Data Architect

Job Description

This position is responsible for establishing and evolving the organization’s data architecture using Databricks as the core data platform. In an early‑stage data environment, this role focuses on creating strong data foundations, enabling analytics and reporting, and guiding teams toward scalable, cost‑effective data practices.

• Define, maintain and evolve core data architecture models, flows, and platform standards.
• Design scalable data pipelines and foundational models (bronze/silver/gold).
• Define standards for ingestion, transformation, modeling, naming, access, and security.
• Translate business needs into practical, scalable data designs.
• Partner with engineering and analytics teams across modeling, integration, MDM, metadata, warehousing, lakes, and BI.
• Support early analytics, BI, and data science use cases.
• Guide teams on Databricks best practices.
• Maintain data architecture roadmaps and priorities.
• Balance short‑term delivery with long‑term scalability and articulate tradeoffs.
• Identify technical debt and propose incremental improvements.
• Act as a hands‑on advisor to resolve complex data issues.
• Evaluate emerging technologies to inform modernization and future investments.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related technology degree.
• Professional certificate or a graduate degree highly regarded.
• Minimum of 8‑10 years of experience in data architecture including data modeling, data integration, business intelligence (BI), data marts, data lakes and data warehousing, data architecture and data model design.
• Experience with Databricks, Azure Data Factory, and Power BI.
• Strong understanding of modern cloud data architecture, medallion architecture (bronze, silver, gold), and ELT patterns.
• Must be able to work and travel independently, manage multiple and competing demands.

FHLBank Topeka is an equal employment opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, parental status, citizenship status, disability, genetic information, military status, gender identity and expression or marital status.