Domain Architect - Data , Senior Specialist

The Vanguard Group, Inc.; Malvern (AR); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard's Enterprise Data Architecture team seeks a senior data architect to define and evolve the enterprise data architecture blueprint, enabling scalable, secure, governed, AI-ready data across analytics and data products.

The role focuses on cloud-native platforms, platform strategy, data design, governance, and implementation roadmaps, collaborating across divisions to establish standards and trusted data assets for the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of related work experience with at least five years in data architecture.
• Undergraduate degree required; graduate degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Architects large-scale cloud-native enterprise data platforms for analytics, AI, and operational workloads.
• Designs scalable data platforms supporting ML, AI, and decision intelligence.
• Leads evaluation, prototyping, and implementation of emerging data, AI, and cloud technologies.
• Translates complex business requirements into enterprise architecture standards and roadmaps.

Skills

Databricks Lakehouse

Event-driven architectures

Kafka ecosystems

Data modeling

AWS cloud native

AI/GenAI experience

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree

Tools

Databricks Lakehouse Platform

Apache Iceberg

Confluent Kafka

AWS

Job description

Join Vanguard's Enterprise Data Architecture team and help shape the future of our AI-Ready Data Strategy. This critical role will help define and evolve the enterprise data architecture blueprint, ensuring our data ecosystem is scalable, secure, governed, and optimized for AI, analytics, and data product enablement. You'll collaborate across subdivisions to establish standards, patterns, and frameworks that enable trusted, high-quality data for the enterprise. If you're passionate about modern data platforms, cloud-native architectures, and driving innovation through data, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Responsible for defining and evolving end-to-end enterprise data architecture across modern cloud data platforms, including platform strategy, data design, technology evaluation, integration patterns, governance frameworks, and AI-ready data capabilities.

Responsibilities:

• Architects large-scale cloud-native enterprise data platforms leveraging technologies such as Databricks, Apache Iceberg, and Confluent Kafka to support analytics, AI, and operational workloads.
• Designs scalable data platforms supporting operational intelligence, advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI-driven business capabilities.
• Provides hands‑on technical leadership in evaluating, prototyping, and implementing emerging data, AI, and cloud technologies.
• Translates complex business and technology requirements into enterprise architecture standards, reference architectures, and implementation roadmaps.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to business and technology leaders, influencing strategic decisions and shaping the future direction of the enterprise data architecture.

Qualifications:

• Deep expertise designing and implementing solutions on the Databricks Lakehouse Platform is required.
• Strong experience with event‑driven architectures, streaming data platforms, and Kafka‑based ecosystems is highly desired.
• Proven track record architecting large‑scale data platforms, including lakehouse, data warehouse, streaming, and analytical ecosystems.
• Expertise in conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling using multiple modeling methodologies.
• Experience designing cloud‑native data solutions within AWS ecosystems is preferred.
• Experience working on AI, machine learning or GenAI applications is preferred.
• Experience with semantic modeling, ontologies, knowledge graphs, and metadata‑driven architectures is a plus.
• Minimum of ten years of related work experience, with at least five years of data architecture experience.
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent combination of training and experience. Graduate degree preferred.

Sponsorship

Vanguard is not offering visa sponsorship for this position.

About Vanguard

At Vanguard, we don't just have a mission---we're on a mission. To work for the long-term financial wellbeing of our clients. To lead through product and services that transform our clients' lives. To learn and develop our skills as individuals and as a team. From Malvern to Melbourne, our mission drives us forward and inspires us to be our best.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.

Vanguard, one of the world's leading investment management companies, serves individual investors, institutions, employer-sponsored retirement plans, and financial professionals. We have a diverse and talented crew with a culture that promotes teamwork, along with an unwavering focus on serving our clients' best interests.