Lead Data Solution and AI Engineer

Arthur J. Gallagher · Rolling Meadows

Introduction

At Gallagher Bassett, we're there when it matters most because helping people through challenging moments is more than just our job, it’s our purpose. Every day, we help clients navigate complexity, support recovery, and deliver outcomes that make a real difference in people’s lives. It takes empathy, precision, and a strong sense of partnership—and that’s exactly what you’ll find here.

We’re a team of fast-paced fixers, empathetic experts, and outcomes drivers — people who care deeply about doing the right thing and doing it well. Whether you're managing claims, supporting clients, or improving processes, you’ll play a vital role in helping businesses and individuals move forward with confidence. Here, you’ll be supported by a culture that values teamwork, encourages curiosity, and celebrates the impact of your work.

Because when you’re here, you’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a team that shows up, stands together, and leads with purpose.

How you'll make an impact

The Lead Data Solution and AI Engineer developer provides guidance, leadership, and solid execution of data integration solutions as they related to BI and AI project initiatives. Typically, this role participates in multiple, technically complex, mission-critical, and/or high-profile data projects or initiatives. This individual must possess strong leadership skills including the ability to make sound data architectural solutions recommendations.

Key Responsibilities:

Data Platform and Pipeline Delivery

Design and maintain scalable ETL/ELT pipelines using Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Synapse Analytics, and Azure SQL to support analytics, reporting, and AI/ML workloads.

Develop data ingestion, transformation, validation, and loading workflows from APIs, databases, Azure Blob Storage, ADLS Gen2, third-party systems, and on-premises SQL databases.
Support on-premises SQL Server integration, including data extraction, synchronization, replication, and performance tuning.
Write and optimize T-SQL queries, stored procedures, views, and functions to support data processing, reporting, and analytics.
Support data models, data marts, and feature stores for analytics and machine learning use cases.
Develop, train, fine-tune, deploy, and monitor AI/ML models using structured and unstructured data, including model versioning, performance tracking, and retraining.
Develop AI-powered capabilities using modern large language models (LLMs) and AI services.
Implement intelligent search, knowledge retrieval, and automation solutions.
Troubleshoot ETL failures, data latency issues, and production incidents across Azure and on-premises environments.

Process Improvement and Operational Excellence

Identify and implement process improvements that automate manual activities and improve data delivery.
Improve the performance, scalability, reliability, and maintainability of data engineering solutions.

Security, Governance and Compliance

Apply Azure security best practices, including RBAC, Managed Identities, Azure Key Vault, and private networking.
Ensure data quality, consistency, lineage, and governance through validation, reconciliation, and exception-handling processes.

People Leadership

Provide technical guidance and leadership to junior developers.
Provide data architecture recommendations, project team leadership, technology vision, and detailed estimates.

Core technical stack:

Data Platform and Engineering

Microsoft/Azure: Azure Data Warehouse, Azure SQL Database / Synapse, Azure Data Factory, Azure Functions, SQL Server, T-SQL, SSIS
Data & engineering tools: DevOps, Databricks

AI and Advanced Analytics Enablement

Python, NumPy, Pandas, PyArrow
AI/LLM tools: OpenAI, LangChain, LlamaIndex, AI tools, Vector Database

About You

10+ years of progressive experience as a Data Solutions and AI Engineer using current and emerging data technologies and approaches, including 7+ years on the Microsoft platform.

7+ years designing and building large applications using SQL Server and related database technologies.

7+ years experience with physical and cloud database design

7+ years experience migrating code, database changes, data, and menus through the software development lifecycle.

2+ years experience designing, developing, and deploying AI/ML-powered applications and cloud data solutions.

2+ years experience with NLP, entity resolution algorithms, Graph RAG, ontology, and distributed systems

4+ years experience with CI/CD pipelines and deployment tools

2+ years experience developing search, retrieval, recommendation, or knowledge management solutions.

2+ years experience with microservices, event-driven architectures, and containerized applications

3+ years experience working with C#, .NET, REST APIs, and modern application architecture to support integration and solution development.

5+ years strong understanding of database and application performance tuning

Experience in Snowflake and Microsoft Fabric a plus

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Engineering, or a related field

Strong communication skills with management, development teams, vendors, systems administrators, and other service providers

Required:
Typically requires a University Degree and minimum 7 years of prior relevant experience, or equivalent experience.

You are a strong communicator and an active listener.
A passion for technology
Deep technical understanding of all things data
Ability to lead a project team
Ability to paint a technology vision and communicate its value
Ability to create detailed estimates for planned technology activities.
A disciplined approach to your work life and your craft
Stay current with emerging data engineering and AI technologies.
Preferred:

SQL Python, Azure data factory, Data
Bricks, Spark (experience would be a plus)
Data transformation
Cloud Data Experience
Distributed data warehouse knowledge
Data Lakes
Communication and stakeholder management skills

Compensation and benefits

At Gallagher, we believe supporting our colleagues goes far beyond the role itself. For more information, visit our Benefits page.

Competitive compensation
Comprehensive benefits programs designed to support your well-being
Career development opportunities and ongoing learning
A collaborative, people-first culture with accessible leadership
The opportunity to do meaningful work with global reach and local impact

At Gallagher, we are dedicated to building an inclusive and authentic workplace. If your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we encourage you to join our Talent Community to stay connected to additional career opportunities. At times, we will consider transferable skills from previous roles.

Gallagher is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer (Minorities/Females/Veterans/Disabled)