Data Architect

Job Summary We are seeking a seasoned Data Architect to lead the design, governance, and optimization of CADYs enterprise data platform. This role is pivotal in consolidating legacy systems, integrating data from acquisitions, and establishing a single source of truth across operational and analytical environments. The ideal candidate will define data schemas, oversee migrations, and implement governance standards to ensure data quality, compliance, and scalability within a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Key Responsibilities Design and maintain enterprise data architecture, including PostgreSQL for operational systems and AWS-based analytics pipelines (S3/Parquet, Glue, Athena, Redshift). Define canonical data models, schemas, indexes, and partitioning strategies to support SOA microservices. Lead ETL/migration efforts for legacy and acquired systems, ensuring data reconciliation, mapping, and quality. Establish and enforce data governance frameworks, including metadata management, data lineage, access control, and auditability (FERPA, COPPA, SOX). Collaborate with DevOps and engineering teams to design event-driven data flows using patterns such as outbox, SQS, SNS, and EventBridge. Partner with business stakeholders to translate reporting requirements into efficient data structures and pipelines. Implement performance tuning and query optimization across databases and analytics tools. Document data architecture, definitions, and policies to ensure long-term clarity and compliance. Mentor engineers and analysts on data modeling, SQL best practices, and governance principles. Required Qualifications Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent experience). 7+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data management. Proven experience in leading system consolidations and large-scale data migrations. Deep expertise in relational databases, particularly PostgreSQL, including schema design, indexing, and performance tuning. Strong knowledge of cloud-native data platforms such as AWS S3/Parquet, Glue, Athena, Redshift; familiarity with Snowflake or Databricks is a plus. Proficiency with ETL/ELT tools and pipelines, including AWS Step Functions, Lambda, or ECS workers. Familiarity with data governance and compliance frameworks (FERPA, COPPA, SOX). Solid understanding of event-driven architectures and streaming patterns. Strong SQL skills; experience with Python or Scala for data processing is a plus. Excellent communication and documentation skills to effectively collaborate with both technical and business teams. Preferred Qualifications Hands-on experience with AWS data services. Experience implementing data governance programs in regulated industries. Background in mentoring technical teams on data best practices. Education: Bachelors Degree