Senior Data Architect

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 155,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business seeks a Senior Data Architect to define and lead the organization's data strategy, architecture roadmap, and cloud modernization. You will establish enterprise standards for data management, governance, and analytics platforms, driving AI readiness and scalable data solutions.

You will collaborate with executive leadership and cross‑functional teams to transition from legacy systems to cloud-native architectures while guiding DataOps, security,

Qualifications

• Education: college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: 7+ years in related discipline.
• Certifications: Microsoft Fabric Data Engineer.

Responsibilities

• Develops and maintains the enterprise data architecture strategy and multi-year roadmap.
• Leads design, implementation, and optimization of cloud data platforms using Microsoft Fabric and Azure Tech.
• Architects scalable data warehouse, lakehouse, data mesh, and integration solutions.
• Establishes governance, metadata, security, and quality standards for data architecture.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure Data Factory

Azure Synapse Analytics

Power BI

Azure Data Lake Storage

OneLake

Azure DevOps

GitHub

Job description

DepartmentBooth IT: Application Development

About the Department

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second‑oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline‑based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state‑of‑the‑art learning environment. Chicago Booth is proud to claim: -an unmatched faculty. -degree and open enrollment programs offered on three continents. -a global body of nearly 56,000 accomplished alumni. -strong and growing corporate relationships that provide a wealth of lifelong career opportunities. As part of the world‑renowned University of Chicago, Chicago Booth shares the University's core values that shape the distinctive intellectual culture. At Booth, they constantly question and test ideas, and seek proof. This extraordinarily effective approach to business leads to new ideas and innovative solutions. Seven of the Booth faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for these ideas - the first business school to achieve this accomplishment. For more information about the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, please visit: http://www.chicagobooth.edu/.

Job Summary

The Senior Data Architect is responsible for defining, governing, and leading the organization's enterprise data strategy, architecture roadmap, and cloud data modernization initiatives. This role serves as the enterprise authority for data architecture, data management, analytics platforms, and AI‑ready data ecosystems, ensuring that organizational data assets are secure, trusted, accessible, and strategically aligned with business objectives. The Senior Data Architect provides technical and strategic leadership in the design, implementation, and optimization of scalable, secure, and high‑performing cloud‑based data solutions that support operational reporting, business intelligence, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and emerging data‑driven initiatives. This position serves as the enterprise subject matter expert for Microsoft Fabric and the Microsoft Azure data ecosystem, leading the transition from legacy and on‑premises data environments to modern cloud‑native architectures. This position collaborates closely with executive leadership, business stakeholders, Enterprise Architecture, Information Security, Application Development, Data Engineering, Analytics, and AI teams to establish enterprise standards, governance frameworks, and long‑term data strategies that maximize the value of organizational data assets. The ideal candidate combines strategic vision, enterprise architecture expertise, strong leadership capabilities, and deep technical knowledge to drive innovation, operational excellence, and business value through data.

Responsibilities

• Develops, maintains, and executes the enterprise data architecture strategy and multi‑year roadmap aligned with organizational goals, digital transformation initiatives, and business priorities.
• Leads the design, implementation, and optimization of enterprise cloud data platforms utilizing Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Azure Data Lake Storage, Power BI, and related Azure technologies.
• Architects scalable data warehouse, lakehouse, data mesh, and data integration solutions supporting enterprise reporting, analytics, and artificial intelligence initiatives.
• Establishes and enforces enterprise standards, best practices, and governance policies for data architecture, data modeling, integration, metadata management, data lineage, security, and quality.
• Leads enterprise data modernization and migration efforts from legacy and on‑premises platforms to cloud‑native architectures and services.
• Designs and oversees enterprise ETL/ELT frameworks, data pipelines, orchestration processes, and DataOps practices to improve data delivery, reliability, and scalability.
• Partners with executive leadership, business stakeholders, and technology teams to translate business requirements into scalable and sustainable enterprise data solutions.
• Collaborates with Enterprise Architecture, Security Architecture, and Application Development teams to ensure alignment with organizational technology standards and strategic objectives.
• Leads architecture reviews and provides governance oversight for enterprise data solutions, ensuring compliance with approved standards and architectural principles.
• Provides technical leadership, mentorship, and architectural guidance to data engineers, developers, analysts, AI engineers, and project teams.
• Evaluates emerging technologies and industry trends, recommending innovative solutions that enhance organizational data capabilities, AI readiness, performance, and cost efficiency.
• Develops and promotes data‑as‑a‑product principles to improve accessibility, usability, and business adoption of enterprise data assets.
• Establishes cloud cost optimization and FinOps strategies to balance performance, scalability, and operational expenditures.
• Ensures compliance with data governance, privacy, security, regulatory, and institutional requirements while fostering a culture of data stewardship and accountability across the organization.
• Manages a team of developers, assign work, coach and mentor.
• Acts as a technical consultant and resource for faculty research, teaching, and/or administrative projects.
• Leads or coordinates teams or projects for activities relating to software support and/or development.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree.

Experience: Minimum twelve years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise data architecture, data engineering, data warehousing, enterprise data management, analytics platforms, and cloud data solutions.

Certifications: Microsoft Certified Fabric Data Engineer.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

Proficient in designing, implementing, and leading enterprise cloud data platforms and modernization initiatives with Microsoft Azure environments.

Expert-level knowledge of Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake Storage, Power BI, OneLake, and related Azure data services.

Accomplished in enterprise data modeling methodologies including conceptual, logical, physical, dimensional, semantic, and canonical data models.

Strong proficiency in SQL, Python, Spark, ETL/ELT development, data engineering, DataOps, and cloud-native data architecture practices.

Proficient with enterprise integration architectures utilizing APIs, event‑driven architectures, streaming technologies, and cloud-native integration services.

Familiar with enterprise data quality frameworks, validation methodologies, testing strategies, reconciliation processes, and data observability practices.

Demonstrated experience leading enterprise‑scale cloud migration, modernization, and digital transformation initiatives.

Deep understanding of data, metadata management, data lineage, data quality, security, privacy, and compliance frameworks.

Seasoned professional at implementing and supporting artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and generative AI platforms through scalable data architecture design.

Proficient in Azure DevOps, GitHub, CI/CD pipelines, and modern software delivery practices.

Strong understanding of cloud cost management, FinOps principles, performance optimization, and operational excellence.

Preferred Competencies

Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders, communicate architectural strategies, and lead cross‑functional initiatives across business and technology organizations.

Excellent leadership, communication, stakeholder management, problem‑solving, and strategic planning skills with the ability to communicate effectively at both technical and executive levels.

Working Conditions

This position is currently expected to work a minimum three days per week in the office.

Drug Test RequiredNoHealth Screen RequiredNoMotor Vehicle Record Inquiry RequiredNoPay Rate TypeSalaryFLSA StatusExemptPay Range$155,000.00 - $175,000.00The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits

EligibleYesThe University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu.