Data Architect

 Location: Charlotte / Gastonia / NC area
Work Model: Hybrid, 3 days onsite
Employment Type: Full-time
 
Role Overview
We are hiring a Senior Enterprise Data Architect to play a foundational role in a large-scale digital and data transformation. This is a high-impact individual contributor role for someone who can define enterprise data strategy, establish pragmatic governance, design enterprise data models, and execute hands-on in a lean environment.
 
This is not a data engineering, ETL, or BI reporting role. We are looking for an experienced architect who can operate independently, set direction, and still deliver meaningful outcomes without relying on a large team or heavy structure.
 
Data is central to both internal decision-making and externally facing digital products. This role will shape how data is modeled, governed, integrated, and used across the organization.
 
What You’ll Do

• Define and own the enterprise data strategy and target-state architecture
• Design and maintain enterprise data models, including conceptual, logical, and physical models
• Establish and implement data governance practices such as ownership, stewardship, data quality, lineage, and cataloging
• Translate strategy into practical execution plans and deliver hands-on as an individual contributor
• Architect data integration across enterprise platforms, digital solutions, and analytics environments
• Partner closely with product, engineering, analytics, security, and business stakeholders
• Support multiple initiatives simultaneously and keep data architecture aligned across them
• Act as a trusted thought partner to senior leaders on data, analytics, and AI enablement
• Mentor others informally and help raise overall data literacy
• Help lay the groundwork for future team growth as the organization matures

 
What We’re Looking For
Required

• 7+ years of experience in data architecture, enterprise data strategy, or related roles, with clear progression into enterprise-level responsibilities
• Proven experience defining and implementing enterprise data strategies
• Strong data modeling expertise across conceptual, logical, and physical layers
• Hands-on experience implementing data governance in real-world environments, not just frameworks
• Ability to operate effectively as an individual contributor in a lean, evolving organization
• Strong communication skills and the ability to influence without direct authority
• Comfort working in ambiguity and prioritizing outcomes over tasks

Strongly Preferred

• Experience with cloud-based data platforms
• Experience integrating data across ERP, CRM, and other enterprise systems
• Exposure to building data foundations that support digital products and analytics
• Background in complex or transformation-driven environments

Nice to Have

• Exposure to operational, industrial, or time-series data
• Experience modernizing immature or fragmented data environments
• Experience working across both IT and digital or product organizations

 
Who This Role Is Not For

• Data engineers or developers focused primarily on pipelines or reporting
• BI or visualization specialists
• Architects who require large teams or mature governance organizations to be effective
• Candidates who prefer narrowly defined tasks over outcome-driven work

 
Work Model and Location

• Strong preference for candidates based in Charlotte Metro, Fort Mill, Gastonia, or the broader NC Piedmont region
• Hybrid schedule with three days onsite per week
• Remote candidates considered only if truly exceptional

 
Why This Role
This role offers the opportunity to shape enterprise data foundations at a pivotal moment of transformation. You will have visibility, influence, and the chance to build something durable that supports both operational excellence and future digital growth.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.