Azure Data Architect (W2 Contract)

The Data Architect leads the design and implementation of the enterprise data architecture, translating business and data strategy into scalable, governed, and high-performing data platforms and solutions. This role is accountable for delivering the data architecture vision and enabling execution of the enterprise data strategy, including data models, pipelines, platforms, and integration patterns that support analytics, reporting, and operational use cases. The Data Architect partners closely with business and IT stakeholders to ensure data is trusted, accessible, and aligned with enterprise architecture standards, while driving modernization and continuous improvement of data capabilities across the organization. Responsibilities

• Translate the enterprise data strategy into practical data architecture, platforms, and implementation roadmaps aligned to business and analytics needs.
• Engage with business and IT stakeholders to gather requirements and define end-to-end data architecture solutions.
• Define and govern enterprise data architecture standards, including data models, data pipelines, integration patterns, and platform design.
• Design and build scalable data platforms and pipelines, including data lakes, data warehouses, and cloud-based data platforms to support analytics and reporting.
• Establish and enforce data modeling standards, including logical, physical, and dimensional models across systems and domains.
• Design and optimize data ingestion, transformation, and integration patterns (ETL/ELT) to ensure reliable and efficient data movement across systems.
• Ensure the data architecture supports data quality, data lineage, metadata management, and governance frameworks in alignment with enterprise standards.
• Collaborate with architects and engineers to define architecture enablers, guide solution design, and support implementation activities.
• Work closely with data engineering and Agile delivery teams to ensure the architecture is implemented effectively across delivery cycles.
• Lead the evaluation and selection of data technologies, tools, and platforms, including conducting proof-of-concepts for new solutions.
• Develop and maintain data architecture roadmaps, including strategies for modernization, consolidation, and performance optimization.
• Drive modernization of legacy data and reporting platforms to improve scalability, performance, usability, and maintainability.
• Ensure alignment between data, application, and infrastructure architectures across the enterprise.
• Participate in Agile and Program Increment (PI) planning to align teams to a shared technical direction and architectural standards.
• Act as a technical expert and leader, mentoring teams and driving adoption of best practices across data architecture and data engineering.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or data platform design.
• Proven experience designing and implementing data pipelines, data lakes, and data warehouses.
• Hands-on experience with cloud data platforms, including Azure Synapse, Azure Data Factory, and Microsoft Fabric.
• Strong understanding of data modeling techniques, including logical, physical, and dimensional modeling.
• Strong knowledge of ETL/ELT patterns and data integration best practices.
• Experience implementing data architectures that are aligned to business and analytics needs.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across business, architecture, and engineering teams.
• Expertise with Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.
• Expertise with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS).
• Proficiency in T-SQL for querying and data transformation.
• Experience with Azure SQL Databases.
• Experience with Azure Blob Storage.
• Experience with Azure App Services.
• Experience with Microsoft Azure Synapse, Data Factory, and Fabric.
• Experience with Microsoft Power BI, including report development and administration.
• Experience with data modeling tools such as Idera ER/Studio.
• Experience in data warehouse design and data analytics concepts.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated success in managing and/or completing projects from inception through delivery.

Additional Skills and Qualifications

• Experience serving in a senior or lead capacity, providing both technical leadership and hands-on implementation support.
• Experience working in Agile environments and participating in PI planning or similar scaled planning activities.
• Background in modernizing legacy data and reporting platforms to cloud-based or modern architectures.
• Ability to mentor and guide data engineers and other technical team members on best practices in data architecture.
• Comfort evaluating and piloting new data technologies and tools through proof-of-concept initiatives.
• Ability to operate effectively in a hybrid work model or fully remote environment, depending on location.
• Residence in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia, or Texas for fully remote eligibility.

This role operates within a modern, enterprise technology environment that leverages the Microsoft data and analytics ecosystem, including SQL Server, SSIS, T-SQL, Azure SQL Databases, Azure Blob Storage, Azure App Services, Azure Synapse, Azure Data Factory, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, and Idera ER/Studio. Work is highly collaborative, involving regular interaction with architects, engineers, and business stakeholders, often within Agile delivery frameworks and PI planning cycles. The position is structured as a hybrid role for local candidates, with the option for fully remote work for individuals residing in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia, or Texas. The work focuses on designing and modernizing data platforms and pipelines in a professional setting that emphasizes quality, governance, and continuous improvement, without a prescribed physical dress code specified.