Principal Platform Data Architect (Snowflake/ETL) - Hybrid

CGS Business Solutions; Irvine (CA); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

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

You will lead architectural governance, partner with data science and engineering teams, and ensure scalable, cost-efficient data platforms aligned with business priorities. Location is hybrid in Irvine, CA.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Management, or a Business/Technology discipline preferred.
• 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.
• 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 priorities.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead the Enterprise Data Platform Strategy and Roadmap.
• Design and govern Snowflake-based lakehouse architecture across bronze, silver, gold layers.
• Lead integration architecture across systems and data domains.
• Enable and expand self-service BI with governed semantic layers and datasets.
• Establish MLOps foundations and support ML/AI platform enablement.
• Collaborate with business and tech teams to align priorities and governance.

Skills

Data architecture

Data modeling

Cloud data platforms

ELT/ETL

Integration architecture

Self-service BI

MLOps knowledge

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IS/Data Engineering

Master’s degree preferred in related field

Tools

Snowflake

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.

Location: Hybrid in Irvine, CA (3 days onsite each week)

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.

Knowledge and Skills

Data Architecture & Modeling – Expert knowledge of lakehouse architecture, including bronze, silver, and gold layers, as well as enterprise data modeling supporting analytics and AI/ML workloads.

Cloud Data Platforms – Deep hands-on expertise with Snowflake or comparable cloud-native data platforms, including performance optimization, cost management, scalability, multi-tenant architecture, and governance.

Data Engineering & ELT – Strong proficiency with dbt or similar transformation frameworks, ELT/ETL orchestration, metadata management, automation, and enterprise data pipeline development.

Integration Architecture – Advanced understanding of API-led, event-driven, and batch integration patterns, with the ability to design scalable and reusable integration frameworks.

Analytics & BI Enablement – Strong experience architecting self-service BI environments, semantic layers, governed datasets, and enterprise analytics solutions.

Machine Learning & AI Enablement – Working knowledge of ML pipelines, feature stores, MLOps practices, and the data requirements needed to operationalize AI and machine learning models.

Security, Compliance & Governance – Strong understanding of data security, privacy, governance, access control frameworks such as RBAC/ABAC, and applicable regulatory requirements.

Leadership & Communication – Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear business outcomes, influence senior leadership, and provide architectural direction across cross‑functional teams.

Strategic Thinking – Ability to balance long‑term enterprise data platform strategy with near‑term delivery priorities while maintaining scalability, flexibility, performance, and cost effectiveness.

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.