Senior Information Architect

Harnham; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Harnham is seeking a Senior Information Architect to lead enterprise data architecture efforts for a large investment organization in Los Angeles. You will own data models, governance, and Lakehouse patterns, building from the ground up rather than maintaining an existing framework.

You'll work with Databricks Lakehouse on Azure, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and across Snowflake/MongoDB for analytics, ML, and GenAI use cases.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience across Data Architecture and Data Modelling.
• Hands-on experience with Databricks, Delta Lake and lakehouse patterns.
• Proven ability to implement medallion architecture.
• Strong knowledge of Unity Catalog and governance.
• Advanced SQL and large-scale data modelling expertise.
• Experience with Kimball, 3NF/Inmon and/or Data Vault.
• Strong Spark optimization and performance.
• Experience with Azure Databricks and ADLS.
• Built data architecture standards and frameworks from scratch.
• Strong stakeholder skills translating business requirements into scalable architecture.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise data models across conceptual, logical and physical layers.
• Lead Databricks Lakehouse architecture, bronze/silver/gold patterns.
• Design and implement Delta Lake schemas, partitioning and schema evolution.
• Define Unity Catalog governance, lineage and access-control standards.
• Establish data architectures across Databricks, Snowflake and MongoDB.
• Develop enterprise standards, naming conventions and data dictionaries.
• Support analytics, ML and GenAI/RAG use cases with scalable data structures.
• Collaborate with Finance, Accounting and Investments stakeholders.
• Build and maintain architecture frameworks from ground up.

Skills

Databricks

Delta Lake

Data Modeling

SQL Mastery

Stakeholder Skills

GenAI / RAG

Architectural Leadership

Tools

Azure Databricks

Job description

I'm hiring a Senior Information Architect to play a foundational role in building and shaping the enterprise data architecture for a large, sophisticated investment organization.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who genuinely enjoys building from the ground up. Rather than inheriting a mature architecture practice, you'll have significant ownership over establishing the data models, architecture standards, governance frameworks and Lakehouse patterns that the wider organization will build on.

The environment is centered around Databricks Lakehouse and Azure, with Snowflake and MongoDB supporting specific use cases. You'll work across a complex data landscape supporting areas including real estate, infrastructure and private credit investments.

What you'll own:

• Enterprise conceptual, logical and physical data modelling
• Databricks Lakehouse architecture and bronze/silver/gold patterns
• Dimensional modelling including Kimball, 3NF/Inmon and Data Vault
• Delta Lake design, optimization, partitioning and schema evolution
• Unity Catalog, lineage, governance and access-control standards
• Data architecture across Databricks, Snowflake and MongoDB
• Enterprise modelling standards, naming conventions and data dictionaries
• Data structures supporting analytics, ML and emerging GenAI/RAG use cases
• Partnership with senior stakeholders across Finance, Accounting and Investments
• Defining architecture standards and frameworks in an environment where there is genuine opportunity to build rather than simply maintain

What I'm looking for:

• 10+ years of experience across Data Architecture and Data Modelling
• Deep, hands-on experience with Databricks and Delta Lake
• Proven experience implementing medallion architecture
• Strong knowledge of Unity Catalog
• Advanced SQL and large-scale data modelling expertise
• Experience across Kimball, 3NF/Inmon and/or Data Vault
• Strong understanding of Spark optimization and performance
• Experience with Azure Databricks and ADLS
• Someone who has previously built data architecture standards and frameworks from scratch
• Strong stakeholder skills with the ability to translate complex business requirements into scalable technical architecture
• A hands-on mindset despite operating at a senior/Director level

Experience within financial services, private equity, alternative investments, asset management or investment management would be particularly valuable, alongside knowledge of investment data such as fund structures, NAV, investor allocations and capital activity.

The opportunity

The standout part of this role is the level of architectural influence and ownership.

There isn't a fully mature framework waiting for you to maintain. You'll have the opportunity to help define what good looks like, establish standards and build the foundations that engineering and data teams will follow going forward.

This is a Director-level individual contributor role, so it's ideal for someone who wants significant technical influence and visibility while remaining close to the architecture and technology.

If you're a senior Data/Information Architect with genuine Databricks and Lakehouse depth who enjoys solving complex problems and building architecture practices from the ground up, I'd love to connect.