Lead Solutions Engineer

Retail Insight; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

25 days annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Learning & Development opportunities

Paid volunteer days

Job summary

Retail Insight is hiring a Lead Solutions Engineer based in Chicago, a hybrid role blending hands-on engineering and solution architecture. You will take ownership of end-to-end solutions, ensuring robustness while collaborating with clients to meet modern AI demands.

The role requires advanced T-SQL and Python proficiency, along with experience in data engineering. The company offers flexible working, comprehensive health benefits, and strong support for professional development.

Qualifications

• Proven experience working within a data engineering tech stack.
• Confident with delivering complex, large-scale data solutions across multiple stakeholders.
• Hands-on experience with Databricks and modern cloud data ecosystems.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end solution lifecycle from shaping approaches to delivery.
• Lead the design of cloud-native data platforms ensuring scalability and resilience.
• Act as a senior technical advisor to clients, translating needs into solutions.

Skills

T-SQL

Python

Data engineering tech stack

Databricks

Solution architecture

AI/ML use cases

Job description

Lead. Architect. Deliver. Influence.

Our US client portfolio is evolving rapidly, and not just in scale, but in complexity and expectation.

We partner with enterprise retailers and high-growth mid-market organisations who rely on us to design and deliver robust, scalable, and insight‑led data platforms. Increasingly, these platforms sit at the heart of AI‑enabled decision‑making, and our clients expect senior technical leaders who can both engineer and influence.

To support this growth, we’re hiring a Chicago based Lead Solutions Engineer. This is a hybrid role that blends hands‑on engineering, solution architecture, and senior stakeholder engagement. You’ll operate as a trusted technical partner to our clients — shaping solutions, guiding delivery, and ensuring our platform evolves to meet the demands of modern, AI‑driven data ecosystems.

What you’ll be doing

• You’ll take ownership of the end‑to‑end solution lifecycle; from shaping technical approaches through to delivery and optimisation.
• Lead the design and evolution of our cloud‑native data platform, ensuring scalability, resilience, and readiness for AI use cases.
• Architect and build end‑to‑end data solutions, including large‑scale pipelines for analytics and advanced data applications.
• Act as a senior technical advisor to US‑based clients, translating business needs into pragmatic, scalable solutions.
• Own delivery across complex, multi‑stakeholder environments, balancing speed, quality, and long‑term platform sustainability.
• Partner with clients to navigate ambiguity, prioritise effectively, and drive outcomes, identifying and mitigating technical and delivery risks early.
• Champion best practices across data quality, governance, security, and reliability.
• Evaluate and introduce emerging tools and technologies to improve performance and accelerate delivery.

Engineering leadership & collaboration

• You will coach and mentor engineers, fostering a high‑performing, collaborative engineering culture.
• Work closely with Product, Delivery, and Customer Success teams to shape and execute solutions.
• Establish and uphold engineering and architectural standards across projects.
• Contribute to hiring and developing engineering talent as the team scales.
• Act as a bridge between commercial, product, and technical teams, ensuring alignment and clarity.

Our ideal candidate

• Proven experience working within a data engineering tech stack.
• Confident with delivering complex, large‑scale data solutions across multiple stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in T‑SQL and Python.
• Hands‑on experience with Databricks and modern cloud data ecosystems.
• Background in solution architecture and designing production‑grade data platforms.
• Confident in client‑facing environments, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Comfortable operating in fast‑paced, evolving environments with ambiguity.

Bonus points if you have…

• Experience building or enabling data platforms that support AI / ML use cases.
• Exposure to additional tools, frameworks, or languages that enhance modern data solutions.

Benefits

Flexible Working – Enjoy a hybrid work model (typically 2 days in the office) with flexibility based on business needs, plus a work from anywhere policy to give you freedom to explore.

Time Off – 25 days annual leave (+ bank holidays), increasing with length of service, plus an extra day off for your birthday! We also operate summer hours so you can make the most of the sunshine.

Learning & Development – Access a vast range of courses through our learning platform and benefit from structured career progression plans to support your growth.

Health & Wellbeing – Private Medical Insurance, a healthcare cash plan, and mental health support via Help@Hand. Plus, we’ll ensure you have a safe and productive home setup with a workspace assessment.

Giving Back – Take paid volunteer days to support your local community, donate to your chosen charity through salary sacrifice (we’ll match it!), and make a difference with Give as You Earn.

Extra Perks – A car purchase scheme to make buying a new car easier, plus access to additional benefits through our online platform, including gym discounts.

Plus much more!

Be your authentic self – Retail Insight is committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment. All employees and any job applicants will receive equal treatment. We actively seek to create an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and encouraged to contribute their best work.