Senior Applications Architect

American Institutes for Research • Chicago, NC

4d

About The Position

The Senior Applications Architect is a senior technical leader who designs, develops, and implements secure, scalable technology solutions supporting research, evaluation, and mission-driven programs. The role combines hands-on software engineering and solution architecture with strategic leadership, translating complex business and data requirements into integrated applications, analytics, and decision-support tools. The architect works across multidisciplinary teams to lead the design of data architectures, system integrations, application frameworks, and cloud-based solutions that help clients use data effectively. The role balances architectural vision with direct technical execution, including troubleshooting complex issues across systems, data pipelines, and applications. Palantir Foundry experience is highly preferred, particularly across its data integration, ontology, analytics, and application layers. The position may be performed remotely within the United States (excluding U.S. territories) or from a U.S. office location. Occasional travel is required for meetings, training sessions, and conferences.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, Public Health, Public Policy, or a related field and at least seven years of relevant experience; or a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least ten years of relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing, architecting, and implementing enterprise-scale applications, data platforms, and integrated technology solutions.
• Experience developing and deploying secure, scalable software applications, system integrations, and cloud-based solutions.
• Experience designing and implementing data architectures, data models, ETL/ELT processes, APIs, and analytics solutions.
• Experience working across multidisciplinary teams to deliver technology solutions supporting business, operational, research, or analytical objectives.
• Experience applying software development lifecycle methodologies, including Agile practices, to deliver high-quality technical solutions.
• Experience with modern software engineering technologies and frameworks, including application development, database technologies, and enterprise platforms.
• Strong solution architecture and systems-thinking skills, including designing end-to-end solutions aligned with organizational and client objectives.
• Strong software engineering and technical problem-solving skills, including troubleshooting complex issues across applications, integrations, data pipelines, and infrastructure.
• Strong data architecture and data modeling skills, including relational, semantic, and ontology-based approaches.
• Strong understanding of cloud technologies, APIs, enterprise data platforms, and modern application development frameworks.
• Ability to translate complex business, operational, and research requirements into intuitive applications, analytics, and decision-support solutions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including collaboration with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including managing multiple priorities and delivering high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to mentor technical staff, promote best practices, and contribute to reusable architectures, standards, and implementation patterns.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis; employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.
• Depending on project work, qualified candidates may need to meet certain residency requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Palantir Foundry, including data integration, ontology design, application development, and analytics capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement secure, scalable, data-driven applications using modern software development frameworks, APIs, cloud technologies, and enterprise data platforms.
• Architect integrated solutions spanning source-data ingestion, transformation, data modeling, analytics, and user-facing applications to support operational decision-making.
• Develop reusable relational, semantic, and ontology-based data models; integrate and harmonize data from multiple sources; and establish data quality, governance, and traceability from source systems through reported metrics.
• Contribute directly to application development, integration, testing, debugging, and performance optimization using technologies such as React, TypeScript, Python, SQL, and REST APIs.
• Design and implement reusable technical components, integration patterns, and reference architectures that support rapid MVP delivery, maintainability, and future platform expansion.
• Translate research, program, and operational requirements into applications, analytics, and decision-support workflows, incorporating platform-native automation and AI/ML capabilities where appropriate.
• Design and implement solutions within Palantir Foundry/Vantage, including data pipelines, ontology models, object types, relationships, actions, permissions, and applications built with platform-native tools such as Workshop.
• Mentor technical staff, promote best practices, and contribute to reusable architectures, standards, and implementation patterns.
• Collaborate across multidisciplinary teams and with technical and non-technical stakeholders.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior