Are you looking for a role that motivates and challenges you? Are you ready for an opportunity for growth? Do you want to work on teams where people roll up their sleeves to take on tough problems together, and regularly blow the doors off our clients with their outstanding teamwork? If you answered yes to those questions, 3Cloud might just be for you!
At 3Cloud, we hire people who aren’t afraid to experiment or fail. We hire people who are willing to give direct and candid feedback to their managers, leaders, and team members. We hire people who jump at those opportunities because they care about our collective growth and success. We hire people who challenge and hold each other accountable for living 3Cloud’s core values because they know that it will result in amazing experiences and solutions for our clients and each other.
Principal Architect - Data & AI SME
Responsibilities
· Lead as a technical evangelist and trusted advisor for clients, shaping early-stage Data & AI conversations into compelling solution visions built on the Microsoft platform.
· Partner closely with sales and account teams to drive opportunity qualification, solution strategy, and deal closure for Data & AI engagements.
· Lead technical discoveries with clients to understand business priorities, decision criteria, and value drivers, translating them into winning Data & AI architectures.
· Lead design and present Data & AI solutions that clearly articulate business outcomes, technical feasibility, and ROI.
· Provide executive-level technical depth in Azure with depth in data engineering, data architect, machine learning, or AI to influence client stakeholders from practitioner to C-level.
· Lead technical credibility throughout the sales cycle, including whiteboarding sessions, architecture reviews, proposals, and executive presentations.
· Guide and mentor architects and data scientists to ensure solution consistency, technical excellence, and alignment with go-to-market strategy.
· Identify and lead opportunities to expand pipeline through innovation workshops, POVs, and targeted thought leadership aligned to Microsoft Data & AI offerings.
· Ensure proposed solutions align with Microsoft best practices, security standards, and regulatory requirements.
· Stay current on Microsoft Data & AI roadmaps and industry trends to continuously sharpen competitive positioning and client impact.
Requirements
· 10+ years of experience in Data, Analytics, or AI roles, with significant exposure to enterprise client environments.
· Proven experience leading pre-sales or client-facing technical engagements, including discovery, solution design, and executive presentations.
· Deep hands-on expertise with Microsoft Data & AI in at least one of Azure Data Services, Azure AI, Synapse/Fabric, Databricks on Azure).
· Strong ability to translate complex technical capabilities into clear business value narratives that resonate with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
· Demonstrated $500k+ deal success partnering with sales and account teams to influence pipeline progression and close deals.
· Executive presence with experience leading the C-suite engagement and partnering with senior leaders as a trusted technical advisor.
· Strong architectural mindset with the ability to design end-to-end Data & AI solutions aligned to client objectives, security, and governance needs.
· Excellent communication skills, including whiteboarding, storytelling, and formal presentations.
· Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Don’t meet every single requirement? At 3Cloud we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.
At this time, we cannot sponsor applicants for work visas.
This Job Posting will expire on Monday, June 22nd, 2026.
3Cloud Total Rewards Highlights Include:
- Flexible work location with a virtual first approach to work!
- 401(K) with match up to 50% of your 6% contributions of eligible pay
- Generous PTO providing a minimum of 15 days in addition to 9 paid company holidays and 2 floating personal days
- Two medical plan options to allow you the choice to elect what works best for you!
- Option for vision and dental coverage
- 100% employer paid coverage for life and disability insurance
- Paid leave for birth parents and non-birth parents
- Option for Healthcare FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care FSA
- $67.00 monthly tech and home office allowance
- Utilization and/or discretionary bonus eligibility based on role
- Employee Assistance Program to help with everyday challenges
3Cloud offers competitive compensation. In addition to base pay employees are eligible to receive an annual discretionary/utilization bonus. If you are hired at 3Cloud your final base salary is based on factors such as skills, education, experience and/or geographic location. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above includes the full base salary range for the role. It is not typical for offers to be made at or near the top of the range.
Don’t meet every single requirement? At 3Cloud we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway.
At this time, we cannot sponsor applicants for work visas.
3Cloud Downers Grove, Illinois, USA Office
3Cloud is headquartered in the Downers Grove I-88 corridor in the Microsoft Building, just a stone's throw from the charming downtown area full of bars and restaurants perfect for a work outing. Convenient to Chicago, Metra, and great restaurants on the north-west side of the city.
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