Distinguished Architect, IT, Data and AI Integration

Edwards Lifesciences • Irvine, CA

2d • $156,000 - $221,000

About The Position

Innovation starts from the heart. At Edwards Lifesciences, we’re dedicated to developing ground-breaking technologies with a genuine impact on patients’ lives. At the core of this commitment is our investment in cutting-edge information technology. This supports our innovation and collaboration on a global scale, enabling our diverse teams to optimize both efficiency and success. As part of our IT team, your expertise and commitment will help facilitate our patient-focused mission by developing and enhancing technological solutions. We’re a leading enterprise organization at the forefront of innovation, managing complex data landscapes across multiple business units. As we continue to evolve our data strategy, we’re seeking a Distinguished Architect, Data and AI Integration to serve as a key technical advisor and collaborator across our Data & Analytics and AI Integration organization. This role is pivotal in driving architectural excellence, eliminating redundancies in our tooling ecosystem, and modernizing our data processes to support scalable, efficient operations. If you thrive in horizontal collaboration, have a knack for spotting and resolving bottlenecks, and are passionate about building reusable frameworks that align with emerging business needs, this is an opportunity to make a significant impact in a patient-focused dynamic environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field
• 12+ years of progressive experience in enterprise, data, and/or software architecture, with a strong emphasis on data architecture, ETL frameworks, and integrations in large-scale environments.
• 3 years of solid performance in an architect role working with cross-functional teams (within IT and/or within the business) on enterprise-level or complex / novel system implementations
• 3 years of relevant industry experience (e.g., medical device, pharmaceuticals, etc.) or in highly regulated environments
• Certifications in related disciplines and architecture frameworks (e.g., TOGAF Enterprise Architect, COBIT, ITIL, CDMP, OCP)
• Hands-on experience with modern data tools such as AWS Glue, Azure Data Factory, Snowflake, Databricks, and CI/CD platforms (e.g., GitHub/GitLab), as well as workflow tools like Jira and Confluence. Expertise with any combination of these is welcome.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to design and implement Databricks lakehouse architectures to support data and AI needs.
• Proven track record in modernizing data ecosystems, including migrations to cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and implementing medallion architectures for data lakes.
• Deep expertise in designing metadata-driven ETL solutions, MLOps pipelines, and enterprise middleware to simplify complex data integrations.
• Strong background in programming (e.g., Java, SQL, Python) and methodologies such as Agile/Scrum, with the ability to lead DevOps transformations and secure implementations (e.g., multi-factor authentication, zero-trust models).
• Exceptional collaboration skills, with experience working as a technical right-hand to senior leadership and influencing cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to publish thought leadership or contribute to industry discussions on data architecture topics.

Responsibilities

• Partner closely with leadership to shape and execute enterprise-wide data architecture strategies, focusing on streamlining redundant BI, ETL, and data tools while promoting modernization and integration across platforms.
• Lead the design and deployment of scalable data ecosystems, including ETL processes, data lakes, and AI-driven integrations, ensuring they are secure, performant, and adaptable to future needs.
• Develop proof-of-concepts for AI-enhanced reporting, chatbots, and automation, integrating them into business-critical processes to drive decision-making and operational agility.
• Stay ahead of industry trends in data architecture, AI/ML operations (MLOps), cloud services, and enterprise tools, proactively recommending and piloting solutions to address upcoming challenges in analytics and AI integration.
• Identify architectural bottlenecks in current systems, design innovative solutions to resolve them, and implement reusable frameworks that enhance data pipelines, governance, and overall efficiency.
• Collaborate horizontally with functional leads across engineering, IT, and business teams to align data initiatives with organizational goals, fostering a culture of shared best practices and cross-platform interoperability.
• Oversee data migrations, metadata-driven frameworks, and automation efforts to optimize workflows, reduce costs, and improve data reliability and accessibility.
• Champion IT governance and agile methodologies, guiding teams both in and outside of IT in adopting best in class data tools set forth as standards by our Enterprise Data & Analytics organization.
• Develop, institute, and maintain the IT design methodology, development process methodology, technology standards, and best practices.
• Compile or design enterprise and reference architectural models of current and proposed systems across the enterprise for use internally and in conjunction with external technology partners.
• Provide training, coaching and knowledge transfer to team members on new and emerging technologies
• Provide oversight to ensure compliance with architectural standards and practices through all aspects of planning, execution, and operation

Benefits

• Aligning our overall business objectives with performance, we offer competitive salaries, performance-based incentives, and a wide variety of benefits programs to address the diverse individual needs of our employees and their families.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees