Senior Data Architect

Security Benefit; Topeka (KS); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Paid time off

Parental leave

Medical, dental & vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Disability Insurance

Educational assistance

Job summary

Security Benefit is seeking an experienced Senior Data Architect to lead data architecture for complex, multi-source initiatives within a Unified Data Platform strategy. You will design data architecture foundations for AI-infused experiences, analytics, and operational intelligence while mentoring junior architects.

The role can be based at our Topeka home office or remote for the right candidate, with a hybrid work schedule offering flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Management, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in data architecture or data engineering with architecture ownership.
• Hands-on Snowflake experience; ELT tooling such as Fivetran, Coalesce, or dbt.
• Strong AWS data services experience (S3, Glue, Lambda, API Gateway).
• Proficiency in Python for automation, validation, and tooling.
• Experience designing and governing REST and event-driven API patterns.
• Knowledge of data governance, lineage, and quality; Collibra preferred.
• Experience in financial services or regulated environments desired.

Responsibilities

• Lead data architecture for complex, multi-source initiatives including pipelines and migrations.
• Define and enforce data architecture standards, patterns, and API integration approaches.
• Architect data solutions on Snowflake, AWS, and related tools to support ingestion, transformation, and storage.
• Lead API integration for REST and event-driven sources; define contract evaluation; guide connectivity patterns.
• Develop Python-based tooling for architecture validation and automation across teams.
• Lead architecture reviews for significant data initiatives; mentor IC2 Data Architects.
• Oversee migration from legacy platforms to Snowflake-based solutions; point reports accordingly.
• Collaborate with Data Governance to ensure lineage, quality, and catalog alignment; ADRs in Confluence.

Skills

Data architecture

Python

Snowflake

AWS data services

API integration patterns

Data governance

Leadership / mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Snowflake

Fivetran

Coalesce

dbt

AWS Lambda

AWS Glue

API Gateway

Job description

We're Looking for an experienced Senior Data Architect!

About the Company:

Security Benefit is a leader in the U.S. retirement market with more than $60 billion in assets under management. We offer opportunities to thrive, innovate, and make an impact. As part of our team, you'll play a key role in driving the future of the U.S. retirement industry. Security Benefit is a PLACE where we promise to help our customers To and Through Retirement®.

We're proud to have been recognized as one of the best in the business:

• Named to Ward's 50 list of top-performing life-health insurance companies
• Recognized on list of Ingram's Top 100 Private Companies in the Kansas City area in 2024

About the Role:

The Senior Data Architect is the experienced, journey-level architecture professional who leads data architecture for complex, multi-source initiatives and serves as a mentor to less experienced architects. This role is central to DTS's Unified Data Platform strategy --- designing the data architecture foundation that enables AI-infused experiences, product analytics, and operational intelligence. The Senior Data Architect works independently, defines technical standards for data architecture within assigned areas, and is the domain authority for integration architecture, API connectivity design, and Python-based automation.

The Senior Data Architect position reports to the Director, Data Platform Architecture & Operations and can be based out of our home office in Topeka, Kansas, or remotely for the right candidate. We work a hybrid schedule, offering flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.

• Lead data architecture for complex, multi-source initiatives including enterprise data pipelines, platform migrations, API-based integrations, and third-party system integrations
• Define and enforce data architecture standards, pipeline design patterns, and API integration patterns within the domain
• Architect data solutions on Snowflake, Coalesce, Fivetran, and AWS (Lambda, Glue, S3, Step Functions, API Gateway); ensure alignment between ingestion, transformation, and storage patterns under the Snowflake-First architecture
• Lead API integration architecture for data ingestion from REST, GraphQL, and event-driven API sources; define API contract evaluation standards and source system connectivity patterns
• Develop and maintain Python-based tooling for architecture validation, automation scripting, and shared engineering utilities across the architecture team
• Lead data architecture and integration design reviews for significant data initiatives within the domain
• Lead migration architecture for legacy-to-modern data platform transitions (MS SQL Server/SSIS to Snowflake/ACUMEN), including report repointing from CDR, FAR, MCS, and SQL Server to Snowflake
• Partner with Data Governance team to ensure designs support lineage, quality, and classification requirements; govern Collibra catalog alignment
• Document architectural decisions using ADRs and maintain the domain architecture knowledge base in Confluence
• Mentor Data Architects (IC2) and provide architectural guidance to Data Engineers

What We're Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Management, or related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in data architecture or data engineering, with significant architecture ownership
• Hands‑on experience with Snowflake; deep familiarity with ELT tooling (Fivetran, Coalesce, dbt, or equivalent)
• Strong experience with AWS data services (S3, Glue, Lambda, Step Functions, API Gateway)
• Proficiency in Python for data engineering automation, architecture validation scripting, and shared tooling development
• Experience designing and governing REST and event‑driven API integration patterns for data ingestion and inter‑system connectivity
• Understanding of data governance, data lineage, and data quality practices; Collibra or equivalent catalog experience preferred
• Experience in financial services or regulated industry preferred

Why Choose Security Benefit?

When you join our team, you're not just getting a paycheck --- you're getting a career path full of growth opportunities, plus a robust benefits package that puts your well-being first. Here's what you can expect as a full‑time Security Benefit associate:

• Competitive salary and annual incentive bonuses to reward your contributions.
• 33 days of paid time off (including PTO, holidays, Volunteer Day, and days of significance).
• Paid parental leave after 90 days of service.
• Comprehensive medical, dental & vision insurance.
• 401(k) with company match, plus Profit Sharing & Savings Plan.
• Short- and Long‑Term Disability Insurance to give you peace of mind.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care.
• Life Insurance to protect your loved ones.
• Educational assistance to support your career development.
• Associate assistance programs for your personal and professional well‑being.

Security Benefit is an Equal Opportunity Employer.