Principal Data Architect & Technical Product Owner

SteerBridge; Vienna (VA); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Vision insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan with matching

Paid Time Off

Job summary

SteerBridge, Inc. is seeking a senior technical leader to own enterprise data architecture and serve as the Technical Product Owner for the MDC data pipeline. This role blends hands-on architectural direction with independent product prioritization and backlog decisions.

You will mentor MDC Scrum teams, translate mission priorities into scalable designs, and drive measurable delivery outcomes while coordinating with SteerBridge and VA stakeholders in a hybrid Vienna, VA work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• 6+ years in data architecture with hands-on PO experience and backlog ownership.
• Cloud data architecture ownership including data modeling and integration.
• Experience prioritizing a technical product backlog and guiding sprint execution.
• Proficiency in SQL and Python; familiarity with Pandas, PySpark, and Git.
• Experience with data warehouses/labraries such as Databricks, Redshift, BigQuery, or Snowflake.

Responsibilities

• Own target-state architecture for claims, clinical, and healthcare data ecosystems.
• Prioritize technical backlog; define epics, stories, criteria, and dependencies.
• Lead data engineering Scrum teams; guide planning, refinement, and delivery.
• Mentor MDC teams; improve Agile delivery, backlog management, and execution.
• Design scalable ETL/ELT pipelines, quality controls, lineage, and governance.
• Direct cloud platform architecture decisions across AWS/Azure/GCP and data platforms.
• Ensure access controls and sensitive-data safeguards meet federal requirements.
• Enable analytics/AI use cases through governed data infrastructure.
• Communicate roadmaps, risks, and decisions to executives and VA stakeholders.

Skills

SQL

Python

Agile/Scrum

Stakeholder communication

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Data Science, or related field

Tools

Pandas

PySpark

Git

Databricks

Redshift

BigQuery

Snowflake

Job description

SteerBridge is a modern technology company delivering innovative, mission-focused solutions to the U.S. Government and private sector. Leveraging deep expertise in federal acquisition, digital transformation, and emerging technologies, we deliver agile, commercial-grade capabilities that accelerate operational effectiveness and drive measurable mission success.

At the core of SteerBridge is our people - especially the veterans whose leadership, problem-solving mindset, and commitment to excellence elevate every project we support. We don’t simply hire exceptional talent; we cultivate it, creating meaningful career pathways for veterans, military spouses, and professionals who share our passion for advancing technology and strengthening the missions we serve.

Position Overview

SteerBridge is seeking a senior technical leader to own enterprise data architecture and serve as the Technical Product Owner for the Modern Disability Claims (MDC) data pipeline. This position combines hands‑on architectural direction with independent product prioritization, backlog decisions, sprint delivery accountability, and mentorship for Scrum teams. The successful candidate will translate mission and program priorities into scalable designs, clear engineering work, and measurable delivery outcomes while communicating effectively with senior SteerBridge and VA stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the target-state architecture for claims, clinical, and healthcare data, including conceptual, logical, and physical models, integration patterns, and cloud data platforms.
• Independently prioritize and maintain the technical product backlog; define epics, user stories, acceptance criteria, dependencies, and delivery priorities in partnership with mission stakeholders.
• Own product decisions and sprint delivery outcomes for data engineering Scrum teams; guide sprint planning, refinement, reviews, and continuous improvement in coordination with team facilitators.
• Provide experienced leadership and mentorship to MDC Scrum teams, establishing mature Agile delivery practices, improving backlog refinement, sprint planning, execution discipline, and delivery predictability. Coach engineers, junior architects, and Scrum team members in technical delivery, product ownership practices, and architecture standards.
• Design scalable batch and real-time ETL/ELT pipelines, schema evolution, data quality controls, lineage, observability, and governance.
• Direct cloud platform architecture and technology decisions across AWS, Azure, or GCP and enterprise warehouse/lake technologies.
• Apply appropriate access controls, sensitive-data safeguards, and federal and healthcare data handling requirements.
• Enable analytics and AI/ML use cases through reliable, governed, reusable data infrastructure.
• Lead architecture reviews, resolve cross-system tradeoffs, and communicate roadmaps, risks, priorities, and technical decisions to executive and government stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Public Trust clearance (an active Secret or Top Secret clearance also satisfies this requirement).
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• At least six years of professional data architecture experience and at least two years of demonstrated, hands‑on technical Product Owner experience, including independent responsibility for backlog prioritization, product decisions, and Scrum delivery. These experiences may be concurrent, provided both capabilities are clearly demonstrated.
• Demonstrated enterprise‑scale data architecture ownership in a cloud environment, including data modeling, platform design, and data integration.
• Actual experience independently prioritizing a technical product backlog, making backlog decisions, and guiding sprint execution for an engineering or data team; a formal Product Owner job title is not required.
• Demonstrated experience improving Agile/Scrum team maturity through hands‑on product ownership, coaching, mentorship, and implementation of effective backlog management, sprint planning, and delivery practices.
• Proficiency with SQL and Python, and practical experience with relevant data engineering tools and workflows (such as Pandas, PySpark, and Git).
• Experience with enterprise data warehouses or lakes such as Databricks, Redshift, BigQuery, or Snowflake, or comparable platforms.
• Ability to brief senior executives and government stakeholders, explain architectural tradeoffs, and mentor technical teams.
• Ability to work in a hybrid arrangement based in Vienna, VA, with an expected on‑site presence of at least three days per week, subject to supervisor direction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with federal claims, healthcare, clinical, or other regulated and sensitive data environments, including HIPAA and federal data requirements.
• Experience establishing enterprise data modeling standards, master data management, metadata catalogs, lineage, and data governance.
• Familiarity with dimensional modeling, Data Vault, OLTP/OLAP architecture, and hybrid or multi‑cloud design.
• Experience supporting AI/ML‑ready data platforms, analytics, feature pipelines, and data science teams.
• Infrastructure as code, CI/CD, DevOps, and cost/performance governance for cloud data platforms.
• Health insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with matching
• Paid Time Off

$170,000 - $190,000 a year

The posted compensation range reflects the scope and requirements of this position. A final offer will be determined based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills, education, certifications, and work location, along with the responsibilities of the position. Where applicable, contract requirements, wage determinations, and federal contract labor categories may also inform the offer.

SteerBridge also offers benefits that may include health and life insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, disability coverage, retirement savings, and professional development opportunities. Benefits vary by position and eligibility.

SteerBridge is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all qualified applicants and employees are treated with respect and dignity - regardless of race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

We also provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable laws. If you require assistance during the application process, we encourage you to reach out so we can support your needs.

If you would like information about how your application is processed, please contact us.