Principal Software Engineer, Data Architecture

Mastercard • O’Fallon, VA

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About The Position

Mastercard’s Data & Analytics organization is seeking a visionary Principal Software Engineer, Data Architecture to shape and evolve our global enterprise data architecture. Reporting to the SVP, this role serves as the senior technical authority defining how data is designed, governed, secured, and distributed across Mastercard’s complex, global ecosystem.
You will set the architectural vision for modernizing data platforms across a hybrid cloud and on premises environment, supporting both high throughput batch processing and low latency, real time use cases. Your leadership will enable Mastercard’s “edge everywhere, run anywhere” strategy, allowing products and platforms to deploy data workloads consistently, securely, and at scale across our worldwide footprint.
This role combines deep hands on technical expertise with enterprise influence, enabling Mastercard to unlock the full value of its data while meeting stringent regulatory, resiliency, and performance requirements.

Requirements

• Proven experience operating as a Principal Engineer or equivalent, leading enterprise scale data architecture or platform strategy.
• Deep expertise designing, building, and operating distributed data systems at global scale.
• Hands on experience with technologies such as Apache Spark, Kafka, Flink, and NiFi.
• Demonstrated success modernizing data platforms using cloud native architectures across AWS, Azure, and/or GCP.
• Experience integrating AI driven capabilities into data platforms, with appropriate governance and guardrails for emerging use cases, including agentic commerce.
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, and regulatory compliance in highly regulated, global environments.
• Proven ability to lead and influence architectural initiatives within Agile, SAFe, or product centric delivery models, partnering effectively with product, engineering, and business stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical and business decisions at all levels, including C-suite stakeholders.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to executive and non technical audiences.
• Strong Decency Quotient (DQ) with a track record of building inclusive, collaborative, high performing teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Data Science, or a related quantitative field, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

• Strong executive presence with the ability to translate complex architecture concepts into business language.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the foundational technical leader for enterprise data architecture, partnering closely with the SVP and senior technology leadership.
• Act as a trusted advisor to C suite and executive stakeholders, translating business strategy into scalable data architecture decisions.
• Define and evolve the global data architecture roadmap across hybrid (cloud + on prem) environments.
• Architect secure, resilient solutions that meet global regulatory and compliance mandates, including GDPR, ISO 20022, and regional data localization requirements.
• Champion Data Mesh principles, treating data as a product with federated ownership, governance, and self service enablement.
• Establish organization wide architecture standards and development best practices through the Data & Analytics Architecture Review Board.
• Lead the modernization of legacy data platforms to cloud native architectures across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
• Drive adoption of modern data technologies, including Databricks, Snowflake, Delta Lake, and streaming platforms.
• Enable both real time and batch analytics use cases to support high availability, mission critical workloads.
• Mentor and influence global engineering teams, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and thoughtful risk taking.

Benefits

• insurance (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, disability, life insurance)
• flexible spending account and health savings account
• paid leaves (including 16 weeks of new parent leave and up to 20 days of bereavement leave)
• 80 hours of Paid Sick and Safe Time, 25 days of vacation time and 5 personal days, pro-rated based on date of hire
• 10 annual paid U.S. observed holidays
• 401k with a best-in-class company match
• deferred compensation for eligible roles
• fitness reimbursement or on-site fitness facilities
• eligibility for tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

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