Principal Data Platform Architect Onsite

CGS Business Solutions; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

CGS Business Solutions is seeking a Principal Data Platform Architect to define and execute the enterprise data platform strategy for a nationwide manufacturing client. The role centers on a Snowflake-based lakehouse, scalable self-service BI, and governance to support AI initiatives.

You will drive standards for data quality, metadata, and integration while partnering with data science and engineering teams to enable ML/AI capabilities across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field.
• Master’s degree preferred.
• 10+ years in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data platforms.
• Experience designing cloud-based data platforms, preferably Snowflake.
• Hands-on with ELT/ETL, data modeling, and metadata management (dbt, Fivetran).
• Strong experience in enterprise integration using API-led, event-driven, and batch patterns.
• Proven ability to lead architecture strategy and governance.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the Enterprise Data Platform Strategy and Roadmap.
• Design and Govern Snowflake-based lakehouse architecture across layers.
• Lead integration architecture across systems and data domains.
• Enable and expand self-service BI and analytics with governed semantic layers.
• Establish foundation for ML/AI platforms and ML Ops practices.

Skills

Data architecture

Leadership

Snowflake

ETL/ELT

Data modeling

API integration

Self-service BI

MLOps

Cloud platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

dbt

Fivetran

Job description

CGS Business Solutions is committed to helping you, as an esteemed IT Professional, find the next right step in your career. We match professionals like you to rewarding consulting or full-time opportunities in your area of expertise. We are currently seeking Technical Professionals who are searching for challenging and rewarding jobs for the following opportunity:

Position Summary

Our nationwide manufacturing customer is seeking a FULL TIME Principal Data Platform Architect who will be responsible for defining and executing the company’s enterprise data platform strategy and roadmap. This role will architect a modern Snowflake-based lakehouse environment, enable scalable self-service BI, drive integration across enterprise systems and data domains, and establish the data foundation needed to support machine learning and AI initiatives.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Define and Lead the Enterprise Data Platform Strategy and Roadmap

• Develop and maintain the overall architectural vision for data, integration, analytics, and AI platforms.
• Align data platform capabilities with evolving business priorities, including growth, operational efficiency, compliance, and innovation.
• Establish enterprise architecture principles, standards, best practices, and governance frameworks.

Design and Govern Snowflake-Based Lakehouse Architecture

• Design and oversee logical data models across bronze, silver, and gold layers within a medallion architecture.
• Establish standards for data quality, lineage, security, and accessibility across structured and semi-structured data.
• Drive performance optimization, cost efficiency, scalability, and multi-tenant architecture across the platform.

Lead Integration Architecture Across Systems and Data Domains

• Define scalable integration patterns using API-led, event-driven, and batch-based approaches.
• Establish consistent standards for error handling, monitoring, logging, and metadata management.
• Ensure seamless interoperability across enterprise applications, data platforms, data warehouses, and operational systems.

Enable and Expand Self-Service BI and Analytics

• Architect governed semantic layers and reusable datasets to support enterprise analytics and reporting.
• Establish governance and standards distinguishing certified, trusted analytics from exploratory and ad hoc reporting.
• Develop frameworks supporting data catalogs, data dictionaries, business definitions, and end-user documentation.

Establish the Foundation for Machine Learning and AI Platforms

• Ensure data architecture and pipelines are designed to support ML feature engineering, model development, and training.
• Partner with data science and engineering teams to establish scalable MLOps standards and best practices.
• Enable the reuse of trusted enterprise data assets across predictive analytics and generative AI use cases.

Education and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Management, or a Business/Technology discipline preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data platforms.
• 5+ years in a senior or lead architecture role responsible for platform strategy, standards, and governance at an enterprise level.
• Proven experience designing and supporting cloud-based data platforms, preferably Snowflake, including lakehouse and medallion architectures.
• Hands‑on experience with ELT/ETL technologies, data modeling, and metadata management, including dbt, Fivetran, or comparable solutions.
• Strong experience designing enterprise integration solutions using API-led, event‑driven, and batch integration patterns.
• Demonstrated success implementing and enabling self‑service BI and analytics environments with governed semantic layers.
• Experience or exposure to machine learning and AI platforms, including MLOps practices for deploying and operationalizing models.
• Proven ability to partner with business leaders and technical teams to align data platform capabilities with strategic business priorities, including growth, efficiency, compliance, and innovation.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence both technical teams and executive audiences.

About CGS Business Solutions:

CGS specializes in IT business solutions, staffing and consulting services. With a strong focus in IT Applications, Network Infrastructure, Information Security, and Engineering. CGS is an INC 5000 company and is honored to be selected as one of the Best IT Recruitment Firms in California. After five consecutive Fastest Growing Company titles, CGS continues to break into new markets across the USA. Companies are counting on CGS to attract and help retain these resource pools in order to gain a competitive advantage the rapidly changing business environments.

Compensation

$150,000-$180,000 per year