Principal Data Architect

Altimetrik; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Altimetrik is seeking a Principal Technical Architect to lead the architecture, design, security, and evolution of our Enterprise Data Platforms and GenAI systems. You will bridge enterprise data engineering, cloud architecture, AI applications, and cybersecurity controls.

The role focuses on zero-trust patterns, data observability, and scalable AI pipelines, requiring deep Databricks and cloud experience, with leadership across the organization.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering and enterprise data platforms in large organizations.
• Experience leading architecture, security and data governance initiatives.
• Proven ability to drive enterprise-wide technology adoption and secure AI solutions.

Responsibilities

• Architect multi-agent AI pipelines with contract-first patterns and LLM integration.
• Lead data platform migrations and governance automation across Databricks estate.
• Oversee security, threat modeling, and zero-trust data access controls for GenAI systems.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Enterprise architecture

Cross-functional influence

Tools

Databricks

Python

OpenAI SDK

Unity Catalog

Delta Sharing

OAuth 2.0

Okta/Entra ID

Job description

Altimetrik delivers outcomes for our clients by rapidly enabling digital business & culture and infuse speed and agility into enterprise technology and connected solutions. We are practitioners of end-to-end business and technology transformation. We tap into an organization’s technology, people, and assets to fuel fast, meaningful results for global enterprise customers across financial services, payments, retail, automotive, healthcare, manufacturing, and other industries. Founded in 2012 and with offices across the globe, Altimetrik makes industries, leaders and Fortune 500 companies more agile, empowered and successful.

Altimetrik helps get companies get “unstuck”. We’re a technology company that lives organizations a process and context to solve problems in unconventional ways. We’re a catalyst for organization’s talent and technology, helping teams push boundaries and challenge traditional approaches. We make delivery more bold, efficient, collaborative and even more enjoyable.

Position Title: Principal Technical Architect – AI Systems, Data Platforms & Cyber Security

Department: Enterprise Architecture / Data, AI & Security Engineering

Role Overview

We are seeking a visionary and hands-on Principal Technical Architect to lead the architecture, design, security, and strategic evolution of our Enterprise Data Platforms and Multi-Agent GenAI Systems. In this role, you will bridge the gap between complex enterprise data engineering, modern cloud architecture, cutting-edge Generative AI applications, and enterprise cybersecurity controls.

You will design zero-touch automated data observability solutions, multi-agent AI pipelines, zero-trust data access patterns, and enterprise-wide GenAI adoption frameworks. The ideal candidate brings a deep technical background in Databricks, cloud platforms, Python, contract-driven LLM architectures, threat modeling for AI systems, and proven enterprise leadership in scaling and securing AI solutions across the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect Multi-Agent AI Pipelines: Design end-to-end, LLM-powered multi-agent frameworks (deterministic + generative) using Pydantic contracts, asynchronous Python, and provider-agnostic model integration (e.g., OpenAI SDK, Databricks Model Serving).
• AI Tooling & Scaffolding: Build graph-based execution builders, dynamic YAML rules engines, capability registry patterns, and structured diagnostic retry mechanisms for LLM agents.
• Human-in-the-Loop Integration: Implement validation and curation layers that enable user DAG editing, schema validation, and error repair before scaffold generation.
• LLM Threat Modeling & Abuse Prevention: Lead abuse-case modeling, prompt injection defense, jailbreak mitigation, and red-teaming strategies for LLM agents and RAG architectures.
• Output Guardrails & Data Protection: Implement payload masking, custom SQL validation layers, row-count caps, and automated PII/PCI detection to prevent data exfiltration via AI interfaces.
• Identity & Access Governance: Architect hybrid identity flows (OAuth 2.0, Okta/Entra ID), Service Principal access patterns, and automated token lifecycle/rotation management (e.g., Delta Sharing tokens).

3. Enterprise Data Platforms & Observability

• Databricks Estate Architecture: Lead large-scale data platform migrations, estate auto-discovery, and governance automation across Databricks workspaces (Unity Catalog, Workflows, Jobs API, Delta Lake, Delta Sharing).
• Data Governance & Zero-Trust Access: Enforce fine-grained authorization models including Row-Level Security (RLS), dynamic column masking, and centralized data classification in Unity Catalog.
• Data Quality & Observability Frameworks: Design automated, multi-tiered data quality verification platforms capable of real-time incident detection, automated table onboarding, and continuous file freshness tracking.
• Platform Governance & FinOps: Oversee multi-cloud cost governance (AWS, Azure, GCP), resource optimization, and infrastructure governance to maximize ROI while maintaining compliance.
• Org-Wide Transformation: Define and execute adoption strategies for developer AI tooling (e.g., GitHub Copilot, custom LLM assistants) and establish measurement frameworks for code quality, productivity gains, and ROI.
• Enablement & Standards: Conduct technical workshops, build best-practices documentation, create reusable architectural patterns, and mentor engineering teams across divisions.
• Compliance & Security Auditing: Oversee access recertification, SIEM logging/auditing mechanisms, and regulatory compliance (e.g., regional data residency and vendor risk governance).

Required Qualifications & Technical Expertise

Professional Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in software engineering, enterprise data platforms, AI systems, and technical/security architecture within high-volume enterprise environments.
• Proven track record of architecting scalable solutions adopted across large organizations while maintaining high standards of data protection and zero-trust security.
• Experience leading enterprise-wide technology adoption programs, platform migrations, and security governance frameworks.

Key Leadership Capabilities

• Strategic Vision & Execution: Ability to map enterprise business requirements into robust, secure, contract-first architectural patterns.
• Cross-Functional Influence: Proven record of evangelizing new technologies, driving culture changes, and presenting technical strategy and cyber risk postures to executive stakeholders.
• Cost & Risk Optimization: Track record of driving cost efficiency and operational risk reduction while maintaining a rigorous security posture.