Lead Data Architect

About the role

The Data Architect job family designs, documents, and evolves data structures, models, standards, and architecture patterns to enable trusted, secure, and scalable use of data across the organization. This role partners with technology, analytics, risk, compliance, and business stakeholders to translate business needs into practical data solutions supporting reporting, operations, decision-making, regulatory expectations, and long-term data strategy.

As the Lead Data Architect, you will own enterprise data architecture, standards, and design patterns, and lead architecture and solution design for the Azure Data Platform and Databricks ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Implement data governance, security, data quality, integration, and performance standards aligned with enterprise governance requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to Data Engineers, serving as the backup and escalation point for the Data Engineering team.
• Participate in the design, development, and review of data pipelines, ETL/ELT processes, and platform enhancements.
• Drive platform modernization, AI readiness, scalability, resiliency, and cost optimization initiatives.
• Partner with business and technology stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and maintainable data solutions.
• Ensure data platform solutions adhere to regulatory, security, architecture, and governance requirements.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend enhancements to improve data platform capabilities, engineering efficiency, and business value delivery.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in Data Engineering, Data Architecture, or Data Platform Engineering, including 5+ years designing and implementing enterprise-scale cloud data platforms.
• Strong hands-on expertise with Azure Data Services, Databricks, Spark, Python, SQL, ETL/ELT frameworks, and modern lakehouse/data warehouse architectures.
• Proven experience leading technical teams, implementing data governance and security controls, and delivering scalable data solutions in a regulated environment, preferably within banking or financial services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Financial services or banking industry experience.
• Experience with Snowflake, Power BI, Microsoft Fabric, AI/ML platforms, and real-time data streaming technologies.
• Azure certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure Data Engineer Associate, or Databricks certifications.
• Experience leading enterprise data modernization, cloud migration, or AI enablement initiatives.

Travel

This position requires some travel to support business needs, including team collaboration, internal trainings, and cross-functional initiatives. The frequency and duration of travel will vary based on organizational priorities and team needs.

Pay

The base salary for this role varies based on skill, ability, knowledge, experience, and geographic location. Full-time employees are also eligible for a competitive bonus and benefits package.

Culture

Choice is #PeopleFirst, focusing on supporting team members as trusted partners. Core values guide team members: embrace change and encourage innovation, know when to ask for or offer help, better the places we live, work hard, do the right thing, and have a little fun.

Choice is committed to an inclusive culture where everyone feels respected and valued, bringing their whole authentic selves to work. Diversity fuels creativity and innovation, helping serve customers and communities.