Cloud Data Architect

Position: Cloud Data Architect

Duration: 2 years with an option to extend to 2 more years.

Location: West Sacramento, CA (Onsite from Day 1)

The total services period may be up to twenty-four (24) months, with an option to extend up to twenty-four (24) additional months, at an estimated average of 160 work hours per month at the rate negotiated at contract execution

The Contractor must be able to perform all work on-site at the CalSTRS headquarters facility in West Sacramento, CA. At CalSTRS’ discretion, a different approach  (i.e., fully in-office, fully remote or different work hours) may be utilized based on CalSTRS business need and/or directive.

Project Description:

The purpose of this RFO is to select one (1) experienced Senior Solution Architecture Lead with detailed knowledge and experience of Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation, Cloud platforms, Advanced Data Analytics, and Data Warehouse systems. This role will serve as the principal system architect and subject matter expert responsible for designing, validating, and implementing robust, scalable, and secure technology solutions across various business areas at the department.

This role will lead multiple concurrent technical initiatives of integrating AI capabilities to data warehouse platforms, oversee end to end solution architecture, and ensure all technology implementations align with CalSTRS enterprise architecture standards, AI policies, security policies, and business objectives. The candidate shall have advanced expertise in AI technologies, data warehouse, cloud platforms, data engineering, machine learning, and integration best practices, and will act as a trusted technical advisor to technical teams, business partners, and Executive leadership.

The Contractor will report directly to the CalSTRS Enterprise IT Solutions and Innovation Director and is expected to work onsite at CalSTRS headquarters.

Minimum Technical Qualifications   

• A minimum of ten (10) years of IT experience with expert-level skills in enterprise architecture design, data modeling, and implementation for data warehouse systems and advanced data analytics platforms.
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience designing architecture that integrates Generative AI capabilities into Business Intelligence and Data Warehouse platforms. 
• At least five (5) years of cloud architecture experience (such as Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud Platform), including deployment strategies and the use of infrastructure-as-code tools such as Terraform. 
• At least five (5) years of experience leading cross-functional technical teams, providing mentorship, and driving technical excellence in complex enterprise environments.
• Five or more (5+) years of experience in designing and implementing secure, scalable integration architectures for complex enterprise environments, including APIs, microservices, event-driven systems, and data integration.

Desirable Technical Qualifications   

• Five or more (5+) years of hands-on experience with C# / Python, SQL databases, and advanced SQL queries.
• Five or more (5+) years of experience developing comprehensive technical documentation, including architecture diagrams, design specifications, standards, and best‑practice guidelines for enterprise‑scale systems.
• Three or more (3+) years of experience with Snowflake or AWS Redshift.
• Three or more (3+) years of experience of using Power BI to create data analytics dashboards.
• The proposed project person will be able to adhere to working on-site five (5) days per week at CalSTRS Headquarters, West Sacramento, CA. If no, provide a short explanation. (no points)