Data Lead Architect- Institutional Division

Pacific Life; Newport Beach (CA); On-site; USD 185,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Wellbeing Reimbursement

Paid Time Off

Holiday Schedule

Parental Leave

Adoption Assistance

401k with company match

Job summary

Pacific Life in Newport Beach seeks a Data Lead/Architect to guide IT architecture across data, applications, and technology, translating governance into scalable solutions. You will shape architecture blueprints, drive cross-functional collaboration, and define roadmaps for enterprise platforms.

Strong leadership, communication, and AI-ready design are essential. The role emphasizes independent work, coordinating with data governance and engineering teams, and ensuring architecture aligns with

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ years IT/data architecture experience with recognized expertise beyond own function.
• Proficiency with enterprise architecture frameworks and tools; SQL and data platforms required.
• Experience with Snowflake; Matillion and DBT a plus.
• Strong problem solving and broad business impact mindset.
• Ability to lead independently or manage projects; strategic thinking.
• Excellent communication with technical and business stakeholders; continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Designs and develops IT architecture solutions to business problems across processes, data, and tech.
• Assesses standards and integrations to ensure cross-platform consistency.
• Plans architecture development and defines hardware/software compatibility specs.
• Defines policies and blueprints for technology solutions across the firm.
• Conceives system interfaces and resolves design weaknesses for reporting needs.
• Researches tech developments and develops migration plans aligning with business needs.
• Prepares data assets to support AI/ML use cases and scalable pipelines.

Skills

Enterprise Architecture

SQL

Cloud Platforms

Data Lakes/Warehouses

System Integration

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/Engineering

Tools

Snowflake

Matillion

DBT

Job description

Job Description:

This role serves as the technical counterpart to the Data Steward, Director, and is responsible for the assessment and direction of technology to meet system requirements. The Data Lead/Architect designs and develops IT architecture (integrated process, applications, data, and technology) solutions to business problems, provides multi-layered technical expertise for next generation initiatives, and defines and implements the policies, standards, and architecture blueprints that ensure consistency, compatibility, and integration across interdependent technologies and platforms division wide.

How you'll help move us forward:

• Architecture & Design: Designs and develops IT architecture (integrated process, applications, data, and technology) solutions to business problems, working in close partnership with the Data Steward, Director to translate data governance and business requirements into scalable technical solutions.
• Standards & Integration: Assesses the compatibility and integration of products/services proposed as standards to ensure an integrated architecture across interdependent technologies. Ensures consistency, compatibility, and standards for systems applications design and integrations on a firm-wide basis across multiple platforms.
• Technical Planning & Specifications: Responsible for technical planning, architecture development, and modification of specifications. Defines processes for technical platforms, system specifications, input/output, and working parameters for hardware and/or software compatibility.
• Policy & Blueprint Development: Defines and implements the policies, standards, and architecture blueprints for technology solutions. Produces documented frameworks, or architectures, which describe and are used to manage the implementation of a technical environment.
• System Design & Issue Resolution: Conceives system interfaces and business application prototypes. Identifies, analyzes, and resolves system design weaknesses to ensure the technical environment supports downstream business and reporting use cases.
• Research & Roadmap Development: Researches developments in assigned technology, determines business requirements, proposes changes, and develops migration and implementation plans that select from existing and emerging technologies the options that best fit business needs.
• AI Readiness: Prepares and structures data assets to support AI and machine learning use cases, ensuring data pipelines, models, and architecture are designed to enable reliable, scalable consumption by AI/ML tools and applications.

The experience you bring:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive experience in IT/data architecture, with recognized expertise both within and beyond own function. Demonstrated ability to interpret internal or external business issues and recommend process, product, or service improvements.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with enterprise architecture frameworks and tools, SQL, databases, data lakes/warehouses, cloud platforms, and systems integration methodologies. Required experience with Snowflake; experience with Matillion and DBT is a plus.
• Problem Solving: Solves unique or complex problems that have a broad impact on the business; takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions using existing and emerging technologies.
• Leadership & Autonomy: Works independently, with guidance needed only in the most complex situations. May lead functional teams or projects and contributes to the development of functional strategy.
• Communication: Excellent communication skills for collaborating with technical and business stakeholders and conveying complex architectural concepts to varied audiences.
• Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying current on emerging technologies, architecture best practices, and industry trends.

What makes you stand out:

• Track record of innovation, initiative, and deep technical/architectural capabilities.
• Experience partnering with data governance/data steward functions within a life and annuity insurance company or broader financial services organization.
• Experience defining architecture standards and roadmaps across multiple interdependent platforms firm-wide.

#LI-DW1

Base Pay Range:

The base pay range noted represents the company's good faith minimum and maximum range for this role at the time of posting. The actual compensation offered to a candidate will be dependent upon several factors, including but not limited to experience, qualifications and geographic location. Also, most employees are eligible for additional incentive pay.

$184,680.00 - $225,720.00

Your Benefits Start Day 1

Your wellbeing is important to Pacific Life, and we're committed to providing you with flexible benefits that you can tailor to meet your needs. Whether you are focusing on your physical, financial, emotional, or social wellbeing, we've got you covered.

• Prioritization of your health and well-being including Medical, Dental, Vision, and Wellbeing Reimbursement Account that can be used on yourself or your eligible dependents
• Generous paid time off options including: Paid Time Off, Holiday Schedules, and Financial Planning Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave as well as an Adoption Assistance Program
• Competitive 401k savings plan with company match and an additional contribution regardless of participation

You Can Be Who You Are

We are committed to a culture of diversity and inclusion that embraces the authenticity of all employees, partners and communities. We support all employees to thrive and achieve their fullest potential.

What's life like at Pacific Life? Visit Instagram.com/lifeatpacificlife

EEO Statement:

Pacific Life Insurance Company is an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Employer, M/F/D/V. If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you have the right to request an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career center as a result of your disability. To request an accommodation, contact a Human Resources Representative at Pacific Life Insurance Company.