Director of Data Architect
About The Position
The Director of Data Architect will define and communicate ABC Fitness’s data architecture strategy, roadmap, and standards, leading the evolution of data processing from batch and latency-driven systems toward real-time data capabilities. The role partners with executive, product, and engineering leaders to connect architecture decisions to business and customer outcomes, and identifies practical ways AI can improve engineering productivity, data generation, quality, and decision-making. The director leads, coaches, and develops a global team of four to five senior data architects and establishes consistent design review practices across the Data and Reporting organization. The position guides architecture decisions involving data quality, governance, security, compliance, scalability, and reliability; partners with Product leaders early in planning; communicates technical strategies to executive and technical audiences; and builds alignment across teams beyond direct reporting relationships. Success includes an executive-supported architecture strategy, launched initial real-time capabilities with a roadmap for continued transformation, shared standards across Data and Reporting, everyday use of AI to improve data capabilities, early architecture-team involvement in strategic decisions, and a highly capable, trusted team.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or a related discipline, including experience leading senior technical professionals.
- Demonstrated experience moving data platforms from batch processing toward real-time or near-real-time architectures.
- Deep experience with modern cloud data platforms and lakehouse architecture.
- Strong foundations in data modeling, data warehousing, data governance, and distributed data systems.
- Working knowledge of SQL and Python sufficient to review designs and engage credibly with engineers.
- Practical experience using AI in your own work, along with sound judgment about where AI creates meaningful value.
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to make technical strategy clear to executive leaders and design decisions clear to engineers.
- Demonstrated ability to influence product and engineering partners without relying solely on formal authority.
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
Nice To Haves
- Experience with AWS, Databricks, Delta Lake, and Unity Catalog.
- Experience in fitness, wellness, SaaS, payments, or another subscription-based business.
- Experience building customer-facing analytics or reporting products.
- Experience with Databricks SQL, Power BI, or comparable analytics platforms.
- Experience leading globally distributed teams across multiple time zones.
Responsibilities
- Define and communicate ABC’s data architecture strategy, roadmap, and standards.
- Lead the architectural evolution from batch and latency-driven processing toward real-time data.
- Partner with executive, product, and engineering leaders to connect data architecture decisions to business and customer outcomes.
- Identify practical opportunities to use AI to improve engineering productivity, data generation, quality, and decision-making.
- Lead, coach, and develop a global team of four to five senior data architects.
- Establish consistent design review practices across the Data and Reporting organization.
- Guide architecture decisions related to data quality, governance, security, compliance, scalability, and reliability.
- Partner with Product leaders early in the planning process to shape data and reporting capabilities.
- Explain complex technical strategies clearly to executive and technical audiences.
- Build alignment across teams and influence decisions beyond direct reporting relationships.
Benefits
- Open PTO policy and flexible time off.
- Days of Disconnect: a collective day off once a quarter.
- Parental and Pawternity Leave.
- Quarterly fitness-journey reimbursement through the Best Life Perk.
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Premium Calm App subscription for the employee and up to four dependents over age 16.
- Other benefits are available but not specified.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
