Principal Enterprise Data Architect

Job description: DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW The Data & Analytics Services (DAS) organization at GILLIG is responsible for enabling enterprise decision-making, operational intelligence, digital transformation, and Data Science innovation through data. DAS serves as the connective layer between business strategy and technology execution by delivering analytics, data products, AI solutions, enterprise data platforms, governance capabilities, and strategic architecture.ABOUT THE ROLEWe are seeking a Principal Enterprise Data Architect to serve as the company’s senior individual-contributor authority for enterprise data architecture. This role will define and drive the data architecture required to support GILLIG’s business, operational, and digital transformation priorities.As a Principal Enterprise Data Architect, you will establish enterprise direction across SAP, master data management, governance, data integration, analytics, AI enablement, and connected-vehicle ecosystems. The individual will advise senior leadership, lead highly complex and strategic assignments with minimal direction, and make architecture decisions that have broad and lasting organizational impact.The role will define enterprise and operationalize data principles, domain models, reference architectures, governance structures, decision frameworks, and implementation roadmaps that make GILLIG’s data trusted, scalable, interoperable, secure, and reusable. A major initial focus will be establishing the data foundation for GILLIG One, including SAP S/4HANA, master data governance, data migration, semantic architecture, enterprise reporting, and integration with non-SAP platforms.This is a strategic and hands-on technical leadership role. The successful candidate must be able to establish enterprise direction, independently resolve complex architecture challenges, create practical architecture deliverables, influence major business and technology decisions, and guide and contribute to delivery teams through implementation. The Principal Enterprise Data Architect will also mentor architects, engineers, analysts, and other technical professionals, raising architecture and data-management capabilities across the organization.This position reports directly to the Head of Data & Analytics.IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL Dictate and set enterprise data architecture direction by defining and maintaining GILLIG’s enterprise data strategy, target-state architecture, principles, standards, and multiyear roadmap Serve as the senior technical authority for enterprise data decisions, resolving complex cross-domain design issues and providing recommendations to senior business and technology leadership Lead architecture across major transformation programs, including GILLIG One, SAP S/4HANA, master data management, enterprise analytics, connected vehicles, and AI enablement Design reusable enterprise data foundations that support operational transactions, reporting and analytics, digital products, and future AI use cases without creating disconnected or duplicative architectures Define enterprise data domains and models, including conceptual, logical, physical, canonical, and semantic models spanning customer, product, material, supplier, vehicle, asset, finance, service, and reference data Establish systems-of-record and authoritative-source strategies, including ownership, synchronization, lifecycle, integration, and consumption expectations across enterprise platforms Define SAP and non-SAP data architecture, including integration, migration, harmonization, semantic modeling, reporting, analytics, and master-data patterns Lead the enterprise MDM architecture and operating-model design, including governance, decision rights, stewardship, approval workflows, data quality, golden records, and domain ownership Determine enterprise standards for data quality, metadata, lineage, classification, privacy, security, retention, and regulatory compliance in partnership with business, IT, security, and governance stakeholders Lead architecture implementation, working directly with engineering teams, application teams, implementation partners, and vendors to ensure approved designs are translated into sustainable solutions Critically evaluate major architecture and technology choices, clearly communicating tradeoffs, risks, costs, dependencies, and long-term implications to technical and non-technical decision-makers Create governance and architecture decision mechanisms, including reference architectures, architecture reviews, decision records, reusable patterns, exception processes, and conformance measures Influence without direct authority, building alignment across business functions, DAS, IT, Product, Engineering, Customer Care, implementation partners, and technology vendors Act as a trusted advisor to leadership, translating business strategy and transformation objectives into actionable data architecture priorities and roadmaps Mentor and develop technical talent, providing architecture guidance, design reviews, coaching, and knowledge transfer to data architects, engineers, analysts, solution architects, and business data stewards Advance GILLIG’s architecture maturity, introducing relevant industry practices while adapting them to GILLIG’s operating model, scale, transformation roadmap, and business priorities BASIC QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Data Management, or a related field Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in data architecture, data engineering, enterprise architecture, data management, or a related technical discipline Demonstrated success as a Principal or equivalent senior technical individual contributor, leading complex enterprise initiatives while remaining actively involved in technical delivery Expert knowledge of enterprise data architecture, including data domains, systems of record, integration patterns, target-state architecture, and conceptual, logical, physical, and semantic data modeling Direct significant experience leading data architecture for a major ERP transformation, including direct hands-on experience with SAP S/4HANA. Experience must include data migration, integration, harmonization, master data, governance, operational reporting, and analytics across SAP and non-SAP systems Strong hands-on proficiency with SQL and at least one modern programming or scripting language, such as Python, with the ability to explore and profile data, validate assumptions, troubleshoot issues, review code, and develop working prototypes or reference implementations Proficiency in designing and evaluating modern cloud data platforms, data lakes, data warehouses or data Lakehouse’s, APIs, batch and event-driven pipelines, data products, analytics platforms, and AI-ready data foundations Deep knowledge of master data management and data governance, including data quality, metadata, lineage, ownership, stewardship, decision rights, and lifecycle management. Significant experience supporting a major ERP or business transformation involving data migration, integration, harmonization, master data, reporting, and analytics Demonstrated ability to translate business strategy and complex requirements into practical architecture decisions, technical standards, implementation roadmaps, and working solutions. Proven ability to assess architecture tradeoffs; lead design and code reviews; guide engineers through implementation; identify scalability, security, quality, reliability, maintainability, and technical-debt risks Strong communication and facilitation skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and technical teams without direct authority and explain complex decisions to executive, business, and engineering audiences WORK ENVIRONMENT Ability to lift 25 lbs. Regularly required to sit, stand, and walk and occasionally kneel or squat Prolonged periods of sitting/standing at a desk and working on a computer The ideal candidate must be able to complete all physical requirements of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. 5% travel required Standard start time: 6:30 am (negotiable) Must be able to navigate manufacturing environment, comfortable around heavy machinery, tools, etc. Must be able to wear Personal Protective Equipment, (i.e. safety glasses, bump caps, hearing protection, etc.) EXPECTED COMPENSATION$75,000 - $230,000 / annual salary + premium benefits Pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including market location, job classification, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if a candidate receives an offer of employment.Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.GILLIG is committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace that values and respects the unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of our employees and the people we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.