AI Architect

EXL; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

EXL is seeking a senior data engineer to rebuild the orchestration layer using Python/Django, refactor SK plugins, and ensure API contracts while maintaining RBAC and permissions. The role emphasizes Azure AI Services, OpenShift deployment, and robust observability with DevSecOps practices, with a base salary of $140,000–$160,000 and a national scope.

You will work on data engineering, AI retrieval, and governance, contributing to scalable agent workflows and performance observability across

Qualifications

• Graduate in Computer Science.
• 8+ years of experience in data engineering or related field.
• Base Compensation Range: $140,000- $160,000

Skills

Semantic Kernel

Microsoft Agent Framework

Python / Django

Azure AI Services

RAG

Model Context Protocol

OpenShift

Observability & Evaluation

GitHub / CI-CD / DevSecOps

Education

Graduate in Computer Science

Tools

OpenShift

Azure APIM

Arize Phoenix

OpenTelemetry

GitHub

CI/CD

Azure OpenAI

Job description

Must-Have Skills

• Semantic Kernel + Microsoft Agent Framework — hands-on experience refactoring SK plugins, planners, function calling, and memory to Agent Framework agents/workflows (this is the critical, hardest-to-source skill)
• Python / Django — to rebuild the orchestration layer without breaking existing API contracts, RBAC, and permissions
• Azure AI Services / RAG — Azure AI Search (hybrid retrieval, semantic ranking), Azure OpenAI (inference + embeddings), preserving retrieval, reranking, prompt assembly, and citation paths.

High-Priority Skills

• Model Context Protocol (MCP) — for tool/connector integration and the Intelligence Layer channel
• OpenShift / containerization — to deploy migrated microservices on OCP
• Observability & Evaluation — Arize Phoenix + OpenTelemetry instrumentation, agent/agentic-system registration, and RAG quality/eval validation to confirm parity
• GitHub / CI-CD / DevSecOps — PR-based workflows and vulnerability remediation

Medium-Priority Skills

• Redis Enterprise (caching/session state) and Azure APIM (gateway, rate limiting).

Graduate in Computer Science. 8+ years of experience in data engineering or related field.

Base Compensation Range: $140,000- $160,000

The posted range is the hiring range for this role — a subset of the broader range available to employees over time — and reflects base salary across our national hiring scale. Final offers are based on several factors, including the candidate's skills and experience, internal pay equity, work location, market conditions for the role, and the specific scope and responsibilities of the position. The top of the range is reserved for candidates who notably exceed the requirements; the lower end applies to those with less experience or fewer preferred qualifications. For positions based in higher-cost zones (e.g., California, New York, New Jersey), actual compensation may exceed the posted range; your recruiter will share specifics during the process.

EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a leading data analytics and digital operations and solutions company. We partner with clients using a data and AI-led approach to reinvent business models, drive better business outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, analytics, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform operations for the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and financial services, media and retail, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have more than 54,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

EXL never requires or asks for fees/payments or credit card or bank details during any phase of the recruitment or hiring process and has not authorized any agencies or partners to collect any fee or payment from prospective candidates. EXL will only extend a job offer after a candidate has gone through a formal interview process with members of EXL’s Human Resources team, as well as our hiring managers.