Principal Architect - Enterprise Solutions Architect (ESA)

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a technical evangelist and trusted advisor, guiding clients through early-stage Data & AI strategy and solution definition on the Microsoft platform
• Partner closely with sales and account teams to qualify opportunities, define solution strategy, and support deal progression and closure
• Lead client discovery sessions to understand business objectives, decision criteria, and value drivers, translating them into winning Data & AI architectures
• Design and present end-to-end Data & AI solutions that clearly articulate business outcomes, technical feasibility, and ROI
• Provide executive-level technical leadership across Azure data engineering, data architecture, machine learning, and AI domains
• Maintain technical credibility throughout the sales cycle, including whiteboarding sessions, architecture reviews, proposals, and executive presentations
• Mentor and guide architects and data professionals to ensure solution consistency, technical excellence, and alignment with go-to-market strategy
• Identify and drive pipeline expansion through innovation workshops, proofs of value (POVs), and thought leadership aligned to Microsoft Data & AI offerings
• Ensure all proposed solutions align with Microsoft best practices, security standards, and regulatory requirements
• Stay current on Microsoft Data & AI roadmaps and industry trends to sharpen competitive positioning and client impact

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Data, Analytics, or AI roles, with significant exposure to enterprise client environments
• Proven success leading pre-sales or client-facing technical engagements, including discovery, solution design, and executive presentations
• Deep hands-on expertise with Microsoft Data & AI technologies, including one or more of the following:
• Azure Data Services
• Azure AI
• Azure Synapse / Microsoft Fabric
• Databricks on Azure
• Strong ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, compelling business value narratives
• Demonstrated success supporting and closing $500K+ Data & AI engagements in partnership with sales teams
• Executive presence with experience influencing stakeholders from practitioner to C-suite
• Strong architectural mindset with the ability to design secure, governed, end-to-end Data & AI solutions
• Excellent communication skills, including whiteboarding, storytelling, and formal presentations
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented consulting environment