Principal Data Architect

United Network For Organ Sharing; Virginia; On-site; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Principal Data Architect at United Network For Organ Sharing will lead data architecture across UNOS Data, AI and Analytics, owning the end-to-end design of the UNOS data intelligence lakehouse that unifies clinical, operational and financial data, including EMR/EHR data.

You will set technical directions for ingestion, modeling, governance, security and serving, and collaborate with data engineering, data science and technology teams to build a scalable data platform that supports analytics

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Health Informatics or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Relevant industry certifications in cloud architecture preferred (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake), data management (CDMP, TOGAF) or healthcare interoperability (HL7 FHIR).
• 8+ years in data architecture or related roles; healthcare data experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the enterprise data reference architecture across a multi-cloud and on-premises estate.
• Create conceptual and logical data models and guide physical implementations.
• Define enterprise data standards and naming conventions enforced via automated checks.
• Design data integration patterns (batch, streaming, CDC, event-driven, API) and document end-to-end data flows.
• Build governance, lineage and data quality rules into the platform.
• Lead EMR/EHR integration and lakehouse design using medallion architecture.

Skills

SQL

Python

PySpark

Data modelling

Azure data services

Databricks

Healthcare data

MLOps

Vector search

Governance tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Cloud/data certifications

Tools

Epic Clarity/Caboodle

Oracle Health (Cerner)

MEDITECH data structures

Collibra

Informatica

EMPI solutions

Airflow

Terraform

CI/CD

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: n/a, VA 00000

Position Type: Full Time

Education Level: 4 Year Degree or Equivalent Experience

Salary Range: $145,000.00 - $170,000.00 Salary/year

Travel Percentage: Negligible

Title of Position: Principal Data Architect

Department: Data

Reports to (Title): Director, Data

Salary Grade: P5/Zone 3

Position Description

The Principal Data Architect is the senior individual contributor accountable for data architecture across UNOS Data, AI and Analytics. The role owns the end-to-end architecture for the UNOS data intelligence platform: a lakehouse that unifies clinical, operational and financial data, including EMR/EHR data.

The Principal Data Architect will set the technical direction for how data is ingested, modeled, governed, secured and served, and will build the data foundation for an AI-enabled BI platform that supports both analytics and agentic AI. Working closely with data engineering, data science and technology teams, the Principal Data Architect will take a hands‑on role in setting architectural standards during the lakehouse build and stewarding the platform as it scales.

Key Responsibilities

DATA ARCHITECTURE

• Own the enterprise data reference architecture, from ingestion to consumption, across a multi-cloud and on-premises estate.
• Create conceptual and logical data models and guide their physical implementation for all data types.
• Define enterprise data standards and naming conventions, enforced through automated pipeline checks.
• Design integration patterns (batch, streaming, CDC, event-driven, API, file) and document end-to-end data flows.
• Design master and reference data (patient, provider, organization, location and code sets) with clear stewardship.
• Establish systems of record for each authoritative dataset and how others consume it.
• Turn business, clinical and regulatory requirements into scalable architecture.

LAKEHOUSE BUILD & EMR/EHR INTEGRATION

• Own the target design for the UNOS data intelligence lakehouse, using medallion architecture on open formats (Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg).
• Lead EMR/EHR source discovery and integration using HL7 v2, FHIR R4 and vendor extracts.
• Build and oversee production pipelines and pipeline frameworks on Azure and Databricks that capture changes, adapt to schema updates and are fully monitored.
• Standardize clinical data using common models (OMOP CDM, FHIR) and terminologies (SNOMED CT, LOINC, ICD-10, CPT, RxNorm).
• Build governance, lineage and data quality rules into the platform using Unity Catalog and Azure access controls.
• Protect PHI and sensitive data through classification, masking, retention, audit trails and least-privilege access.

AI-ENABLED BI PLATFORM FOR AGENTIC & ANALYTICS WORK

• Design one trusted semantic and metrics layer for both BI and AI.
• Prepare data architecture for AI, including model features, RAG, document intelligence, generative AI and agents.
• Define data contracts and governed access for AI agents.
• Set standards for testing, monitoring and responsible use of AI models and agents in production.
• Partner with AI and analytics teams to deliver secure, cost-effective, scalable solutions people use.

Core Ongoing Duties

• Maintain the data architecture roadmap as needs evolve.
• Review and approve designs, data models and pipeline changes, and guide teams through delivery.
• Design for performance, availability, resilience and cost efficiency, build in observability and operational readiness, and guide optimization of systemic issues.
• Define the data quality framework and resolve design-related quality issues.
• Support security and privacy teams in access reviews, incidents and new regulations.
• Partner with infrastructure and cloud platform teams to keep the platform aligned with enterprise standards and controls.
• Evaluate tools and vendors, run proofs of concepts and advise on build-vs-buy.
• Build reference implementations and hand validated patterns for delivery teams.
• Keep architecture diagrams, decision records, and specifications current.
• Coach architects and senior engineers on data modeling and data architecture.
• Contribute to Enterprise Architecture governance.
• Track trends such as TEFCA, CMS interoperability rules and generative AI in healthcare.
• Perform other duties and support additional administrative priorities as assigned, consistent with the general scope and level of the position.

Minimum Requirements

• 12+ years in technology, including 8+ years in data architecture, data engineering or related technical roles.
• 3+ years working with healthcare data in a regulated environment, including EMR/EHR integration and HIPAA compliance.
• Proven ownership of enterprise data architectures and reusable data product patterns.
• Experience designing a cloud lakehouse on Azure and Databricks using medallion architecture.

Critical Skills

• Expert SQL, Python and PySpark.
• Strong data modeling across dimensional, normalized, data mesh and data vault approaches.
• Hands‑on experience with Azure data services: ADF, ADLS, Synapse, Azure SQL and Delta Lake, Azure Databricks.
• Experience with Epic Clarity/Caboodle, Oracle Health (Cerner) or MEDITECH data structures (preferred).
• Experience with vector search, feature stores and MLOps for AI and agentic systems (preferred).
• Exposure to Microsoft Foundry and/or Databricks Genie agents (preferred)
• Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Azure Health Data Services (preferred).
• Experience with governance and master data tools such as Collibra, Informatica or EMPI solutions (preferred).
• Experience with Airflow, Terraform and CI/CD for data pipelines (preferred).

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Health Informatics or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Relevant industry certifications in cloud architecture preferred (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake), data management (CDMP, TOGAF) or healthcare interoperability (HL7 FHIR).

Physical Requirements

General office demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Frequent reaching, handling, and fine manipulation for using office equipment, filing, and managing paperwork.
• Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other office tools.
• Occasional standing, walking, and bending.
• Ability to lift up to 10-20 pounds occasionally.
• Vision abilities required include close vision for computer work and reading documents.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.