Data Architect

Job Title: Senior Data Architect

Location: Sarasota, FL (Hybrid)

Job Type: Contract

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Data Architect to provide an independent third-party perspective on an ongoing enterprise Data Modernization program. This role focuses on architecture assurance, risk mitigation, and accelerating platform adoption while ensuring alignment with enterprise-scale best practices and long-term strategic goals.

The architect will collaborate with client stakeholders and multiple vendor teams to validate decisions, challenge assumptions, and guide the program toward a scalable, secure, and future-ready Databricks lakehouse architecture.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture Advisory & Independent ReviewProvide objective third-party evaluation of the current data platform architecture, design choices, and implementation approachReview and validate lakehouse architecture across ingestion, transformation, storage, and consumption layersIdentify design gaps, risks, and anti-patternsRecommend alternative approaches aligned to enterprise standardsData Modernization Strategy AlignmentAssess alignment to modern data platform paradigms (Lakehouse, ELT, Medallion architecture)Validate architectural decisions including:Data ingestion patterns (batch, streaming, unstructured data integration)Data modeling and transformation strategiesAnalytics and AI/ML readinessEnsure compliance with governance, security, and performance requirementsRisk Identification & MitigationIdentify technical, architectural, and operational risksConduct design reviews and provide mitigation strategiesHighlight dependencies, constraints, and long-term implicationsSupport leadership with risk summaries and recommendationsMulti-Vendor Stakeholder EngagementCollaborate with:Customer architects and SMEsInternal delivery teamsThird-party vendorsFacilitate architecture discussions and governance reviewsAct as a neutral technical authority to resolve conflicts and drive consensusBest Practices & GovernanceDefine and enforce architecture standards and guardrailsEnsure adherence to:Databricks and Spark best practicesData governance frameworks (cataloging, access control, auditing)Performance, scalability, and cost optimization standardsProvide guidance on DataOps, DevOps, and observability frameworksAcceleration Program SupportIdentify opportunities to accelerate delivery and remove bottlenecksGuide prioritization of architectural decisionsSupport roadmap refinement for phased platform evolutionRequired Skills

Deep expertise in:Databricks platform architectureAWS cloud servicesApache Spark, PySpark, SQLDelta Lake and lakehouse design patternsStrong understanding of:Data ingestion and ELT frameworksData governance and cataloging approachesPerformance optimization and distributed systemsAbility to operate independently as a trusted advisorStrong stakeholder management and executive communication skillsProven ability to challenge designs constructively and drive consensusStrong analytical and problem-solving capabilitiesPreferred Skills

Experience in insurance or regulated industriesExposure to BI/analytics transformation toolsPrior experience in architecture governance boards or advisory rolesQualifications

14+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or analytics platform engineeringProven experience in enterprise data modernization or cloud migration programsStrong background in scalable Databricks-based lakehouse implementationsKey Differentiators

Focus on independent assurance rather than delivery ownershipEmphasis on risk mitigation, decision validation, and cross-team alignmentAbility to influence outcomes without direct team ownershipMandatory Skills

DatabricksWe are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

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