Director / Senior Manager – Data Engineering & AI

Job Description At Avanade, we help organizations use the power of Microsoft technologies to drive meaningful business outcomes. As a Director / Senior Manager, Data Engineering & AI, you will lead complex client engagements, shape innovative data and AI solutions, and oversee delivery across large-scale transformation programs. This role requires a blend of deep technical expertise, consulting leadership, delivery management, and talent development, operating at the intersection of business strategy, advanced analytics, and AI. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders while building, growing, and leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams. Day to Day, You Will: 1. Client Engagement Leadership • Lead end-to-end client engagements from opportunity shaping through delivery execution.

• Act as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders (Director, VP, and C-level).

• Facilitate workshops, discovery sessions, and solution design engagements.

2. Business Development & Practice Growth • Contribute to sales activities, including lead origination, proposal development, and opportunity shaping.

• Support the closing of Data & AI deals and expansion of existing client relationships.

• Build and evolve go-to-market offerings and reusable accelerators within the Data & AI practice.

3. Talent Leadership • Lead hiring, mentoring, and performance development of data engineering and AI talent.

• Evaluate candidates for data engineering and AI roles.

• Build and sustain a strong, diverse, and scalable talent pipeline.

4. Solution Architecture & Engineering • Define end-to-end data and AI architectures, including data ingestion, transformation, serving, and AI/ML layers.

• Design scalable solutions leveraging Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, and modern data platforms.

• Ensure alignment with enterprise architecture, governance, and security standards.

5. AI & Innovation • Drive adoption of AI and machine learning solutions, including Generative AI and agentic patterns.

• Lead proof-of-concept (PoC) and MVP initiatives to validate innovative approaches.

• Contribute to internal innovation efforts and thought leadership within the Data & AI practice.

6. Delivery Leadership • Oversee large-scale data engineering, analytics, and AI programs.

• Manage cross-functional delivery teams, including data engineers, architects, and data scientists.

• Drive quality, risk management, and successful delivery outcomes across engagements.

. Qualifications Skills and Experience • 10–15+ years of experience in data engineering, data platforms, or Data & AI roles.

• 5+ years of experience in leadership roles managing teams and client-facing engagements.

• Strong experience within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem, including Azure Data Factory, Synapse, Microsoft Fabric, and Databricks.

• Solid understanding of AI/ML concepts, including MLOps and Generative AI.

• Proven experience in consulting or professional services environments.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills.

Preferred Experience / Capabilities • Experience with Microsoft Fabric and Power BI.

• Knowledge of data governance, security, and compliance, including Purview and row-level security (RLS).

• Experience delivering solutions in regulated industries such as financial services or public sector.

• Familiarity with DevOps and CI/CD practices for data platforms.

Compensation at Avanade varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Avanade provides a reasonable range of compensation, based on full-time employment, for roles that may be hired as set forth below. The recruiting efforts for this position are intended to fill a brand new position. The recruiting efforts for this position are intended to fill a brand new position. Information on benefits is here. British Columbia / Ontario - $172,000 - $204,250 We anticipate this job posting will be posted on 05/13/2026 and open for at least 20 days. .