Data Architect and Strategy - AI Integration & Deployment (US based, remote with travel) at Compassx

CompassX is a boutique business and technology consulting firm. We help Fortune 500 and high-growth clients deliver their most strategic initiatives, from enterprise transformations to digital and data-driven projects. With over 15 years of proven results, we’ve expanded across industries including financial services, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, consumer products, and quick service restaurants. We are honored to be recognized as a three-time winner of Consulting Magazine’s Best Boutique Firms to Work For, and previously recognized as a “Best Place to Work” in Southern California and one of INC.’s 5000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. We're looking for a Data Architect who is equal parts hands-on builder and trusted strategic advisor. You'll be embedded in a high-velocity GenAI application delivery engagement, owning the data architecture layer from design through to production — while also serving as the connective tissue between our delivery team and the client's data and engineering stakeholders. This isn't a slide-deck role. You'll be in the weeds of real data pipelines, modern lakehouse platforms, and AI-native application stacks - and then stepping back to advise senior client teams on what it all means for their data strategy. For employees: we are open to Mid-West and East Coast-based candidates who are comfortable with some travel (25-50%) to locations like Ohio and Georgia.    For independent contractors: we have a strong preference for East Coast candidates who can work on a 1099 or C2C basis and are able to travel to client sites up to 50%. What You'll Do • Architect the Data Foundation: Design and own the end-to-end data architecture underpinning GenAI application deployments - spanning ingestion, transformation, serving layers, and integration with existing enterprise data environments, including Databricks and legacy platforms. • Get Hands-On in the Stack: Work directly with application and ML teams to implement and validate data pipelines, schema designs, and data access patterns that power production-grade AI applications built in Python/FastAPI. • Drive Proactive Integration: Operate at a high velocity by anticipating data needs rather than waiting for them. You will partner closely with—and complement—integration architects, filling the technical gaps to keep the project moving at a rapid pace • Bridge Two Worlds: Act as a high-EQ consultant who can translate complex data architecture decisions into clear strategic narratives for client leadership - and then roll up your sleeves to implement them alongside the team. • Set the Data Standards: Define and enforce data governance, quality, and lineage practices within the delivery environment. Ensure that what gets built is not just functional, but defensible, scalable, and ready for enterprise scrutiny. • Enable the Client: Partner with client-side data and engineering teams to build understanding and ownership of the new architecture. Leave behind capability, not dependency. What You'll Bring • Senior Data Architecture Experience: 10+ years across data engineering, architecture, or a closely related discipline. You've designed systems that actually went to production — not just the whiteboard version. • Modern Data Platform Fluency: Deep familiarity with lakehouse architectures, with hands-on Snowflake experience strongly preferred. You understand how data flows from raw ingestion to AI-ready serving layers. • GenAI Context: Experience working in or adjacent to AI/ML application development. You understand how LLMs and AI applications consume data, and what that demands of the underlying architecture. • Application Development Exposure: You have a strong understanding of the full application development lifecycle. You possess the 'know-how' of app building to see exactly how data architecture integrates with the broader system. • Consulting & Stakeholder Acumen: Experience in a consulting or client-facing delivery environment. You can build trust quickly, navigate organizational complexity, and communicate architecture decisions to both technical and non-technical audiences. • Builder Mentality: You're not just an advisor - you write code, build pipelines, and validate your own designs. Python fluency and comfort in cloud-native data environments are expected. • AI-Ready Mindset: You embrace AI tooling as a force multiplier and are excited to operate at the intersection of modern data infrastructure and applied GenAI delivery. Benefits • Competitive salary with performance-based bonus • PTO, holidays, and sabbatical program • Health, dental, vision, and life insurance • Retirement plan with company match from day one • Learning and professional development support • Small-firm culture with direct access to leadership Our consultants say CompassX is a place where they can truly find their own path. As part of a smaller firm, they see the impact of their work, have an identity, and know their voice matters. They value the freedom to take the reins of their careers, shape their client work, and maintain a direct line to leadership. With CompassX’s focus on serving local Southern California clients, consultants not only build lasting relationships but also see the results of their work in the communities where they live. At CompassX, you won’t just follow a path - you’ll create one.