Principal Data Architect

Job#: 3027308

Job Description:

Principal Data Architect

Client: Large Banking Institution

Location: Hybrid onsite in Boston, MA

Duration: Through end of year, with potential to extend up to 18 months or convert to FTE

Job Summary:

The Principal Data Architectwill play a critical role in shaping the logical data architecture to support enterprise analytics, reporting, and data science initiatives. This role bridges business and technical teams by translating analytical requirements into scalable, reusable, and business-aligned logical data models.

This person will be a technical partner with IT on the Snowflake migration, with primary responsibility for designing scalable data models, implementing star schema strategies, and resolving technical debt so that only clean, high-value data is migrated. They must bring deep expertise in data architecture, schema optimization, and Customer 360 attribute design to create unified, analytics-ready views of clients across products and channels. Strong technical skills and the ability to anticipate downstream impacts are essential.

Secondarily, the contractor will support agile delivery by shaping user stories, managing sprint planning, and ensuring backlog items are well-defined and prioritized. They will document the roadmap, risks, and progress, while providing clear communication to both IT teams and business stakeholders.

Unlike a Physical Data Modeler, this role is embedded within the business and analytics function, focusing on semantic clarity, entity relationships, and data domain design from a decision-support perspective.

Project Scope:

• Support the migration of customer data to a digital banking platform.
• Establish a logical data model where none currently exists; the physical model will be implemented by the data product team.
• Assist in the transition from Oracle and SQL Server to Snowflake.
• Drive a domain-based architecture approach.
• Strategically link data efforts across teams and leadership to ensure alignment and efficiency.

Individual Duties:

• Interface with senior leaders, directors, and the data product team to align on strategy.
• Contribute to data governance tooling and implementation.
• Partner with leadership to define the roadmap for data migration and transformation.
• Create and manage Erwin modeling diagrams (approx. 30% hands-on work).
• Provide strategic recommendations and assessments of the current environment.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Senior/Principal-level experience in Data Architecture.
• Strong hands-on experience with Erwin modeling.
• Deep expertise in Snowflake.
• Extensive experience in the banking domain.
• Strong understanding of semantic modeling, star schemas, and fact-dimension design.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and business stakeholders.

Preferred (Nice-to-Have):

• Experience with Collibra and Informatica.
• Familiarity with tools like Atlan, DBT, Power BI datasets, and ER/Studio.

Soft Skills:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to assess environments and provide high-level recommendations.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Comfortable working cross-functionally with data product teams and senior leadership.

Apex Benefits Overview

Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a retirement plan (401k or local country equivalent) program. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.

EEO Employer

Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Apex will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law. If you have visited our website in search of information on employment opportunities or to apply for a position, and you require an accommodation in using our website for a search or application, please contact our Employee Services Department at or .

Apex Systems is a world-class IT services company that serves thousands of clients across the globe. When you join Apex, you become part of a team that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We offer quality career resources, training, certifications, development opportunities, and a comprehensive benefits package. Our commitment to excellence is reflected in many awards, including ClearlyRated's Best of Staffing in Talent Satisfaction in the United States and Great Place to Work in the United Kingdom and Mexico. Apex uses a virtual recruiter as part of the application process. Click for more details.

Apex Benefits Overview: Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection. We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure. Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts. In terms of professional development, Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA. Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach. You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Apex team member can provide.