Senior Solutions Architect, Manufacturing & AI Data Systems (AI-Driven Products)

Senior Solutions Architect, Manufacturing & AI Data Systems

Costa Mesa, CA (on-site) The rate is $100/hr. Initial duration is 4+ months, will extend very long term U.S. Citizenship required (for this specific role) Our client builds autonomous vehicles and AI-driven aircraft. They need a senior solutions architect to own how data actually flows across the enterprise and ensure it works in production. This role is not about designing ideal-state architectures. It is about stepping into a complex environment, understanding how systems actually operate, identifying where data breaks, and fixing it. You will operate alongside highly technical TPMs and engineering leaders from Tesla, SpaceX, and similar backgrounds. The expectation is that you match that level of depth, ownership, and execution. What you will be responsible for * Map how data flows across the business from shop-floor systems through product, analytics, and AI use cases * Identify where data breaks across MES, ERP, PLM, and internal systems, and isolate root causes * Translate business-critical questions into implemented solutions that capture, integrate, and make data reliably usable * Design shared data models and semantic layers that enforce consistent definitions and enable reliable use across engineering, manufacturing, and AI systems * Build integration patterns that connect systems directly, avoiding unnecessary rebuilding and eliminating overengineering * Deliver solutions that are live, used, and measurable * Partner directly with TPMs and engineering teams to align architecture with real manufacturing and product workflows * Sequence execution to deliver immediate impact while establishing a scalable long-term foundation Required background This role requires experience operating in complex, real-world environments where data, systems, and production intersect. Candidates from primarily clean, greenfield, or analytics-only environments will not be a fit. * 10-15+ years OR 8-9 years in elite environments (Tesla, SpaceX, etc.) 8+ years of experience where you have personally owned and resolved complex data and system issues in manufacturing or product-driven environments * Direct experience with manufacturing systems, including MES and production data flows * Track record of diagnosing and fixing cross-system data issues across MES, ERP, PLM, and related systems * Experience in software or AI-driven product environments where data directly impacts performance * Strong ability to build shared, usable data models consumed across multiple teams * Proven ability to operate in imperfect, evolving systems and impose clarity and structure * Ability to move from architecture to execution without losing speed or precision * U.S. Citizen and able to work on-site in Costa Mesa Killer filter (read carefully) * You have personally traced data across multiple systems and resolved issues that were not immediately visible * You have delivered solutions that are actively used by engineering, manufacturing, or product teams * You can explain how data flows through a factory or product system without relying on diagrams * You solve real problems rather than redesigning systems unnecessarily * You can quantify the business impact of your work Preferred * Experience in aerospace, defense, robotics, or similar high-complexity environments * Experience with autonomous systems or AI-enabled products * Eligible for security clearance