Principal Architect – Data & Machine Learning Platform

Principal Architect – Data & Machine Learning Platform

Location: Hybrid, Houston, TX
Employment Type: Fulltime, direct hire

Are you a proactive and hands-on architect who thrives on solving real-world challenges, not just creating theoretical frameworks? We’re seeking a Principal Architect to lead the design and evolution of a cutting-edge enterprise data and machine learning platform — balancing diverse business needs while upholding scalable, sustainable architecture principles.

If you come from a software engineering background and have experience leading complex platform initiatives across multiple environments, this role offers an exciting opportunity to make a tangible impact.

In This Role, You Will:

• Architect the Core Platform: Lead the design and continuous improvement of a scalable, highly automated data and machine learning platform used across multiple business units.

• Develop Roadmaps and Execution Plans: Craft phased, strategic roadmaps to support evolving data science, analytics, and ML needs while aligning with broader enterprise architecture standards.

• Balance Competing Needs: Weigh business unit-specific requirements against enterprise-level goals to design efficient, cost-effective solutions without redundancy or unnecessary complexity.

• Champion Best Practices: Guide teams on minimizing technical debt, optimizing code quality, and balancing development speed with long-term stability.

• Stay Ahead of the Curve: Monitor industry trends in architecture, automation, and DevOps/MLOps, recommending innovative tools and patterns that drive real benefits.

• Prototype and Prove Solutions: Build hands-on prototypes to validate new tools, libraries, frameworks, and architecture designs — ensuring practical, demonstrable results.

• Lead Automation and Scalability Initiatives: Design and implement automated delivery pipelines, enhancing DevSecOps and MLOps toolchains to boost developer productivity.

• Ensure Reliability and Efficiency: Build a fault-tolerant, highly available platform that follows modern best practices (including 12-factor app principles where applicable).

• Promote Responsible Data Practices: Adhere to data privacy standards and foster a culture of secure, compliant data handling across the platform.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science (or equivalent combination of education and professional experience).

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering, platform architecture, or related fields.

• Strong background in application development, DevOps, MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, and platform automation.

• Hands-on experience designing and building large, multi-tenant, enterprise-scale systems.

• Exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to manage complex and often contradictory information.

• Ability to comfortably navigate business needs, organizational dynamics, and technology trade-offs.

• Clear, confident communicator — equally comfortable working with software engineers, data scientists, business stakeholders, and executive leadership.

• Certifications in Agile, Application Development, Machine Learning, or Data Platforms (preferred but not required).

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Proactive self-starter who doesn’t wait for direction to make improvements.

• Practical, hands-on approach to architecture — not just theoretical frameworks.

• Consulting-style mindset: adaptable, capable of handling diverse environments, and quick to identify optimal solutions.

• Highly collaborative but also able to work independently and drive initiatives forward.

• Passionate about using technology to solve business challenges and advance organizational goals.

Ready to roll up your sleeves and architect the future of data and machine learning at scale?
Apply today and help us build something extraordinary.

INDSJ