Sr Data Architect

Job#: 3023336

Job Description:
Overview

The client is seeking a Senior or Lead-level Data Platform Consultant to support the Wealth Engineering team in designing and implementing a modern data ingestion and platform architecture. The primary focus of this role is enabling Snowflake-based data sharing from third-party vendors and integrating that data into an AWS-native data ecosystem, while helping evaluate longer-term architectural decisions.

This is a hands-on role with some advisory responsibility, but it is not a purely strategic or "ivory tower" position. The consultant will work closely with a Principal Software Engineer and internal data teams to execute, validate design decisions, and accelerate delivery of a business-critical initiative.
Key Responsibilities
Data Ingestion & Integration

• Design and implement ingestion patterns using Snowflake Private Data Shares as the primary source of data.
• Configure and manage Snowflake streams and change data capture to support incremental updates.
• Support ingestion from non-Snowflake sources, including:
  • Vendor flat files (e.g., S3-based file drops)
  • External APIs requiring Python-based ingestion.
• Enable more frequent data refreshes (near-real-time or hourly), reducing reliance on heavy nightly batch processes.

Platform Architecture & Execution

• Collaborate with internal engineering leadership to evaluate:
  • Keeping data and transformations within Snowflake, versus
  • Using Snowflake primarily as an ingestion layer and landing data in AWS (S3 + Iceberg).
• Provide practical input on architectural tradeoffs, including:
  • Performance
  • Cost
  • Developer experience
  • Long-term maintainability
• Implement solutions aligned with the client's AWS-native enterprise standards, including interoperability with existing data platforms.

AWS & Data Lake Enablement

• Work extensively with AWS services, including:
  • S3
  • AWS Glue (catalog integration)
  • Iceberg tables
• Support integration with enterprise governance tooling (e.g., Glue Catalog / Lake Formation), following existing organizational patterns.
• Assist with data replication patterns where data must serve downstream APIs or operational use cases.

Transformation & Analytics Support

• Support or implement data transformations using dbt if data remains within Snowflake.
• Ensure strong SQL-based modeling practices.
• Contribute to creating reliable, reusable datasets and data products for internal consumers.

Advisory & Collaboration

• Act as a senior individual contributor who can:
  • Identify blind spots in proposed designs
  • Share best practices from prior Snowflake + AWS implementations
  • Help the team validate assumptions before scaling solutions
• Work closely with internal engineers rather than owning strategy independently.
• Participate in solution discussions with internal stakeholders and partner teams.

Required Skills & Experience
Core Technical Skills

• Strong hands-on experience with Snowflake, including:
  • Private Data Shares
  • Streams / change tracking
  • General Snowflake administration related to data ingestion
• Deep experience with AWS, specifically:
  • S3
  • Glue Catalog
  • Iceberg tables
• Advanced SQL skills.
• Strong Python experience for:
  • API-based ingestion
  • Data manipulation (not SQL-only usage).

Data Engineering Background

• Experience building and operating production-grade data pipelines.
• Comfort working across multiple ingestion patterns (Snowflake shares, files, APIs).
• Ability to balance performance, cost, and maintainability.

Senior-Level Expectations

• Ability to operate independently with minimal oversight.
• Comfortable advising but also executing.
• Pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Experience with dbt in Snowflake environments.
• Prior exposure to wealth management, asset management, or financial data domains (not required).
• Experience supporting data platforms that feed operational APIs, not just analytics.

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.