Data Architect

Empower; Greenwood Village (CO); On-site; USD 138,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) matching

Tuition reimbursement

Casual environment

Paid time off

Volunteer time

Job summary

Empower is seeking a Data Architect to analyze, design, and implement scalable data architectures across cloud-based platforms. You will translate business needs into secure, high-performing data solutions, collaborating with data engineers, analytics teams, and stakeholders to enable data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities include modeling, data flows, and being pivotal in data lake/warehouse/lakehouse strategies, while ensuring governance and security standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics, Business, or equivalent experience.
• 7–10 years of experience in data engineering/architecture roles, with at least 5+ years in a data-centric role.
• Strong experience in data modeling with ER/Studio/ERwin/PowerDesigner.
• Advanced SQL skills and experience with Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, DB2, or Redshift.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and big data frameworks (EMR/Spark).
• Knowledge of modern data architectures: data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouses, streaming platforms.
• Experience with distributed processing and NoSQL technologies (graph, key-value, columnar).
• Experience with Tableau, Cognos, BusinessObjects, MicroStrategy, SAS, SPSS.
• Proficiency in Python, R, or SQL.
• Understanding of data governance, privacy, and security.

Responsibilities

• Analyze large data sets to identify trends and translate into scalable architectures.
• Design end-to-end data architectures for analytics and operations.
• Develop and maintain data models, data flows, and architecture docs.
• Create and optimize data models for dashboards and reporting.
• Apply data architecture patterns: lakes, warehouses, lakehouses, batch/event processing, CDC.
• Design cloud-native and cloud-ready solutions, including migrations.
• Ensure governance, security, and compliance of data solutions.
• Plan for scalability, reliability, and performance optimization.
• Collaborate with engineers, security, and stakeholders.
• Participate in reviews, assess risks and trade-offs.
• Support DevOps/DataOps, CI/CD, and IaC.
• Provide mentorship on data architecture best practices.
• Translate business requirements into data quality standards.

Skills

Data modeling

SQL expertise

Cloud platforms

Python

DevOps

NoSQL

Tableau

Analytical thinking

Communication

Data governance

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ER/Studio

ERwin

PowerDesigner

AWS

Azure

GCP

EMR

Spark

Job description

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.

Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.

The Data Architect will analyze, design, and implement scalable data architectures and data models within cloud-based platforms. This hands-on technical role translates business and technical requirements into secure, reliable, and high-performing data solutions that support analytics, reporting, and operational data products. Working with data architects, engineers, analytics teams, and business stakeholders, the Data Architect develops models, architectures, and frameworks that enable data-driven decision-making while aligning with enterprise standards, governance practices, and evolving business needs.

What you will do:

• Analyze large and complex data sets to identify trends, patterns, and insights, and translate them into scalable data architectures and models.
• Design and implement end-to-end data architectures supporting ingestion, storage, processing, and consumption for analytics and operational use cases.
• Develop and maintain logical and physical data models, data flows, and architecture documentation.
• Create and optimize data models to support dashboards, reporting, and data visualization tools.
• Apply modern data architecture patterns, including data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouses, batch and event-driven processing, and change data capture.
• Design cloud-native and cloud-compatible solutions, including data platform modernization and migration strategies.
• Ensure data solutions adhere to governance, security, privacy, and compliance standards.
• Design for scalability, reliability, and performance, including partitioning strategies and schema optimization.
• Collaborate with engineering, infrastructure, security, and business teams to deliver aligned data solutions.
• Participate in architecture and design reviews, identifying risks, trade-offs, and optimization opportunities.
• Support DevOps and DataOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and team members on data architecture and modeling best practices.
• Translate business requirements into data quality standards and actionable data solutions.
• Continuously refine models, methodologies, and architectures based on feedback and evolving business needs.

What you will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics, Business, or equivalent experience.
• 7-10 years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, analytics engineering, or related technical roles, including a minimum of 5+ years in a data-centric role.
• Strong experience in data modeling, including logical and physical modeling, and use of data modeling tools such as ER/Studio, ERwin, or PowerDesigner.
• Advanced SQL skills and experience with relational databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, DB2, or Redshift.
• Experience with cloud platforms and data services, including AWS, Azure, or GCP, and big data frameworks such as EMR or Spark.
• Strong understanding of modern data architectures, including data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouses, and streaming platforms.
• Hands-on experience with distributed data processing, data integration, and NoSQL technologies, including graph, key-value, and columnar technologies.
• Experience with data visualization and analytics tools such as Tableau, Cognos, BusinessObjects, MicroStrategy, SAS, or SPSS.
• Proficiency in programming or scripting languages such as Python, R, or SQL.
• Understanding of data governance, data quality, data privacy, and security practices.
• Experience with DevOps and DataOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.

What will set you apart:

This job operates in a professional office environment.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. You will be evaluated in part based on your performance of the responsibilities and/or tasks listed in this job description. You may be required to perform other duties that are not included on this job description. The job description is not a contract for employment, and either you or the employer may terminate employment at any time, for any reason, as per terms and conditions of your employment contract.

What we offer you

We offer an array of diverse and inclusive benefits regardless of where you are in your career. We believe that providing our employees with the means to lead healthy balanced lives results in the best possible work performance.

• Medical, dental, vision and life insurance
• Retirement savings – 401(k) plan with generous company matching contributions (up to 6%), financial advisory services, potential company discretionary contribution, and a broad investment lineup
• Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250/year
• Business-casual environment that includes the option to wear jeans
• Generous paid time off upon hire – including a paid time off program plus ten paid company holidays and three floating holidays each calendar year
• Paid volunteer time — 16 hours per calendar year
• Leave of absence programs – including paid parental leave, paid short-and-long-term disability, and Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)
• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) – BRGs facilitate inclusion and collaboration across our business internally and throughout the communities where we live, work and play. BRGs are open to all.

Base Salary Range

$138,000.00 - $200,100.00

The salary range above shows the typical minimum to maximum base salary range for this position in the location listed. Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation offered may vary from posted hiring range based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

Equal opportunity employer Drug-free workplace

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity. All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age (40 and over), race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, religion, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable state or local law.

***For remote and hybrid positions you will be required to provide reliable high-speed internet with a wired connection as well as a place in your home to work with limited disruption. You must have reliable connectivity from an internet service provider that is fiber, cable or DSL internet. Other necessary computer equipment, will be provided. You may be required to work in the office if you do not have an adequate home work environment and the required internet connection.***