Data Lead Architect- Institutional Division

Job Description:

This role serves as the technical counterpart to the Data Steward, Director, and is responsible for the assessment and direction of technology to meet system requirements. The Data Lead/Architect designs and develops IT architecture (integrated process, applications, data, and technology) solutions to business problems, provides multi-layered technical expertise for next generation initiatives, and defines and implements the policies, standards, and architecture blueprints that ensure consistency, compatibility, and integration across interdependent technologies and platforms division wide.

How you'll help move us forward:

Architecture & Design:
Designs and develops IT architecture (integrated process, applications, data, and technology) solutions to business problems, working in close partnership with the Data Steward, Director to translate data governance and business requirements into scalable technical solutions.

Standards & Integration:
Assesses the compatibility and integration of products/services proposed as standards to ensure an integrated architecture across interdependent technologies. Ensures consistency, compatibility, and standards for systems applications design and integrations on a firm-wide basis across multiple platforms.

Technical Planning & Specifications:
Responsible for technical planning, architecture development, and modification of specifications. Defines processes for technical platforms, system specifications, input/output, and working parameters for hardware and/or software compatibility.

Policy & Blueprint Development:
Defines and implements the policies, standards, and architecture blueprints for technology solutions. Produces documented frameworks, or architectures, which describe and are used to manage the implementation of a technical environment.

System Design & Issue Resolution:
Conceives system interfaces and business application prototypes. Identifies, analyzes, and resolves system design weaknesses to ensure the technical environment supports downstream business and reporting use cases.

Research & Roadmap Development:
Researches developments in assigned technology, determines business requirements, proposes changes, and develops migration and implementation plans that select from existing and emerging technologies the options that best fit business needs.

AI Readiness:
Prepares and structures data assets to support AI and machine learning use cases, ensuring data pipelines, models, and architecture are designed to enable reliable, scalable consumption by AI/ML tools and applications.

The experience you bring:

Education:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field; advanced degree a plus.

Experience:

10+ years of progressive experience in IT/data architecture, with recognized expertise both within and beyond own function. Demonstrated ability to interpret internal or external business issues and recommend process, product, or service improvements.

Technical

Skills:

Proficiency with enterprise architecture frameworks and tools, SQL, databases, data lakes/warehouses, cloud platforms, and systems integration methodologies. Required experience with Snowflake; experience with Matillion and DBT is a plus.

Problem Solving:
Solves unique or complex problems that have a broad impact on the business; takes a broad perspective to identify innovative solutions using existing and emerging technologies.

Leadership & Autonomy:
Works independently, with guidance needed only in the most complex situations. May lead functional teams or projects and contributes to the development of functional strategy.

Communication:
Excellent communication skills for collaborating with technical and business stakeholders and conveying complex architectural concepts to varied audiences.

Continuous Learning:
Commitment to staying current on emerging technologies, architecture best practices, and industry trends.

What makes you stand out:

Track record of innovation, initiative, and deep technical/architectural capabilities.

Experience partnering with data governance/data steward functions within a life and annuity insurance company or broader…