Data Platform Architect

Augustine Institute; Florissant (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Augustine Institute in Florissant, Missouri, is seeking a Data Platform Architect to lead the design and implementation of a modern, AI-ready data foundation. This senior role involves establishing governance and scalability across the data environment, requiring over 7 years of experience in data engineering or architecture, and hands-on skills with Databricks and Apache Spark. The ideal candidate will drive the move towards a lakehouse architecture while maintaining strong communication across technical and non-technical teams.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or a closely related discipline.
• Proven track record designing and implementing lakehouse or data warehouse architectures at scale.
• Hands-on experience with Databricks, Apache Spark, and Delta Lake.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of a modern, AI-ready data foundation.
• Establish structure, governance, and scalability across the data environment.
• Communicate architecture decisions and tradeoffs to stakeholders.

Skills

Data Engineering

Data Architecture

ETL/ELT pipeline design

Databricks

Apache Spark

Data Governance

AI/ML Data Patterns

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or Data Engineering

Tools

Databricks

Apache Spark

Airflow

Job description

Schedule: Full Time

Reporting to: Architecture Lead

Position Summary

The Augustine Institute seeks a Data Platform Architect to lead the design and implementation of a modern, AI-ready data foundation that will power its next generation of digital products, AI capabilities, and stakeholder-facing experiences. This is a senior, hands‑on leadership role responsible for establishing structure, governance, and scalability across the data environment, and for driving the organization from its current state toward a modern lakehouse architecture built for where it is going.

Specific duties are listed below, but may not be all-inclusive.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or a closely related discipline
• Proven track record designing and implementing lakehouse or data warehouse architectures at scale
• Hands‑on experience with Databricks, Apache Spark, and Delta Lake
• Deep expertise in ETL/ELT pipeline design and orchestration (e.g., dbt, Airflow, or equivalent)
• Strong command of data governance principles: cataloging, lineage, data contracts, and stewardship
• Experience untangling complex, undocumented legacy environments and delivering structured, governed replacements
• Familiarity with modern visualization and BI tooling
• Ability to communicate architecture decisions and tradeoffs clearly to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders
• Experience with or strong understanding of AI/ML data patterns and readiness requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Digital Asset Management platforms and metadata/taxonomy design
• Background in building organizational data literacy or self‑service data capabilities
• Familiarity with data mesh or data product‑oriented architecture patterns
• Experience in a regulated or complex enterprise environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or equivalent practical experience

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to assess and document current-state infrastructure, including all point‑to‑point integrations, data flows, and legacy systems
• Ability to design and lead implementation of a medallion‑pattern (Bronze / Silver / Gold) data architecture using Databricks
• Ability to define and maintain organization‑wide data schemas, contracts, and documentation standards
• Ability to establish a unified business glossary, taxonomy, and master data model across all domains
• Ability to evaluate and implement data platform toolchains, including data catalog, lineage tracking, monitoring, visualization, and pipeline orchestration
• Ability to partner with engineering and product teams to assess data readiness for AI initiatives and define remediation paths
• Strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach to untangling complexity and leaving infrastructure measurably better than found
• Commitment to demonstrate consistently the Augustine Institute’s core values including:
  • Humility– We serve the Augustine Institute Mission with humility and a service mind‑set.
  • Collaboration– We work together as a united Body of Christ.
  • Innovation– We encourage being creative and demonstrating a clever mindset.
  • Excellence– We strive in everything we do to win souls for Christ.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, lifting, typing and use of office equipment, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will typically work in a climate‑controlled office setting.