Position Summary
The Data Architect Lead reports to the Enterprise Data Architect. This individual is an expert in data architecture principles and best practices, data modeling, data integration, data storage solutions, and data security and compliance. The role embodies and promotes the core values of the organization while fostering collaboration across various teams. The Data Architect collaborates with senior management and executives to establish data strategy and direction, ensuring alignment with business goals and objectives.
This position is responsible for data architecture and making technology selections for data systems and applications within the company's product portfolio. The candidate is expected to take ownership of data architecture from project inception through delivery, working closely with fellow Enterprise Architects, Engineering Managers, Product Owners, and Lead Engineers.
The Data Architect Lead creates proposals, recommends solutions for approval, and reviews technical designs to ensure they adhere to best data architecture practices and align with the company's technological vision. This role is also tasked with promoting, governing, and documenting data architecture decisions across impacted programs.
As a technology leader within the organization, the Data Architect contributes significantly to data-related decisions, selections, and strategy at the highest levels.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Responsible for specifications of data architecture, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Oversees the planning and execution of architectural aspects related to data projects across multiple disciplines.
- Ensures architectural integrity and consistency throughout the entire data architecture.
- Documents and communicate data architecture decisions and strategies effectively.
- Develops, refines, and applies data architecture methods and procedures in accordance with industry standards and best practices.
- Ensures data privacy, quality, and security by adhering to regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA and implementing encryption, data masking, and secure access controls.
- Ensures data architecture decisions and strategies are consistent, formalized, and documented.
- Leads, coach, and mentor team of data architects and promotes a culture of craftmanship and innovation.
- Present executive recommendations to facilitate technology product selections, buy vs build decision, and direction for strategic product roadmaps.
- Develops and manages conceptual, logical, and physical data models using tools such as ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram).
- Accountable for large / complex estimation activities, and quality of estimates, in collaboration with the product teams.
- Creates and maintains comprehensive system documentation for data architecture design and domain technologies.
- Stays updated with industry trends to conceive, prototype, and recommend architectural approaches for data systems and solutions that meet business needs.
- Performs other duties as required. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to perform any other job-related duties assigned by their supervisor or management.
Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills
Bachelor or Master of Science in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Math or equivalent.7+ years of experience in Data architecture, with at least 3 years as an Data Architect role.Strong expertise in enterprise architecture frameworks.Data Modeling : Understand conceptual, logical, and physical data models and tools like ERD (Entity Relationship Diagram).Database Management Systems : Familiarity with SQL and NoSQL databases (e.g., Oracle, PostgreSQL, Couchbase, MongoDB).Data Storage & Retrieval : Knowledge of data warehousing (e.g., Snowflake, Databricks) and data lakes.Data Integration : Understand Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) and data pipelines (e.g., Azure Data Factory, Kafka, Informatica).Extensive experience leading large, cross-functional teams in a globally diverse model.Cloud Platforms : Experience with at least one cloud provider (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and cloud-native services.Programming : Proficiency in Python, R, or Java, as well as scripting languages for automation.Data Privacy : Familiarity with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, or HIPAA.Strategic Thinking : Understanding of how data supports organizational goals and decision-making.