AI is changing all of industry. Interested in authoring the future? This opportunity is for you.

Metis Strategy is a management and strategy consulting firm focused on the intersection of business and technology. We are trusted advisors to Fortune Global 500 companies, helping them meet their most critical business objectives. We are a relationship-oriented firm, tailoring our work to our clients’ unique needs. Our clients partner with us at critical points in their business journeys-- from ideation and research to executive counsel to strategic roadmaps and implementation.  We work across industries on topics related to business strategy, digital transformation, information technology strategy, operations, international growth strategy, and navigating organizational change. We help identify and evaluate products and services which improve the customer experience through digital technology, and continually advise our clients on how to harness technology to run an organization more efficiently and effectively.

Our headquarters are in the Washington, D.C. area and we are an entrepreneurial, growing firm that also has a presence in the San Francisco Bay Area, Atlanta, GA and Dallas, TX. The firm’s presence from coast to coast allows us to serve clients throughout the United States and abroad. We trust our team to deliver their outcomes to clients, so we are a virtual-first firm. Employees can work anywhere in the U.S., and are aligned to a time zone for client and internal work. This role will predominantly be aligned to Pacific Time. 

With technology at the forefront of innovation, there is no better time to join our firm. You will find something new to challenge you with each client, each project, and each industry you are exposed to. You will have high degrees of autonomy and become empowered to work directly with C-level clients that will accelerate your career in a way that larger firms cannot offer.

Data/AI Architecture and Engineering Job Description

As a Data/AI Architect and Engineering leader, you will play a pivotal role in defining, designing, and governing the data/AI architecture that enables efficient, secure, and scalable data-driven decision-making for our clients. You will leverage your expertise in data/AI strategy, modeling, and architecture to modernize and optimize the client’s data/AI landscape, ensuring alignment with business objectives, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

We are looking for someone to help grow a team of hands-on data/AI builders who also have a knack for advising and enabling the biggest and most interesting companies in the world.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A DATA ARCHITECT

• Partner with clients to understand business goals, data needs, and technical requirements, translating them into robust data/AI architecture solutions.
• Design and maintain enterprise data/AI architecture frameworks, including conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
• Develop and enforce standards, best practices, and governance policies to ensure data quality, security, and compliance.
• Lead the selection and integration of data/AI platforms, tools, and technologies, with a focus on scalability, interoperability, and future-proofing.
• Oversee the design of data flows, integration patterns, and data lineage across diverse systems and cloud environments.
• Guide and review the work of data/AI engineers and other technical teams to ensure alignment with architectural standards and business requirements.
• Support platform modernization initiatives, including the migration of legacy systems to modern, cloud-based data architectures and advanced analytics platforms.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to define and implement data retention, protection, and lifecycle management strategies.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for data architecture, models, standards, and governance processes.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS

• Five to ten years of relevant work experience, with demonstrated success in data architecture, data modeling, or related roles within technology or professional services environments.
• An advanced degree, preferably in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related field.
• Deep expertise in data/AI architecture principles, data modeling (conceptual, logical, and physical), and data integration patterns.
• Proven experience developing and implementing data governance frameworks, data protection, and retention policies.
• Familiarity with modernizing legacy data systems and migrating to cloud-based data platforms (e.g., Azure, AWS, GCP) is highly desirable.
• Strong client engagement skills, with experience gathering requirements, communicating architectural solutions, and managing stakeholder expectations.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills, with a consultative and strategic approach to addressing client challenges.
• Proficiency in data modeling tools (e.g., ER/Studio, ERwin, or similar), and experience with data analysis and visualization tools such as MS-Visio, Tableau, MS-PowerPoint, and MS-Excel.
• Proficiency in AI development lifecycle, covering both configuration and integration of third party tools (such as commercial LLMs), as well as building, deploying, and hosting custom AI models and agentic workflows
• Passion for technology and a proven track record of managing complex workstreams in fast-paced environments with aggressive timelines.
• High degree of energy, motivation, and a “roll up your sleeves” mentality.
• A healthy balance of intellectual curiosity, confidence, humility, creativity, resourcefulness, and empathy.
• Innovative problem-solving skills and entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to turn ideas into action in pursuit of personal, team, and firm growth targets.
• A high degree of integrity, professionalism, and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to exercise sound business judgment under pressure.
• Exceptional and verifiable strength in written and oral communication.