Application Data Architect - Data Streaming

Techstra Solutions•Pittsburgh, PA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a senior Application Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of complex, event-driven data ecosystems within a retail banking environment. In this role, you will act as a foundational architect, defining how data flows across the enterprise—from legacy on-premise mainframes to modern, high-throughput streaming platforms. The ideal candidate is an expert in data movement and integration, with a deep specialization in Kafka and API-led connectivity. You will be responsible for ensuring that our data architecture is scalable, resilient, and compliant, serving as the bridge between business objectives and technical execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
10+ years of progressive experience in enterprise data architecture or senior engineering.
Deep Expertise in Kafka: Proven experience architecting complex, large-scale data streaming environments in high-concurrency settings.
API Architecture: Extensive background in designing and managing API-first architectures within hybrid (cloud/on-premise) environments.
Data Integration: Proficiency in designing data flows across disparate systems, including mainframes, legacy databases, and modern data platforms.
Banking Domain Expertise: Solid understanding of retail banking workflows, transaction processing, and data sensitivity requirements.
Architectural Communication: Ability to define and document "big picture" data strategies and mentor engineering teams on best practices.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience applying the BIAN architectural reference model to banking technology design is heavily preferred.
Experience working in highly regulated environments with stringent disaster recovery and data security mandates.
Experience migrating legacy batch-processing systems to real-time event-driven architectures.
Relevant architecture certifications (e.g., TOGAF, Confluent Certified Architect for Apache Kafka, or equivalent).

Responsibilities

Own the architectural strategy for high-volume data streaming using Kafka, defining patterns for real-time ingestion, event processing, and complex data pipeline orchestration.
Architect comprehensive API-led integration solutions (REST/SOAP/gRPC) that enable secure and efficient data exchange between modern cloud services and on-premise core banking platforms.
Establish canonical data models and integration contracts that enforce data consistency across the enterprise.
Partner with data governance teams to enforce strict data quality, lineage, and PII handling standards, ensuring all streaming and integration patterns remain audit-ready.
Provide architecture guidance and oversight throughout the development lifecycle, focusing on system performance, scalability, and the reduction of technical debt.
Design solutions that align with financial services architectural frameworks—specifically leveraging the BIAN (Banking Industry Architecture Network) reference model where applicable—to standardize service definitions and business capabilities.
Translate complex data architecture requirements into executive-level blueprints, acting as the subject matter expert for data streaming and API strategy.