Job Description & Summary
PwC Slovakia is looking for a Principal Consultant in the area of Data Science & AI to join our growing team of data professionals. This is a senior-level position designed for an experienced engineer who combines deep technical expertise with outstanding business communication skills and strong stakeholder management capabilities.
We are looking for a senior professional whom we want to grow into a future managerial / team lead role. You don't need to have formal team leadership experience yet - what matters most is your technical excellence, business mindset, and willingness to develop into a leader over time. Prior experience leading teams or mentoring others is a strong plus.
As a Principal Consultant, you will be at the forefront of translating complex business requirements into scalable AI solutions and then driving their implementation. You will be acting as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders, guiding them through their data and AI transformation journey.
You will work closely with clients and internal cross-functional teams to understand business needs, oversee end-to-end delivery of complex engagements, and ensure high-quality outcomes across projects that blend machine learning, software engineering, and modern AI techniques (including GenAI, LLMs, and RAG-based systems).
This role is ideal for a senior engineer who combines the ability to come up with a strong vision, and hands-on technical problem-solving that turns it into reality. For someone not afraid to grow into a leadership position in an innovative, collaborative environment.
Engage directly with senior client stakeholders (business sponsors, C-level executives, domain experts) to elicit, analyze, and challenge business requirements, ensuring solutions deliver measurable business value.
Translate complex business needs into clear technical specifications, delivery roadmaps, and well-scoped engagements - bridging the gap between business strategy and technical execution.
Design and architect advanced data science and AI solutions, including predictive modeling, machine learning pipelines, data engineering platforms, LLM fine-tuning, and complex RAG-based systems.
Act as a strategic advisor to clients, clearly communicating technical concepts, trade-offs, and recommendations in a business-relevant and outcome-driven way.
Contribute to pre-sales and solution shaping activities - including proposals, estimations, workshops, and client presentations.
Drive delivery excellence - taking ownership of timelines, quality standards, and technical decisions across engagements.
Collaborate with and support fellow team members, sharing knowledge and gradually taking on mentoring responsibilities as you grow into a leadership role.
Contribute to PwC's thought leadership in data science and AI through publications, conference talks, client workshops, and internal knowledge sharing.
Proven senior-level experience in data science, AI, analytics, or data engineering, ideally within a consulting or client-facing environment.
Strong stakeholder management skills - able to manage expectations and build trust with clients.
Excellent technical skills in tools and technologies such as Python, SQL, Spark, cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP), MLOps practices, and modern AI architectures (e.g., RAG, vector databases, agentic systems, LLM fine-tuning).
Solid understanding of software engineering best practices - version control, CI/CD, testing, code reviews, and scalable system design.
Experience delivering complex data and AI projects end-to-end from discovery through production deployment.
Strategic mindset with the ability to align technical solutions with business goals, KPIs, and ROI considerations.
Presentation and storytelling skills - able to engage and influence both technical and non-technical stakeholders, including executive-level audiences.
Motivation to grow into a leadership/managerial role in the future.
Fluent English (spoken and written); Slovak or Czech is a plus.
Degree in Data Science, Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Engineering, or a related field (Master's or PhD preferred).
Prior experience leading or mentoring teams - formal or informal team leadership, tech lead role, or mentoring junior colleagues is a strong advantage.
Experience with agile delivery frameworks (Scrum, SAFe) and working with distributed teams.
Background in specific industries such as financial services, telco, energy, retail, or public sector.
Prior experience in pre-sales, proposal writing, or scoping delivery engagements.
Active contributions to the data/AI community (publications, speaking engagements, open source).
At PwC, we combine deep technical expertise with strategic insight to deliver real impact through data. As a Senior Lead Engineer in Data Science & AI, you'll work on some of the most challenging and visible AI engagements in the region, have a clear path to grow into a leadership position, and gain access to global PwC networks, certifications, and leadership development programs. Join us to shape the future of data and AI in Slovakia and beyond.
Salary: From 3000 to 4200 EUR/month
(For candidates with many years of experience, the salary is negotiable based on experience and proven seniority.)
Contract type: Full-time
Start date: By agreement
Financial Rewards: Benefit from regular salary reviews and other special bonuses. Enjoy meal contributions and a cafeteria benefit system offering personalized choices.
Flexibility & Work-Life Balance: Enjoy our hybrid working policy, flexible working hours, 2 extra days off during Christmas along with Sick-days. Every minute of your extra work is valued and compensated.
Career Development: Engage in tailored internal and external training programs as well as structured career development plan.
Health & Well-being: Access premium benefits such as Multisport card or a medical center membership. Take advantage of our Well-being and Work-Life Coaching program.
Supportive Culture: Participate in team building activities and social events and join our employee referral program. Experience a culture with regular feedback and a supportive environment.
Global Opportunities: Seize the opportunity for international assignments and work on diverse projects with international clients. Explore the world while working with the possibility of working from abroad.
Extra perks: Use various discounts at partner companies such as cars, health care, beauty, culture or others. Transfer up to 4 telephone numbers at discounted rates.
Information about the selection process:
At PwC, we believe in nurturing your career, supporting your health and wellness, and recognizing your dedication. Join our team and experience a workplace that values you beyond your work hours.
If you'd like to apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button on our website and apply through our system.
You can find the data privacy announcement here: https://pwc.to/2s8n2tn
If the current position is not right for you but you have friends or acquaintances in your area who could be interested in working with us, feel free to direct them to us. If we establish cooperation with a candidate recommended by you, you can receive a reward from 300 to 1000 EUR, depending on the seniority of the candidate: https://www.pwc.com/sk/en/careers/get-rewarded-for-recommending-candidate.html
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