Information Architect

University of Alabama Libraries; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 137,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust seeks a senior Data Architect to lead data modelling, semantic modelling, and AI-enhanced data products within enterprise data platforms. You will govern data model libraries, define canonical entities, and collaborate with engineering, risk, and domain teams to ensure robust, scalable data solutions.

The role emphasizes Snowflake/Databricks, Cortex/Genie AI capabilities, and interoperability across sources, with a focus on governance and metadata discipline. Salary details follow.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, or related field.
• Proven enterprise data modelling experience at conceptual, logical, and physical levels.
• Hands-on SqlDBM experience (or equivalent).
• Experience with dbt Labs and Python; API integration is a plus.
• Snowflake and Databricks experience including Cortex AI and Genie.
• Knowledge of OWL, RDF, SPARQL; experience with agentic AI frameworks.
• GitHub Copilot or similar AI coding assistant experience.
• Financial services background preferred; BCBS 239 awareness advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead data model design aligned to data mesh and medallion architectures.
• Govern enterprise data model library, enforce naming conventions and versioning.
• Define canonical data entities and lineage across layers.
• Translate business requirements into rigorous data structures with eng and domain teams.
• Guide semantic data models for agentic AI solutions.
• Design semantic layers with glossaries, catalogues and lineage tooling.
• Design data product schemas across Snowflake and Databricks.
• Embed data contracts and data quality frameworks across pipelines.
• Act as design authority for data architecture; coordinate with security and risk.
• Present architecture decisions to senior stakeholders and regulatory audiences.

Skills

Data modelling

Semantic modelling

Data engineering

Agentic AI

Governance

Python

GitHub Copilot

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/IS/Engineering

Tools

SqlDBM

Snowflake

Databricks

Cortex Genie

Genie

OWL RDF SPARQL

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world's most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world's most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa)

Data Modelling & Architecture

• Lead and contribute with conceptual, logical, and physical data model design aligned to the firm's data mesh and medallion architectures
• Govern and maintain the enterprise data model library in SqlDBM, enforcing naming conventions, domain standards, and versioning
• Define and steward canonical data entities and lineage across source, integration, and consumption layers
• Help with the translation of business requirements into rigorous data structures in collaboration with engineering and domain teams
• Guide teams on the design and effective use of semantic data models, including their application to agentic AI solutions

Semantic & Knowledge Modelling

• Integrate semantic layers with business glossaries, data catalogues, and lineage tooling
• Design and maintain semantic models to support agentic-AI capabilities
• Help develop ontologies, taxonomies, and controlled vocabularies underpinning enterprise metadata and search
• Define semantic modelling standards and patterns to ensure consistent meaning, interoperability, and AI readiness across data products
• Guide and control the creation of data domains that align with the banks underlying capabilities

Data Engineering & Platforms

• Design data product schemas across Snowflake and Databricks, including Delta Lake structures and access patterns
• Define and enforce architectural guardrails for data product design, including performance, scalability, security, and cost efficiency
• Set design standards and review transformation/pipelines for compliance
• Embed data contract standards and data quality frameworks across pipeline outputs

Agentic AI & AI-Assisted Development

• Leverage Snowflake Cortex / Databricks Genie (or similar) to help engineering teams deliver natural language query and LLM-augmented data products
• Utilize GitHub Copilot (or similar) to accelerate modelling, documentation, and pipeline development
• Design and define a set of agentic skills that can be provided to implementation teams
• Contribute to the firm's AI Champion network, evaluating emerging capabilities and advising on adoption

Enterprise Architecture & Design Assurance

• Act as a design authority for data architecture across teams and data domains
• Partner with enterprise, security, and risk architecture to ensure data solutions align with broader technology and regulatory standards
• Provide early-stage architectural input to initiative discovery and solution design to reduce delivery risk

Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Present architecture decisions to senior stakeholders, architecture review boards, and regulatory audiences
• Support regulatory compliance through robust lineage, metadata management, and data quality evidence
• Mentor junior architects and engineers within the Information Architecture community of practice

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience in data architecture, data engineering, or information management
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, or a related discipline
• Proven enterprise data modelling experience at conceptual, logical, and physical levels
• Hands-on SqlDBM experience (or equivalent modern toolset)
• Proven experience with dbt Labs
• Good Python skills, API integration, automation
• Practical Snowflake and Databricks experience including Cortex AI and Genie
• Working knowledge of OWL, RDF, SPARQL and enterprise ontology design
• Experience with at least one agentic AI framework
• GitHub Copilot or equivalent AI coding assistant experience in a professional setting
• Financial services background preferred; BCBS 239 awareness advantageous

Desirable

• Data Vault 2.1 alongside Kimball/Star-schema modelling
• Data mesh, data product ownership and federated governance
• Knowledge graph platforms (Neo4j, Neptune) or knowledge of OWL, RDF and exposure to and build of ontologies
• Published thought leadership or community contributions in data or AI

Salary Range:

$137,400 - 240,400 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust's history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [e-mail] , or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.