Senior Data Architect (Enterprise Data Strategy)

Harnham; Town of Texas (WI); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnham in the United States seeks a Senior Data Architect to shape the enterprise data strategy. This hybrid, enterprise-wide role focuses on target-state architecture, cloud modernization, and AI-driven data platforms across multiple business units.

You will define standards, patterns, and governance, mentor teams, and collaborate with product and data engineering stakeholders to deliver practical, scalable solutions on AWS and Snowflake.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in Data Architecture or related leadership role.
• Proven success designing enterprise-scale data platforms and strategies.
• Strong experience with AWS-based data ecosystems.
• Hands-on experience with Snowflake.
• Experience designing batch and streaming data architectures (Kafka).
• Ability to influence stakeholders across large organizations.
• Experience developing architecture roadmaps and governance frameworks.
• Strong communication to translate business priorities into technical solutions.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve enterprise-wide data architecture strategy, standards, and best practices.
• Assess current-state architecture, identify gaps, and plan modernization roadmaps.
• Design target-state models to support growth and transformation.
• Develop reference architectures for batch, near real-time, and real-time data platforms.
• Balance business value, cost, risk, and timelines in technology options.
• Partner with business leaders and engineering teams to align architecture with objectives.
• Establish reusable design patterns and templates across teams.
• Lead adoption of cloud-native architecture practices on AWS.
• Promote automation, CI/CD, governance, and data quality standards.
• Mentor architects and engineering teams; validate decisions with implementation partners.

Skills

Enterprise architecture

Data architecture

AWS

Snowflake

Kafka

Cloud modernization

AI data platforms

Technical leadership

Tools

Snowflake

Kafka

DBT

Fivetran

Job description

Senior Data Architect (Enterprise Data Strategy)

Work Model: Hybrid (4 days onsite)

Compensation: $170,000-$185,000k base

Work Authorization: Must be authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship (now or in the future)

Overview

A large, established enterprise is seeking a Senior Data Architect to join its foundational data architecture team. This is a highly visible, enterprise-wide role responsible for shaping the future direction of the organization's data ecosystem, establishing architectural standards, and driving cloud and AI transformation initiatives.

This position is ideal for a strategic architect who can operate across multiple business domains, balancing big-picture vision with practical execution. The successful candidate will help define the organization's target-state architecture, create reusable patterns and frameworks, and influence technology decisions that impact the broader enterprise.

This is not a role focused on a single business function or stakeholder group. The team is looking for someone with demonstrated experience operating at an enterprise scale, partnering across diverse business units, and driving architectural decisions that support long-term organizational goals.

What You'll Do

• Define and evolve enterprise-wide data architecture strategy, standards, and best practices.
• Assess and document current-state architecture, identify gaps, and establish modernization roadmaps.
• Design target-state and transitional architecture models that support business growth and technology transformation.
• Develop reference architectures for batch, near real-time, and real-time data platforms.
• Evaluate strategic technology options by balancing business value, cost, risk, scalability, and implementation timelines.
• Partner with business leaders, product teams, data engineering teams, and technology stakeholders to align architecture with organizational objectives.
• Establish reusable design patterns, frameworks, and templates that accelerate delivery across multiple teams.
• Drive adoption of modern cloud-native architecture practices on AWS.
• Promote automation, CI/CD, governance, and data quality standards across the enterprise.
• Lead architecture discussions involving AI-enabled data platforms, including Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and agentic AI concepts.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to architects and engineering teams.
• Validate architectural decisions through collaboration with implementation teams, ensuring solutions are practical and executable.

Required Qualifications

• 8-10 years experience in Data Architecture, Enterprise Architecture, or a related leadership role.
• Proven success designing and implementing enterprise-scale data platforms and architecture strategies.
• Strong experience with AWS-based data ecosystems.
• Hands-on experience with Snowflake.
• Experience designing both batch and streaming data architectures, including Kafka-based solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and align stakeholders across large, complex organizations.
• Experience developing architecture roadmaps, governance frameworks, and enterprise standards.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate business priorities into technical solutions.
• Ability to provide actionable technical recommendations rather than solely producing architecture documentation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior background in Data Engineering, Software Engineering, or related hands-on technical disciplines.
• Experience supporting multiple business domains within a large enterprise environment.
• Exposure to DBT, Fivetran, or similar modern data tools.
• Familiarity with emerging AI architecture patterns and technologies, including: RAG, Vector databases, MCP, and Agentic AI
• Experience leading large-scale cloud modernization or data transformation initiatives.
• Architecture certifications such as TOGAF or comparable frameworks.

Why Join

• Highly visible role with significant influence over enterprise data strategy.
• Opportunity to build future-state architecture rather than maintain a mature legacy environment.
• Exposure to cloud modernization, AI-enabled architecture, and emerging technologies.
• Ability to shape standards, patterns, and best practices utilized across the broader organization.
• Collaborative culture emphasizing partnership, knowledge sharing, and end-to-end ownership.
• Opportunity to work across multiple business functions and technology domains in a complex enterprise environment.
• Strong executive exposure and long-term strategic impact.