions balance performance, scalability, cost, and maintainability  Hands-On Technical Leadership   Go beyond strategy—operate at depth when required (architecture reviews, solution design, problem-solving) Step into delivery challenges when needed and help unblock teams  Guide and mentor architects and engineering teams across global delivery  Cross-Functional Collaboration   Work closely with:   Account leaders and sales teams  India-based delivery teams  Data science, engineering, and platform teams  Act as the bridge between business, solutioning, and execution  Technology & Innovation   Stay current with advancements in AI, data engineering, and cloud technologies Drive adoption of modern data platforms, multi-cloud architecture, and AI frameworks  Evaluate and introduce new tools, frameworks, and accelerators  Qualifications Core Profile   Deep technologist with strong expertise in data engineering, AI/ML, and solution architecture  Proven ability to operate in a client-facing, consultative role  Strong mix of:   Pre-sales / solutioning  Technical leadership  Hands-on problem solving  Experience   ~15–20 years of experience across: Data engineering and platform architecture  AI/ML or advanced analytics environments  Enterprise solutioning and consulting  Strong experience working with global clients in a consulting or services environment  Exposure to CPG/Retail   Technical Skills   Expertise in:   Data platforms (data lakes, warehouses, modern data stack)   Distributed processing (Spark, etc.)  AI/ML ecosystems and AIF concepts  Strong experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP)  Programming experience in Python, PySpark, Java, or Scala  Solid understanding of:   Data modeling, ETL/ELT  Data governance, security, and compliance  Leadership & Communication  Strong ability to translate business problems into technical solutions  Excellent client communication and executive presence  Ability to influence without authority across client and internal teams  Pay:   The wage range for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs.  The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.  At Fractal, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.  A reasonable estimate of the current range is:  Up to $200,000 . In addition, you may be eligible for a discretionary bonus for the current performance period.  Benefits:   As a full-time employee of the company or as an hourly employee working more than 30 hours per week, you will be eligible to participate in the health, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability plans in accordance with the plan documents, which may be amended from time to time.  You will be eligible for benefits on the first day of emp