Principal Data Architect | Remote

Lifeway Christian Resources•Remote,

22h•Remote

About The Position

Lifeway is seeking a Principal Data Architect to serve as a senior technical and strategic leader responsible for designing, governing, and evolving our enterprise data landscape. Working closely with our Business Intelligence and Master Data teams, you will set the architectural direction for data integration, warehousing, master data management, and AI-readiness across the organization. This is a remote role with significant cross-functional influence — ideal for a seasoned data architect who is energized by both technical depth and strategic leadership in a mission-driven environment.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field, required
10+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, software development, or data architecture roles
5+ years in a senior or principal-level data architecture capacity with ownership of enterprise-scale data programs
Deep expertise in data warehousing strategies (Inmon, Kimball, lake-house architecture)
Proven experience designing Data Mesh architecture including domain ownership models and data product definitions
Strong background in ETL/ELT design and data integration patterns including batch, micro-batch, and streaming
Hands-on experience with enterprise integration platforms (Kafka, dbt, Airflow or equivalents)
Experience with cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, or Google BigQuery
Proficiency in Python, SQL, Scala, or Java with experience in modern software delivery practices
Deep knowledge of Master Data Management principles, tooling, and implementation patterns
Ability to travel to the Middle Tennessee area 2-4 times annually for team gatherings
Actively involved in an evangelical Christian church

Nice To Haves

Masters degree in a related field, preferred
Advanced graduate degree (PhD, etc.), not required
Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field
Familiarity with data cataloging, metadata management, and data observability tools
Experience with data governance frameworks and regulatory compliance requirements
Ability to build and present data architecture roadmaps tied to measurable business outcomes

Responsibilities

Lives out Lifeway’s mission and values, showing deep commitment to Kingdom work
Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture roadmap, aligning data strategy with long-term business priorities and technology goals
Lead the design and evolution of data platforms including data warehouse and lake-house architecture
Develop and champion a Data Mesh strategy enabling domain-oriented data ownership, self-serve data infrastructure, and federated governance
Architect and oversee enterprise data integration patterns including batch ETL, real-time streaming, and event-driven architectures
Establish standards for data pipelines, transformation logic, lineage tracking, and integration frameworks across on-premises and cloud environments
Lead efforts to make the organization's data AI-ready to support machine learning and AI applications
Drive adoption of data contracts and data product thinking to improve reliability and trust in data assets
Lead the design of Master Data Management integrations and provide technical leadership across MDM initiatives
Act as a strategic advisor on data initiatives across business units, ensuring architectural soundness and alignment with enterprise standards
Provide technical mentorship and architectural guidance to data engineers, BI developers, and MDM Software Engineers
Limited travel: 2-4 times per year, typically overnight