> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2963165-lead-data-architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2963165-lead-data-architect). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Lead Data Architect - **Company:** Lockheed Martin - **Location:** Sunnyvale, CA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $185,400.0 - $344,400.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Airflow, Systems Engineering, Big Data, Computer Programming, Data Architecture, Data Dictionary, Data Integration, Information Management, Python (Programming Language), Logical Data Models, Machine Learning, SAP (Applications), SQL Databases, Apache Spark, Software Application Programming, Data Lakes, Pyspark, Information Technology, Apache Nifi, Data Pipelines, Databricks - **Published:** September 17, 2026 - **Apply:** https://dejobs.org/x/x/B0F61D4D379943649AEDFDEF5F2B4333/job/ ## About the Role * Bachelor's (or higher) in Computer Science, Systems Engineering, Information Management, or a related field. * 10 + years of large-scale data architecture/engineering experience, with at least 5 years focused on productizing data assets for enterprise consumption. * Significant experience designing/operationalizing ontologies. * Demonstrated ability to probe for and understand core customer needs as opposed to surface-level needs. * Strong programming skills in Python and SQL; proficient with Spark (PySpark/Scala) and deep experience with AI-assisted development. * Experience with data-integration/orchestration tools (e.g., NiFi, Airflow) for pipeline development. * Must be a US Citizen. Desired Skills * Experience with Databricks (Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Jobs/Workflows). * Experience with federated data models and ontologies. * Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills for cross-functional teamwork and internal-customer support. * Master's degree or advanced technical training (optional). * Databricks certifications (Data Engineer Associate/Professional) or comparable big-data credentials. * Experience developing applications leveraging genAI. ## Description * Partner with Data Product Owners to capture business requirements and create robust logical data models. * Design federated ontologies and knowledge-graph structures that enrich data products and support AI agents, AI reasoning, and analytics applications. * Ensure models deliver clean, well-documented feature sets for machine-learning pipelines; work with data scientists to embed model-ready attributes (feature stores, lineage metadata). * Define logical representations for SAP, Apriso, and other source systems and guide ingestion patterns that preserve semantic integrity. * Produce architecture artifacts (diagrams, data dictionaries, ontology catalogs) and enforce data-quality, security, and lineage standards. * Design data entities in a way so that they can be productized to ensure they meet the requirements of their documented use cases. * Collaborate with the Lead Data Engineer to validate designs. * Continuously improve modeling processes, promote ontology reuse, and stay current on semantic-modeling and Databricks advancements. * Advise on the technology stack used in team operations. ## Related Videos - [PySpark - Combining Machine Learning & Big Data](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/44-pyspark-combining-machine-learning-big-data) - [From Messy Queries to Scalable Systems - How Data Engineering actually works](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100203-from-messy-queries-to-scalable-systems-how-data-engineering-actually-works) - [Alibaba Big Data and Machine Learning Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/37-alibaba-big-data-and-machine-learning-technology) - [Data Science in Retail](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/586-data-science-in-retail) - [Empowering Retail Through Applied Machine Learning](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/976-empowering-retail-through-applied-machine-learning) - [Enjoying SQL data pipelines with dbt](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/823-enjoying-sql-data-pipelines-with-dbt) ## Related Articles - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Top Big Data Technologies That You Need to Know](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/108-top-big-data-technologies-that-you-need-to-know) - [Making Data Warehouses Fast: A Developer’s Story](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/107-making-data-warehouses-fast-a-developer-s-story) - [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering) - [Coffee with Developers - Maria Apazoglou - Making AI understandable for all in production](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/475-coffee-with-developers-maria-apazoglou-making-ai-understandable-for-all-in-production)