Data Architect / Technical Lead

This is a remote position.

We are seeking an experienced Data Architect to lead a hands-on data modernization advisory engagement for a large national not-for-profit organization. You will assess its Enterprise Data Platform, design a governed, scalable architecture for reporting, analytics and future AI, and define a phased implementation roadmap and initial data product for a 2027 Proof of Concept (PoC).

Key Responsibilities

Assess ingestion, storage, transformation and consumption layers; review governance, security, metadata and operations; identify technical debt, validate existing investments and reconcile documentation with implementation.

Lead stakeholder interviews and workshops across business, technology, architecture, analytics and governance teams.

Design target-state architecture, principles and priorities, including security, lineage, metadata, cataloging and operating models with clear roles, ownership and decision rights; identify gaps and dependencies and build a phased roadmap.

Partner with business analysts to prioritize use cases and translate objectives, success measures, source systems, data and consumption needs into implementation-ready PoC requirements.

Guide the embedded data engineer on pipelines and backlog delivery, align work with target architecture, transfer knowledge, resolve delivery risks with the client project lead and present recommendations to technical teams and senior leaders.

Deliver the Current-State Assessment, Target-State Architecture, Gap Analysis & Roadmap and High-Level Solution Design; contribute to the Initial Data Product Definition.

Requirements

Required Qualifications

8+ years in data engineering, platforms or analytics, including 4+ years in data architecture or technical leadership; proven enterprise platform assessment, architecture and roadmap experience.

Strong hands-on Microsoft Azure and Databricks platform design and delivery experience, including Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog and Databricks workflows.

Knowledge of lakehouse, data warehouse, medallion architecture and data mesh/data product approaches.

Expertise in governance, metadata, lineage, cataloging, security/privacy controls and operating models covering ownership, stewardship and roles.

Strong stakeholder facilitation, architectural judgement and written communication, including architecture documents, gap analyses and solution designs; ability to build stakeholder trust and deliver within tight consulting timelines.

Preferred Qualifications

Consulting experience in assessment/blueprint engagements; not-for-profit, humanitarian, healthcare or public-sector experience.

Familiarity with Microsoft Purview, Unity Catalog, Collibra or Alation; experience preparing platforms for AI/ML.

Relevant Azure, Databricks, TOGAF or CDMP certifications.