Data Architects and Data Engineers

Vaco is seeking senior Data Architects and Data Engineers to lead the design and implementation of a modern cloud-based data platform, with exposure to Microsoft Fabric. This role is highly consultative and hands-on, focused on enterprise data architecture, pipeline development, analytics enablement, and knowledge transfer. The engagement is fully remote and contract-based., Lead Data Architecture and Data Engineering

Design end-to-end enterprise data architectures, including lakehouse, warehouse, streaming, and AI/ML integration patterns

Define reference architectures, metadata management strategies, and governance frameworks

Produce high-level and logical architecture diagrams aligned to agreed-upon use cases

Advisory & Consulting

Partner with client stakeholders to assess current-state data environments and identify modernization opportunities

Design future-state architectures aligned to business outcomes

Deliver architecture roadmaps and implementation blueprints

Platform & Environment Setup

Deploy and configure a Microsoft Fabric environment

Set up workspaces, capacities, security models, and supporting infrastructure

Define CI/CD patterns for promoting data and analytics assets

Data Engineering

Design and implement metadata-driven batch ingestion frameworks

Develop up to 10 production-grade data pipelines

Implement monitoring, observability, and remediation processes

Design dimensional data models optimized for analytics and reporting

Modern Cloud Data Platforms

Architect solutions using Azure data services (Microsoft Fabric, Synapse, Data Factory)

Experience with AWS (Redshift, Glue), GCP (BigQuery), or Databricks-based lakehouse architectures

Integrate modern tools for ingestion and transformation (ADF, Fivetran, dbt)

Support orchestration frameworks such as Airflow or Fabric Pipelines

Analytics & Reporting Enablement

Configure presentation-layer workspaces

Develop semantic data models

Deliver at least one Power BI report or dashboard to validate the solution

Document reporting and analytics processes

DataOps & MLOps Enablement

Design CI/CD, testing, and observability frameworks across data pipelines

Promote data quality, lineage, and reproducibility through modern DevOps practices

Support AI-ready data architectures where applicable

Enablement, Collaboration & Leadership

Lead technical workshops for client data teams covering architecture, data movement, and analytics

Work closely with engineering teams, business stakeholders, and cross-functional consultants

Provide mentorship to junior architects, engineers, and analysts, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

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10 years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or analytics consulting

Deep expertise with at least one major cloud platform (Azure, AWS, or GCP)

Strong understanding of lakehouse architectures, ETL/ELT design, and distributed data storage

Hands-on experience with Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, or Snowflake

Proficiency in SQL, Python, and enterprise data modeling (Kimball, Data Vault, or 3NF)

Familiarity with data governance, security models, and compliance frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA)

Experience with BI and analytics tools (Power BI, Tableau, Looker)

Strong communication skills with proven client-facing consulting experience

Preferred Qualifications

Cloud certifications (Azure, AWS, or GCP data services)

Experience designing AI-ready data architectures (feature stores, vector databases, model serving)

Understanding of data mesh and domain-driven design concepts

Prior experience in consulting or professional services environments

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.