Freelance - Principal Data Architect

RAPP•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

RAPP Chicago is looking for a XXX to join our award-winning XXX team. WHO WE ARE: We are RAPP – world leaders in activating growth with precision and empathy at scale. As a global, next-generation precision marketing agency we leverage data, creativity, technology, and empathy to foster client growth. We champion individuality in the marketing solutions we create, and in our workplace. We fight for solutions that adapt to the individual’s needs, beliefs, behaviors, and aspirations. We foster an inclusive workplace that emphasizes personal well-being. HOW WE DO IT: At RAPP, our fearless superconnectors help to create value from personal brand experiences by focusing on three key areas: connected data, connected content and connected decisioning. Our data analysts identify who that person is, our strategists understand what they want, and our award-winning technologists and creatives know how to deliver it – ensuring we’re able to activate authentic customer connections for our clients. Part of Omnicom’s Precision Marketing Group, RAPP is comprised of 2,000+ creatives, technologists, strategists, and data and marketing scientists across 15+ global markets. YOUR ROLE: We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Data Architect (Consultant) to guide our organization in designing, implementing, and optimizing enterprise data architecture. This role is critical in shaping data strategy, ensuring scalability, and enabling advanced analytics and AI-driven solutions. As a consultant, you will provide thought leadership, evaluate current systems, and recommend best practices to maximize the value of data assets.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related fields.
Proven consulting experience with enterprise clients across industries.
Deep expertise in modern data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, BigQuery, Synapse).
Strong knowledge of data modeling, ETL/ELT, streaming technologies (Airflow, Kafka, Kinesis), and API-based integrations.
Experience with cloud ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid data architectures.
Solid understanding of data governance, security, and compliance frameworks.
Strong communication skills to translate complex data concepts into business terms.

Nice To Haves

Experience with AI/ML data readiness and MLOps integration.
Familiarity with data mesh, data fabric, or distributed data architectures.
Certifications in cloud platforms or data management frameworks.

Responsibilities

Strategic Data Architecture Define and implement enterprise-wide data architecture strategy aligned with business goals.
Develop and maintain data models (conceptual, logical, physical) that support operational and analytical needs.
Evaluate emerging data technologies and recommend adoption strategies.
Consulting & Advisory Assess current state of data platforms, pipelines, and governance frameworks.
Provide expert recommendations to improve scalability, security, and performance.
Advise executives and stakeholders on data modernization initiatives (e.g., cloud migration, data mesh, data fabric).
Data Management & Governance Establish standards for data quality, metadata management, lineage, and master data.
Partner with data governance teams to ensure compliance with regulatory and security requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA).
Solution Design & Delivery Design and oversee implementation of data warehouses, data lakes, and streaming platforms.
Ensure integration across structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data sources.
Define reference architectures and reusable frameworks for data pipelines and APIs.
Collaboration & Leadership Partner with business units, engineering teams, and analytics teams to ensure solutions meet requirements.
Mentor and guide data engineers, analysts, and architects on best practices.
Act as a trusted advisor to CDOs, CIOs, and other senior leaders.