AI/ML Data Strategist

We are seeking strategic and technically fluent AI Strategists to lead ideation and planning within a structured AI/ML innovation environment. This role is central to enabling scalable, outcome-driven experimentation and delivery of AI solutions across diverse business domains. The AI Strategist works cross-functionally to identify high-impact opportunities, define use cases, and guide prototypes and pilots through the innovation funnel—from intake to operationalization. 

Job Overview:
The AI Strategist operates at the intersection of business strategy, emerging technology, and delivery execution. They are responsible for translating enterprise goals into actionable AI initiatives, framing problems, prioritizing opportunities, and ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and regulatory environments.

Our Data & Analytics team drives cutting-edge innovation in digital transformation deployment globally and across industries. We partner with a diverse range of clients and support them at every stage of the data lifecycle—from curation and ingestion to management, analytics, and reporting. Our practice spans AI, Data Management, Content, Data Strategy, and more. From building modern data platforms to applying machine learning and generative AI, we help organizations unlock deeper insights, automate decision-making, and drive smarter outcomes. In our collaborative, fast-paced environment, you’ll work with industry-leading tools and technologies, tackling real-world challenges and delivering impactful solutions that shape the future of digital transformation. 

• Lead intake and ideation sessions to identify AI opportunities across departments, using structured frameworks and AI-powered assistants. 
• Frame problems and define use cases aligned with strategic goals, regulatory drivers, and operational pain points. 
• Conceive and define AI-Driven (AWS Bedrock etc.) business solutions, experiences, and use cases. 
• Scope and plan prototypes and pilots using accelerated modeling and innovation frameworks, ensuring feasibility, desirability, and viability. 
• Collaborate with AI Engineers, Product Owners, Cloud Architects, and SMEs to ensure technical feasibility and business alignment. 
• Facilitate design thinking workshops to guide teams through empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test phases. 
• Support stakeholder demos to validate and refine solution concepts. 
• Prioritize initiatives using ICE scoring (Impact, Confidence, Ease) and business value mapping. 
• Develop use case portfolios, product backlogs, and roadmaps for AI-driven solutions
• Define success metrics and KPIs, for example velocity gain, cost reduction, and adoption rates. 
• Ensure alignment to responsible AI and governance standards. 
• Ensure knowledge capture and best practice sharing across experiments to reduce duplication and accelerate learning. 
• Business case development and outcome measurement for pilots. 
• Maintain alignment with compliance, regulatory, and audit requirements throughout the AI lifecycle. 
   

Industry Domain Expertise
Candidates must bring deep domain knowledge in at least one of the following industries or functions as a foundation for this role:

• Healthcare: Member engagement, claims triage, predictive prior authorization, wellness agents, provider network optimization. 
• Financial Services: Banking, wealth management, lending, risk assessment agents, proposal automation, regulatory readiness. 
• Manufacturing and Automotive: Dealer and distributor channel management, predictive maintenance, connected systems, operational optimization. 
• Communications / Media / Technology: Content personalization, workflow automation, digital experience enhancement. 
• Sales and Marketing: Brand activation, lead management, customer acquisition, revenue generation, customer loyalty
• Finance and Accounting: Financial close and consolidation, planning and forecasting profitability and cost management, forecasting and sensitivity analysis
• Supply Chain: Inventory and materials management, demand planning, strategic sourcing and spend control

Tools & Platforms

• Cloud Platforms: AWS Bedrock
• AI Frameworks: LangChain, LangGraph, N8N, Haystack, AgentSpace
• Collaboration & Design: Miro, Confluence, SharePoint, Adobe Firefly
• Data & Storage: Postgres, Supabase, Pinecone, FAISS
• Prompt Engineering & Governance: Portkey, Model-Context Protocol (MCP)

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Computer Science, Data Science, Business, or related field. 
• 8+ years in digital transformation roles. 
• Proven experience delivering AI initiatives in regulated industries. 
• Strong understanding of AI/ML technologies, agentic workflows, and experimentation methodologies. 
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills. 
• Experience with facilitation, requirements elicitation, design thinking, agile delivery, and outcome measurement. 
• Experience with business process modeling, user journey mapping, and value stream analysis

Engagement Impact
This role supports the creation of a safe, structured path for AI enablement, where every idea is tested and the best ones reshape how the organization works. The AI Strategist helps drive:

• Increased experimentation throughput
• Faster time-to-value for AI pilots
• Broader departmental adoption of AI
• Measurable business outcomes across cost, quality, and velocity
   

Perficient, Inc. proudly provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Perficient, Inc. complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. Perficient, Inc. expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or covered veterans. Improper interference with the ability of Perficient, Inc. employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Disability Accommodations:

Perficient is committed to providing a barrier-free employment process with reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled or the posting is removed.​ 

The salary range for this position takes into consideration a variety of factors, including but not limited to skill sets, level of experience, applicable office location, training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The new hire salary range displays the minimum and maximum salary targets for this position across all US locations, and the range has not been adjusted for any specific state differentials. It is not typical for a candidate to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the unique facts and circumstances regarding each candidate. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range for this position is $175,118 to $220,000. Please note that the salary range posted reflects the base salary only and does not include benefits or any potential variable compensation. Information regarding the benefits available for this position are in this overview.

#LI-KP1  #LI-AIStrategist

Perficient is the global AI-first consultancy. Our team of strategists, designers, technologists, and engineers partners with the world’s most innovative enterprises and admired brands to deliver real business results through the transformative power of AI. As part of our AI-First strategy, we empower every employee to build AI fluency and actively engage with AI tools to drive innovation and efficiency. We break boundaries, obsess over outcomes, and shape the future for our clients. Join a company where bold ideas and brilliant minds converge to redefine what’s possible - while building a career filled with growth, balance, and purpose.