Data Solution Architect

Data Surge; Maryland; On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Data Surge is seeking a Data Solutions Architect to architect a cloud-first data platform leveraging AWS GovCloud, Databricks, and S3/Delta storage. The role emphasizes governance, metadata standards, and robust data-zone architecture while ensuring secure, scalable data integration with downstream systems.

The candidate will evaluate compute options, maintain an open-standards approach, and support the legacy Informatica layer being phased out, with a focus on FedRAMP High/NIST controls.

Qualifications

• Experience with AWS GovCloud, Python 3+ and PySpark.
• Experience with ANSI SQL, Cloudera Hive and HDFS.
• Familiarity with Informatica (mappings & mapplets) being converted.
• Proficiency with Parquet or similar columnar formats.
• Knowledge of CDC and FedRAMP/NIST control requirements.

Responsibilities

• Designs the target architecture spanning AWS GovCloud, Databricks, S3/Delta storage, data layers, governance, identity, network connectivity, job orchestration, and downstream integrations.
• Owns catalog/schema organization, data-zone standards, metadata conventions, and the supported user role model.
• Establishes the preliminary ATO system boundary, control-responsibility model, and architecture decision log - working knowledge of FedRAMP High / NIST 800-53 control families is directly relevant.
• Evaluates serverless-vs-classic compute tradeoffs, including GovCloud-specific behavior like whether serverless compute stops metering when idle.
• Produces network architecture diagrams and the interface/data-flow inventory supporting the security boundary narrative.
• Designs toward the SOW's open-standards / anti-vendor-lock-in requirement and the platform's stated data governance framework.

Skills

Python 3+

PySpark

ANSI SQL

AWS GovCloud

Cloudera Hive

HDFS

Parquet

CDC

Informatica (mappings & mapplets)

Tools

Azure DevOps

Informatica

Job description

Data Surge is looking for like-minded individuals who are passionate about being at the forefront of data technology. The Data Solutions Architect will be joining an upcoming program supporting US Dept of Justice and is responsible for architecture of AWS/Databricks structure from an existing Informatica legacy platform.

Responsibilities:

• Designs the target architecture spanning AWS GovCloud, Databricks, S3/Delta storage, data layers, governance, identity, network connectivity, job orchestration, and downstream integrations.
• Owns catalog/schema organization, data-zone standards, metadata conventions, and the supported user role model.
• Establishes the preliminary ATO system boundary, control-responsibility model, and architecture decision log - working knowledge of FedRAMP High / NIST 800-53 control families is directly relevant.
• Evaluates serverless-vs-classic compute tradeoffs, including GovCloud-specific behavior like whether serverless compute stops metering when idle.
• Produces network architecture diagrams and the interface/data-flow inventory supporting the security boundary narrative.
• Designs toward the SOW's open-standards / anti-vendor-lock-in requirement and the platform's stated data governance framework.

Qualifications:

Applicable experience with the following technologies:

• AWS GovCloud (Amazon Government Cloud)
• Python 3+; PySpark
• ANSI SQL (minimum)
• Cloudera Hive; HDFS
• Informatica (mappings & mapplets) — being converted, not retained
• Parquet or similar high-performance columnar format
• Change Data Capture (CDC), since the legacy system stays live during the build
• Azure DevOps (government-hosted, server-based instance)