Lead Engineer, AI & Automation

W2 only, no C2C, must be authorized to work in the US (both now and in the future). Contract-to-hire role, hybrid onsite 3 days/week in Lake Forest, California (Orange County / Greater LA Area).

About the role

Lead Engineer, Automation & AI responsible for a critical internal Material Master Data Management (MDM) system that bridges SAP, various ERP platforms, and MDG. This hands-on technical leadership role includes end-to-end ownership of assigned systems and projects, with a focus on driving automation and AI initiatives across the business.

Responsibilities

• Own the day-to-day operations, architecture, roadmap, maintenance, and production support of the internal MDM system, including SQL Server database design, Azure Data Factory/Microsoft Fabric pipelines, and an Excel/VBA front end.
• Progress from day-to-day MDM system ownership within the first 90 days to full architectural ownership, including enhancements and complex integrations, within 6–9 months.
• Lead automation and process-improvement initiatives from initial design and requirements through development, testing, deployment, and production support.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to apply AI-assisted technologies, including generative AI and agentic AI approaches, to accelerate automation development and improve business processes.
• Partner with stakeholders across Finance & Accounting, Engineering Documentation, Pricing, Sourcing, Marketing, and Supply Chain to identify, prioritize, and scope automation opportunities.
• Design, develop, optimize, and support production-grade solutions using SQL Server/T-SQL, Azure Data Factory, Microsoft Fabric, VBA, and related technologies.
• Maintain strong code quality, documentation, version control, and production-support standards across SQL, VBA, Azure, and other automation components.
• Apply responsible AI, data governance, privacy, and security practices to automation and AI initiatives in alignment with enterprise standards.
• Define and monitor success metrics for automation and AI initiatives, including cost savings, cycle-time improvements, and system reliability.
• Drive measurable business value through automation, including initiatives designed to contribute to annual cost savings.
• Lead one or more automation initiatives through go-live within the first year while helping scope the next wave of AI-driven automation opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Business Analytics, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience in data engineering, automation engineering, or a related discipline, with demonstrated ability to independently own complex projects and production systems.
• Strong SQL Server and T-SQL expertise, including developing and optimizing stored procedures, views, and complex production queries.
• Hands-on experience with Azure Data Factory and/or Microsoft Fabric, including pipeline design, linked services, and triggers.
• Experience working with or supporting ERP-adjacent data structures, such as SAP, various ERP systems, or comparable transactional and master-data platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to independently troubleshoot, maintain, and support business-critical production systems.
• Familiarity with Git and modern version-control practices.
• Proficiency in at least one object-oriented or automation-focused programming language, such as VBA, VB.NET, C#, or Python.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to communicate effectively and collaborate with technical and business stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Practical experience using AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot, Cursor, or Claude.
• Working knowledge of large language model integration patterns, including API-based tool/function calling and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and their application to enterprise automation.
• Awareness of responsible AI, AI governance, data privacy, and security considerations for production automation and AI systems.
• Experience with the broader Azure ecosystem, including Logic Apps, Power Automate, Key Vault, and Data Lake.
• Exposure to low-code or workflow automation platforms, Excel/VBA, Python scripting, and data governance or MDM concepts.
• Familiarity with R and/or application development experience.

Schedule

Hybrid onsite 3 days/week in Lake Forest, California.