Software Engineer Contractor Jobs in Minneapolis, MN

Job Description Data Architect & AI Engineer - Microsoft Fabric We are seeking a Data Architect / AI Engineer to help build and evolve our modern data and AI ecosystem, with Microsoft Fabric serving as the core data platform. This role will initially play a key part in the migration from legacy reporting and data systems into Microsoft Fabric, ensuring that critical business processes and data are accurately represented in a scalable, governed architecture. Beyond the migration, this individual will help establish the technical foundation, standards, and capabilities needed to expand the organization's use of analytics, automation, and artificial intelligence.

This role will also partner closely with business stakeholders, technical teams, and third-party contractors. They will help ensure the organization has a trusted data foundation while identifying and developing opportunities to leverage AI to improve how the business accesses information, makes decisions, and operates. This is a hands-on role for someone who can move between architecture, engineering, and technical consultation and enjoys translating business challenges into scalable data and AI solutions.

This is a hybrid position based in Eden Prairie, MN. Key Responsibilities Lead and support the transition from legacy data and reporting environments into Microsoft Fabric, helping establish a scalable, governed, and future-ready data foundation. Partner with business stakeholders, technical teams, and third-party contractors to design, validate, and extend data models, pipelines, integrations, and analytical solutions.

Ensure data from ERP and other enterprise applications is accurately modeled to reflect business processes and reporting needs. Design and maintain data architecture and integration patterns that support analytics, Power BI, automation, and emerging AI applications. Establish and evolve the organization's AI technical foundation, identifying and prioritizing practical AI opportunities that deliver measurable business value.

Architect, prototype, and implement AI-enabled solutions using enterprise data, including LLMs, AI APIs, agents, Microsoft/Azure AI capabilities, and other emerging technologies. Help move successful AI concepts from proof of concept into secure, scalable, production-ready solutions. Translate business requirements and complex data questions into effective technical solutions, engaging appropriate business and technical subject-matter experts when needed.

Establish data and AI governance practices that support accuracy, security, integrity, lineage, compliance, and responsible AI adoption. Enable trusted self-service analytics through Microsoft Fabric and Power BI, including development of reusable data models and clearly defined business metrics. Review existing and proposed data and AI solutions, recommending improvements to scalability, maintainability, performance, security, and overall architecture.

Develop documentation, standards, and training to help technical and business users effectively leverage the organization's data and AI capabilities. Serve as a technical bridge between business stakeholders, technology teams, contractors, and leadership, ensuring solutions remain aligned with business priorities. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

5-7+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, analytics engineering, software engineering, or related technical roles. Strong experience with the Microsoft data ecosystem, ideally including Microsoft Fabric, Azure, Power BI, and related technologies. Experience designing and maintaining enterprise data architectures, data models, integrations, and pipelines.

Working knowledge of SQL and Python; familiarity with Power BI and other analytics or development tools. Experience working with LLM APIs, generative AI platforms, or AI tool deployment in a business environment. Ability to evaluate business problems and determine appropriate data architecture, integration, analytics, or AI solutions.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to independently research complex technical and data questions. Demonstrated ability to work across business and technical teams and communicate effectively with both audiences. Experience reviewing technical designs and providing recommendations around scalability, maintainability, security, and performance.

Preferred Qualifications Hands-on experience implementing or administering Microsoft Fabric in an enterprise environment. Experience with Azure AI services, Azure OpenAI, Microsoft Copilot, or similar enterprise AI technologies. Experience building AI applications using enterprise data, including retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), AI agents, semantic search, or related patterns.

Experience with data governance, lineage, security, compliance, and enterprise data-management standards. Experience moving AI prototypes or proofs of concept into production environments. Impact This role will play an important part in shaping the organization's next generation of data and AI capabilities.

The successful candidate will: Establish Microsoft Fabric as a trusted, scalable enterprise data foundation. Modernize legacy data and reporting architecture while reducing technical debt and improving access to trusted information. Create governed, reusable data assets that support reporting, analytics, automation, and AI.

Help move the organization from experimentation with AI toward practical, production-ready AI solutions. Identify and deliver AI use cases that improve decision-making, productivity, knowledge access, and business processes. Strengthen collaboration between business and technology teams by ensuring data and AI solutions are technically sound and aligned with business priorities.

Build the architecture and standards needed to support the organization's broader digital and AI transformation.