Enterprise Data Architect

Albany Beck; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany Beck seeks a Senior Enterprise Data Architect to shape the future-state data architecture for a strategic initiative in financial services. You will define architectural direction, balance strategic goals with practical feasibility, and collaborate with senior stakeholders to gain consensus.

The role requires extensive data architecture and solution design experience across complex environments, including mainframes.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in Enterprise Data Architecture or Solution Architecture.
• Translate strategic requirements into practical, scalable designs.
• Design data flows across complex, interconnected environments.
• Understand near-real-time data delivery and integration considerations.
• Experience with legacy platforms, including mainframes.
• Define a clear architectural vision and provide confident recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.
• Willingness to travel; ideally Chicago-based or able to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the enterprise data architecture vision.
• Lead architectural design for complex data environments enabling near-real-time data flows.
• Assess existing architecture, platforms and integration patterns.
• Develop target-state architecture and solution designs for scalability and resilience.
• Evaluate approaches and challenge designs that do not meet requirements.
• Work with technology, data and business stakeholders to establish direction.
• Provide strategic guidance across legacy and modern data capabilities.
• Translate business requirements into practical architectural solutions.
• Support governance to align with enterprise standards and strategy.

Skills

Enterprise Data Architecture

Solution Architecture

Data integration

Stakeholder management

Mainframes experience

Architectural governance

Travel willingness

Job description

Albany Beck is a UK-based management consultancy partnering with leading Financial Services organisations to deliver complex business and technology transformation.

We are seeking a senior Enterprise Data Architect to support a strategic data architecture initiative within a leading financial services organisation. This is an opportunity for an experienced architecture professional to shape the future-state data architecture for a significant new capability, defining the architectural vision and ensuring proposed solutions are practical, scalable and aligned with wider enterprise objectives.

The successful candidate will bring strong enterprise data architecture and solution design experience, with the ability to navigate complex technology environments, including mainframes and interconnected systems. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to assess architectural options, challenge assumptions and build consensus around the right direction.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and communicate the enterprise data architecture vision, ensuring alignment with business objectives and strategic technology priorities.
• Lead architectural design for complex data environments, with a focus on enabling near-real-time data flows across interconnected systems.
• Assess existing architecture, platforms and integration patterns to identify opportunities, constraints and potential risks.
• Develop target-state architecture and solution designs that support scalability, resilience and effective data integration.
• Evaluate proposed technical approaches, constructively challenging designs that do not meet business or architectural requirements.
• Work closely with technology, data and business stakeholders to establish architectural direction and secure agreement on key decisions.
• Provide strategic architectural guidance across complex environments involving legacy platforms, mainframes and modern data capabilities.
• Translate business requirements into practical architectural solutions, balancing strategic ambition with technical feasibility.
• Support architectural governance, ensuring consistency with enterprise standards, principles and long-term technology strategy.

Key Requirements

• Extensive experience in Enterprise Data Architecture, Senior Data Architecture or Solution Architecture within complex organisations.
• Strong experience defining enterprise-level data architecture and translating strategic requirements into practical solution designs.
• Demonstrable experience designing data flows and integration solutions across complex, interconnected technology environments.
• Understanding of near-real-time data delivery and the architectural considerations involved in integrating multiple systems.
• Experience working with legacy technology environments, including mainframes, alongside wider enterprise platforms.
• The ability to define a clear architectural vision, assess competing approaches and provide confident recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to challenge senior stakeholders constructively while maintaining collaborative relationships.
• Experience working across business and technology teams to build consensus and drive architectural decisions forward.
• Based ideally in Chicago, although Boston or London may be considered, with a willingness to travel as required.

Why Albany Beck?

Albany Beck works with leading Financial Services organisations on complex transformation initiatives, providing experienced consultants to support critical business and technology programmes.

This engagement offers the opportunity to influence strategic architectural direction, shape enterprise data capabilities and work with senior stakeholders on a significant technology initiative.

If you are a senior data architecture professional who combines strategic vision with strong solution design expertise and the confidence to influence enterprise-wide decisions, we would welcome a conversation.