Senior Data Architect / Data Engineer

Jahnel Group • Schenectady, NY

2d • Remote

About The Position

Jahnel Group is seeking a Senior Data Architect / Data Engineer to lead a complex data transformation and migration initiative. This role involves making sense of data across approximately 11 legacy systems and shaping a unified or semi-unified data model. The ideal candidate will have strong data modeling judgment, the ability to understand inconsistent source data, and know when a canonical model is appropriate. This is a hands-on role where you will be expected to write scripts for migration and transformation, and provide technical guidance to less experienced team members.

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or a closely related field.
• Strong experience designing data architecture and data models for complex enterprise environments.
• Proven experience working with legacy systems and large-scale data transformation or migration efforts.
• Strong understanding of relational data modeling, data structures, schemas, mappings, and normalization.
• Demonstrated ability to determine when a canonical data model is appropriate and when a more flexible approach is needed.
• Strong SQL skills and the ability to quickly write scripts for data transformation and migration.
• Experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and cloud-based data environments.
• Comfortable working hands-on while also making high-level architectural decisions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to bring structure to ambiguous or messy data environments.
• Experience mentoring or advising other data engineers and helping less experienced team members grow.
• Experience with Git-based development workflows; GitLab experience is a plus.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• GitLab experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and guide data architecture for a complex transformation and migration initiative spanning approximately 11 legacy systems.
• Analyze highly varied source data, potentially including roughly 400 form variants and source structures.
• Develop unified or semi-unified data models that balance consistency, flexibility, and long-term maintainability.
• Make thoughtful architectural decisions around canonical data models, mappings, transformations, and source-specific variations.
• Write and ship scripts quickly to support data migration, transformation, validation, and cleanup.
• Identify data quality issues, inconsistencies, and structural gaps across legacy systems and develop practical solutions.
• Collaborate with technical and business stakeholders to understand existing data structures and future-state requirements.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to junior and mid-level data team members.
• Help establish patterns and best practices that reduce rework and support future data initiatives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior