Senior Data Architect

About the role

The Aerospace Corporation operates a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) broadly engaged across all aspects of space—delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil, and commercial customers. Within the Office of the CIO, the newly constructed Data and AI Services team provides advanced modeling, machine learning, and predictive analytics capabilities that inform enterprise services operations and facilitate strategic decision-making across the corporation. As enterprise data and knowledge management needs grow in scale and complexity, this Senior Data Architect role will design, implement, and govern enterprise-scale data solutions that support operations—including the integration of identity management, ERP, digital libraries, and AI-powered knowledge management systems. The position sits at the intersection of data engineering, AI/ML, and enterprise architecture.

Responsibilities

• Design enterprise data architecture frameworks that integrate identity management, ERP, digital libraries, and AI/ML applications
• Develop data models, schemas, and ontologies to enable semantic interoperability and knowledge graphs
• Architect data pipelines and semantic layers supporting Graph RAG and AI-driven knowledge management systems
• Lead integration architecture for enterprise systems, including the design of ETL/ELT pipelines, real-time synchronization, master data management (MDM), and data quality monitoring solutions
• Define and enforce governance policies for CUI, proprietary, and classified information, including classification frameworks (CUI, ITAR, export control) and role-based access control architectures
• Architect scalable solutions capable of supporting 90,000+ documents with ongoing growth, while optimizing cost-effectiveness across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments
• Partner with IT, cybersecurity, library services, and mission teams while providing technical leadership and mentorship, and communicating architecture decisions to diverse stakeholders

Requirements

Senior Data Architect IV (Minimum Requirements)

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field
• 8–10+ years of experience in data architecture or data engineering, including 5+ years designing enterprise-scale data solutions
• Proven experience with cloud architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP), data modeling, data governance, and API design
• Hands-on experience with SQL/NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Neo4j) and pipeline orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, Prefect)
• Working knowledge of data formats and standards such as JSON, XML, Parquet, and RDF/OWL
• Experience addressing AI/ML data requirements, including vector databases and semantic search
• Familiarity with data security, encryption, and compliance frameworks
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance (U.S. citizenship required)

Senior Data Architect V (Additional Minimum Requirements)

• A minimum of 10 or more years in data engineering, software engineering, or a related technical field
• Familiarity with streaming data architectures and real-time data processing

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field
• Experience with LLM/AI architecture, knowledge graphs, ontologies, and semantic web technologies (RDF, SPARQL, OWL)
• Experience with SAP S/4HANA, Workday, ServiceNow
• Background in aerospace, defense, or government environments
• Relevant certifications (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, Google Data Engineer)
• Proficiency in Python, Java, or Scala, along with DevOps/Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC) experience

Pay

Grade-based pay range: $120,300.00 – $202,800.00 per year (annual). Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Leadership competencies

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect