Data Architect

Overview

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.

• 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 grows

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 new or fragmented data environments
• Experience working across both IT and digital or product organizations

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

• 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

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…