Lead Architect

Code4lib; Hamilton; Hybrid; CAD 96,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Code4lib in Ontario seeks a Lead Architect for the SSCAN Data Space project to design a digital repository and trusted research environment for sensitive social science data.

The 24-month hybrid contract requires expertise in architecture, data governance, and FAIR/CARE/TRUST principles, with collaboration across national data initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, or related field of study.
• 6 years of relevant experience, including at least 1 year of supervisory experience.
• Hybrid contract role (24-month term).

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical design of a digital repository and trusted research environment for sensitive research data.
• Determine architecture options to meet storage, access, and security needs for diverse datasets.
• Seek quotes and monitor cost profiles for system components within public sector funding constraints.
• Architect a solution combining cybersecurity, authentication, storage, curation, search, and disaster recovery.
• Research and implement full compliance with data governance frameworks.
• Ensure solution supports FAIR data management and aligns with CARE and TRUST principles, favoring open source solutions.
• Align architecture with CoreTrustSeal considerations and potential certification.
• Collaborate with National Data Spaces pilot groups to exchange approaches and best practices.
• Coordinate with Digital Research Alliance planning (persistent identifiers, data management templates, etc.).

Skills

Deep technical systems expertise

Active research

Data management design

FAIR data practices

Metadata standards

Sensitive data knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in Information Science

Master’s degree in Information Systems

Master’s degree in Computer Science

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Job description

Description

The Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) has been awarded funding through the Digital Research Alliance of Canada’s National Data Spaces pilot to develop a national data space for researchers working with sensitive social science data. We are currently hiring for a Lead Architect for the SSCAN Data Space project.

Term/Start Date: 24-month contract

Position Type: Hybrid

Salary: $46.04 – $64.75 (hourly)

Duties:

The Lead Architect will be responsible for leading the technical design of a digital repository and trusted research environment for sensitive research data to serve the pan-Canadian communities of social sciences researchers.

Reporting to the Director of IT at CRDCN, the Lead Architect will:

• Take a research-based approach to the system design, exploring contemporary best practice in repositories for sensitive data, articulating the state of the art with an eye to future developments, and consulting with like projects internationally.
• Working closely to understand the multiple project requirements with the SSCAN project team, especially the Data and Policy Lead and the Metadata and Curation Lead, determine options for the system’s architecture to meet a variety of storage and access needs and a range of security levels for different datasets and depositors.
• Seek out quotes and monitor cost profiles for the components of the system, motivated by cost constraint in line with public sector funding.
• Architect a detailed solution for the chosen option that combines robust cybersecurity and privacy protections with authentication and authorization solutions, high-performance data storage, curation, search and retrieval technologies, and comprehensive disaster recovery strategies.
• Research and implement full compliance with relevant data governance frameworks.
• Ensure that the solution supports FAIR data management practices and aligns with the CARE and TRUST principles, with a preference for open source solutions.
• Align the architecture with the requirements of the CoreTrustSeal, considering how long-term preservation could be incorporated into the repository, with an eye to eventual certification.
• Liaise with other groups in the National Data Spaces pilot to exchange approaches and best practices and align decisions where possible.
• Ensure alignment/interoperability/incorporation of a range of services and national planning by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada, including the use of persistent identifiers, data management planning templates, the creation of the Canadian Research Data Platform, etc.

The following assets are highly desirable:

• Master’s degree in one of the following: Information Science; Information Systems; Information Studies; Library and Information Science (MLIS); Computer Science or a related area.
• Deep technical systems expertise.
• Active research profile with publications and conference presentations.
• Experience designing systems for data management, archiving, or similar.
• Understanding of scholarly data lifecycle, RDM and FAIR practices.
• Familiarity with metadata standards and their encoding.
• Familiarity with requirements around sensitive data.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Business, or related field of study.
• Requires 6 years of relevant experience, including one year of supervisory experience.