Data Architect

Overview

The Data Architect role is a critical position focused on modernizing enterprise data analytics platforms within a federal consulting environment. This role is responsible for transitioning legacy systems into scalable, secure, and cloud-based big data environments, enabling advanced analytics and mission-driven insights. The position supports strategic data initiatives by designing robust architectures, ensuring governance, and enabling high-performance analytics capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Architect scalable, resilient, and secure data platforms leveraging cloud technologies (e.g., AWS) and big data frameworks (e.g., Apache Spark, Databricks).
• Define reference architectures, data models, and integration patterns to support enterprise analytics and data-driven decision-making.
• Establish and enforce data governance frameworks, including data quality, metadata management, schema design, and lifecycle policies aligned with federal requirements.
• Lead legacy system modernization efforts by designing and executing transition strategies to cost-effective, cloud-based platforms.
• Design and implement robust data pipelines, ingestion frameworks, and analytics workflows to support large-scale data processing.
• Optimize performance, scalability, and reliability of distributed data systems.
• Define and manage identity and access control mechanisms to secure data platforms and protect sensitive information.
• Ensure compliance with federal security, privacy, and governance standards, including role-based access control and auditing.
• Architect and support enterprise reporting and visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau) to enable self-service analytics and dashboarding capabilities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, security, and program stakeholders, to deliver integrated solutions.
• Contribute to solutioning and technical strategy during proposal development and lead architecture efforts during execution.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise in big data technologies such as Apache Spark and distributed data processing frameworks.
• Hands-on experience with cloud platforms, preferably AWS, including data storage, compute, and analytics services.
• Experience with data visualization and reporting tools such as Tableau or similar platforms.
• Proven ability to design enterprise-scale data architectures and lead technical solutioning efforts.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, and compliance within a federal environment.
• Knowledge of identity and access management principles and implementation approaches.
• Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

Experience

• Extensive experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related roles.
• Demonstrated success in large-scale data platform modernization initiatives.
• Prior experience supporting federal agencies or working within regulated environments.
• Experience contributing to proposals, technical volumes, or solution architecture for federal contracts.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure as code is preferred.
• Knowledge of Zero Trust Architecture principles and secure system design is a plus.