Solutions Architect - Retail

Databricks • Chicago, IL

7d

About The Position

As a Solutions Architect (L5) focused on retail, you will lead the technical strategy for customers, own architecture discussions, drive platform adoption, and advise customer technical leads and architects. You will combine technical expertise with strategic thinking to position Databricks as the foundation of customers’ data and AI strategies, while developing a technical specialization and becoming a recognized resource within your team.

The role covers the full technical customer journey, from discovery through production deployment and consumption growth. You will design scalable production solutions across data engineering, ML/AI, and real-time analytics; demonstrate Databricks’ differentiation in competitive situations; coordinate cross-functional resources; and provide structured customer feedback to influence product direction.

Requirements

• At least 6 years of experience in solutions architecture, data engineering, technical pre-sales, or a senior hands-on technical role.
• Strong coding proficiency in Python and SQL, including the ability to demonstrate live coding, debugging, and solution-building skills.
• Deep expertise in distributed data systems architecture, including scalable pipelines, streaming architectures, lakehouse patterns, and cloud-native data platforms.
• Proficiency with the Databricks Platform or demonstrated ability to achieve proficiency rapidly, and a developing technical specialization in an area such as real-time/streaming, ML/AI, data governance, or migrations.
• Ability to lead architecture discussions with senior technical stakeholders, including whiteboarding, design reviews, and trade-off analysis.
• Experience with production deployments on a public cloud (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including infrastructure, security, and governance considerations.
• Track record of driving platform adoption and consumption growth within accounts.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate complex architectures into business value for technical and executive audiences.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a quantitative discipline, or equivalent experience.

Nice To Haves

• Databricks certifications in Data Engineer, ML, or Platform.
• Experience with competitive platforms such as Snowflake, AWS native services, or Azure Synapse, and understanding of the landscape to position against.
• Background in a data/AI company or cloud provider.
• Industry domain expertise in areas such as Financial Services, Healthcare, Retail, or Media.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end technical strategy for accounts, from initial discovery through production deployment and consumption growth.
• Lead complex architecture discussions and design scalable, production-grade solutions spanning data engineering, ML/AI, and real-time analytics.
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor to customer architects, engineering leads, and Directors.
• Drive technical wins in competitive scenarios by demonstrating Databricks’ differentiation through custom-built solutions.
• Develop and declare an emerging technical specialization (archetype), becoming a go-to resource for the team in that domain.
• Orchestrate cross-functional resources, including DSAs, SSAs, and partners, to deliver comprehensive solutions for complex customer needs.
• Provide structured feedback on customer requirements and competitive gaps to influence product direction.

What This Job Offers

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