Data Architect

The Aerospace Corporation • Chantilly, VA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space. The Digital Innovation Division (DID) is accountable for generating and executing integrated strategies, providing governance, and managing internal investments that form the foundation of Aerospace’s digital transformation. The Digital Innovation Division is seeking an experienced Data Architect to design, govern, and modernize enterprise data capabilities across a complex technical environment. This role will be responsible for developing scalable data architectures, improving data interoperability, enabling trusted analytics, and supporting the organization’s broader digital transformation goals. You will work across mission, business, engineering, cybersecurity, and IT stakeholders to ensure that data is treated as a strategic asset. The ideal candidate will bring strong technical depth, practical implementation experience, and the ability to translate enterprise needs into durable data architecture patterns, standards, and solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science , Data Engineering, Computer Engineering, SW Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field (or equivalent work experience).
• 7 + years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or data operations
• Significant experience designing enterprise data architectures in complex organizations.
• Strong knowledge of data modeling, data integration, metadata management, data quality, and data governance.
• Experience with modern data platforms such as cloud data warehouses, data lakes, lakehouses , relational databases, NoSQL stores, or distributed processing platforms.
• Experience designing APIs, data pipelines, data exchange patterns, or integration architectures.
• Working knowledge of security, access control, compliance, and data protection principles.
• Demonstrated ability to produce architecture artifacts, technical standards, and implementation roadmaps.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a strategic mindset and the ability to design and evolve enterprise-scale data ecosystems.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing across diverse teams.
• Demonstrated ability for innovation, creativeness, resourcefulness, and initiative.
• Position requires ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government.
• U.S. citizenship is to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in STEM or other technical discipline.
• 1 0 + years of increasingly responsible professional experience in data engineering, data architecture, or data operations, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.
• Certifications in cloud (AWS, Azure), DevOps, or security (CISSP, CISA).
• Direct mission experience in the national space domain, missile defense, and/or remote sensing.
• Experience with tools such as Databricks, Snowflake, PostgreSQL, Neo4j, Kafka, Airflow, dbt , Collibra, Alation, Informatica, or similar platforms.
• Experience with AI/ML data preparation, feature stores, vector databases, knowledge graphs, or retrieval-augmented generation architectures.
• Experience supporting classified, cross-domain, or multi-network environments.
• Familiarity with DevSecOps , DataOps , GitOps , CI/CD, infrastructure-as-code, and automated data quality testing.
• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks, architecture review boards, or technical governance bodies.
• Current DoD TS and SSBI/SCI Clearance

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain enterprise data architecture frameworks, reference architectures, design patterns, and standards.
• Define target-state data architectures that support analytics, AI/ML, digital engineering, mission applications, and enterprise reporting.
• Assess current-state data environments, identify gaps, and develop practical roadmaps for modernization.
• Design architectures for structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data across cloud, on-premises, hybrid, and classified networks
• Design conceptual, logical, and physical data models for enterprise and mission systems.
• Support integration across legacy systems, data platforms, software factories, analytics environments, and business applications.
• Ensure architecture decisions align with governance, security, compliance, privacy, and mission requirements.
• Advise on data platform capabilities, including data lakes, warehouses, lakehouses , catalogs, pipelines, streaming platforms, knowledge graphs, and API layers.
• Architect data foundations that enable reliable AI/ML development, model training, retrieval-augmented generation, advanced analytics, and operational decision support.
• Translate technical architecture concepts into clear guidance for executives, program leaders, engineers, analysts, and data owners.
• Facilitate architecture reviews, working groups, and design sessions.
• Produce clear architecture artifacts, including diagrams, roadmaps, standards, decision records, and implementation guidance.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior