Data Architect

About the role

The Data Architect will design enterprise data strategy, models, and integration patterns for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This role leads data modernization and cloud architecture initiatives while ensuring governance and compliance.

Key responsibilities

• Develop enterprise and data architecture blueprints, system inventories, and governance standards.
• Lead data migration planning, crosswalk creation, trial migrations, and reconciliation.
• Define metadata standards, stewardship processes, and authoritative data sources.
• Design APIs, integration interfaces, and ETL/ELT pipelines, and conduct integration testing.
• Support Databricks Lakehouse architecture, security design, common data model, and reporting.
• Provide knowledge transfer through training, SOPs, workshops, and documentation.

Required profile

• 5+ years senior-level federal government experience in data architecture and modernization.
• Proven experience designing enterprise data models, integration patterns, and governance standards.
• Experience leading projects on Databricks and other cloud data platforms; familiarity with Cloudera is desirable.
• Knowledge of federal HR and financial management data systems.
• Strong problem‑solving, documentation, and presentation abilities.

Required skills

• Databricks Lakehouse (Unity Catalog, data zones, workspaces)
• ETL/ELT pipeline development
• API design and integration
• Cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Cloudera (desirable)