Senior Data Architect

NU USA Northeastern University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 131,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Northeastern University in Boston seeks a Senior Data Architect to lead the transition from legacy data structures to a scalable, AI-ready data architecture. You will assess systems such as Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Azure and design future-state structures that support data products, analytics, automation, and AI/ML enablement.

You will establish enterprise data standards, models, governance structures, and integration patterns to ensure data is trustworthy,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; 10+ years in data architecture, modeling, or data engineering.
• Experience modernizing legacy data environments and cloud-native, AI-ready data architectures.
• Experience with large enterprise systems (Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Azure).
• Strong communication and leadership for cross-functional initiatives and storytelling to senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Modern Data Architecture & Strategy Development: assess existing structures, define future-state architecture aligned with AI, automation, and analytics needs.
• Data Modeling, Products & Platform Enablement: create conceptual, logical, and physical models; deliver scalable data products.
• AI/ML Enablement & Advanced Capabilities: design datasets and metadata for AI, RAG, vector search, and agentic workflows.
• Data Integration, Quality, Governance: lead ingestion, streaming, API integrations; implement quality, lineage, governance; FERPA/GDPR compliance.
• Serve as trusted advisor to academic and administrative partners; communicate roadmaps and architectural decisions to ITS leadership.

Skills

Data architecture

Data modeling

Data governance

Cloud platforms

AI data pipelines

Education

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

Tools

Snowflake

Azure SQL

Databricks

DBT

Fivetran

Informatica

Kafka

EventHub

Job description

About the Opportunity

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Job Summary

The Senior Data Architect is responsible for architecting Northeastern University’s transition from legacy data structures to a modern, scalable, AI‑ready data architecture. This role conducts deep assessments of existing systems—including Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Azure—and designs future-state structures that support data products, analytics, automation, and AI/ML enablement. Establishes enterprise data standards, models, governance structures, and integration patterns, ensuring that data is trustworthy, discoverable, interoperable, secure, and prepared for advanced use cases such as RAG, vector search, semantic layers, and agentic workflows. *Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future.

Minimum Qualification

Knowledge and skills required for this position are typically acquired through the completion of a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and ten or more years of progressive experience in data architecture, enterprise data modeling, or data engineering. Proven experience modernizing legacy data environments and designing cloud-native, AI-ready data architectures. Experience working with large, complex enterprise systems (e.g., Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Azure). Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional initiatives involving data governance, analytics, and platform modernization. Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-aligned architectural decisions. Strong communication and data storytelling skills for senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders. Effective collaborator with demonstrated ability to drive alignment across distributed teams. Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and architectural documentation skills. Ability to set and enforce standards, patterns, reusable components, and governance practices.

Technical Competencies

Expertise in modern data architecture patterns (data products, lakehouse, domain-driven design, semantic layers). Deep knowledge of Snowflake, Azure SQL, Databricks, or similar cloud data platforms. Proficiency with DBT, Fivetran, Informatica, or equivalent ELT/ETL tools. Experience with event-driven and API-based integrations (Kafka, EventHub, microservices). Knowledge of AI/ML foundational components: vector databases, feature stores, RAG pipelines, metadata management. Strong understanding of data modeling (conceptual, logical, physical), master data management, and data quality frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

1. Modern Data Architecture & Strategy Development Assess existing data structures, integrations, and legacy platforms. Define the enterprise’s future-state data architecture aligned with AI, automation, and analytics needs. Establish standards, patterns, and reusable frameworks
2. Data Modeling, Products & Platform Enablement Create conceptual, logical, and physical data models across domains. Partner with data owners to deliver scalable data products. Support Snowflake, Azure, Salesforce, Banner, and ServiceNow data alignment
3. AI/ML Enablement & Advanced Capabilities Design datasets and metadata structures supporting AI, RAG, vector search, and agentic workflows. Collaborate with AI Studio and analytics teams to enable model training and inference at scale
4. Data Integration, Quality, and Governance Lead ingestion architecture, streaming frameworks, and API integrations. Implement data quality, lineage tracking, and governance practices. Support FERPA, GDPR, and institutional compliance.
5. Serve as trusted advisor to academic and administrative partners Communicate roadmaps and architectural decisions to ITS leadership

Position Type

Information Technology

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 114S Expected Hiring Range: $130,945.00 - $189,868.75 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—including 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.