Principal AI Engineer

The Principal AI Engineer role at Burrell Preferred Inc. sits within Analytics as a senior technical contributor, focused on bringing enterprise AI capabilities to life on the data platform. Based in Springfield, MO (onsite), this position leads LLM-enabled analytics work, prototypes conversational access to governed enterprise data, and helps move promising ideas into production-ready architectures.

In this role, you will design and implement AI solutions with an emphasis on Snowflake integration, including natural language-to-SQL experiences and production systems that support reliable, secure decision support and analytics workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of LLM-enabled analytics capabilities leveraging Snowflake and Cortex AI features
• Develop natural language-to-SQL solutions and conversational interfaces for business users to query governed enterprise data
• Collaborate with Data Engineering to design and maintain semantic data models that support AI-driven query generation
• Build prototype AI applications to validate high-value analytics use cases and demonstrate new capabilities
• Guide the transition of prototypes into scalable, production-ready solutions and establish architectural patterns and best practices for LLMs with structured data
• Assist Data Engineering with prompt design, query-generation frameworks, evaluation approaches, and integration tasks
• Identify high-impact opportunities for AI across analytics, reporting, and decision-support workflows
• Evaluate emerging AI technologies, tools, and Snowflake platform capabilities for potential adoption
• Support the development of standards for responsible, secure AI usage aligned with enterprise data governance
• Document system architecture, design decisions, and implementation approaches
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to analytics and data engineering team members
• Function in accordance with operational guidelines and professional ethics, participate in staff development activities, and perform other duties as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Data Science, Information Systems, or related field
• 7+ years of experience in data, analytics, engineering, or applied AI roles
• Demonstrated experience building or prototyping AI/LLM-driven solutions in enterprise environments
• Experience with modern data warehouse platforms, with Snowflake preferred
• Proficiency in SQL and Python
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP) preferred
• Healthcare or regulated industry experience preferred but not required
• Strong understanding of modern data warehouse architecture and analytics data modeling practices
• Experience designing natural language query interfaces, prompt engineering, context management, and grounding techniques for LLM systems
• Knowledge of semantic data modeling and data governance principles
• Ability to translate complex analytical questions into scalable technical solutions and communicate clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Self-directed problem solver with leadership and mentoring experience
• Successful completion of background check including criminal record, driving record, abuse/neglect, and fingerprint check required
• Current driver’s license, acceptable driving record, and current auto insurance required

Technologies

• LLM, Snowflake, Cortex AI
• Natural language-to-SQL
• Semantic data models
• SQL, Python
• AWS, Azure, GCP
• Prompt engineering, context management, grounding techniques
• LLMs with structured data

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Program – 24/7 counseling services, legal assistance, and financial consultation for you and your household at no cost
• Mileage Reimbursement – company paid for work functions requiring travel
• Employee Discounts – Hotels, Theme Parks & Attractions, College Tuition
• Workplace Culture - environment cultivating employee wellbeing, valuing each individual's humanity, and actively promoting a healthy, joyful workforce
• Additional Perks & Benefits - scroll down to bottom of this post to learn more
• Paid time off: full-time employees receive an attractive time off package
• Employee benefits package: full-time employees receive health, dental, vision, retirement, life, and more
• Top-notch training: initial, ongoing, comprehensive, and supportive
• Career mobility: advancement opportunities and promoting from within
• Welcoming, warm, supportive work culture emphasizing your well-being

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary work: exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible force frequently; repetitive movements of hands, fingers, and arms for typing and/or writing during work shift
• Primarily sitting with occasional walking or standing for brief periods