Senior Data Architect

Qode•Texas, TX

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Data Architect to lead the design, governance, and evolution of data platforms supporting Commercial Banking , with a strong focus on Payments , Treasury Services , and Merchant Services . This individual will define enterprise‑grade data architectures, modernize legacy platforms, and ensure our data strategy aligns with key business outcomes—risk reduction, operational efficiency, innovation in payment rails, and world-class customer experiences. This role requires a blend of deep domain expertise , strong data engineering and architecture skills , and the ability to collaborate with business stakeholders across products, operations, risk, and technology.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise architecture.
Proven experience in Commercial Banking , specifically within Payments or Merchant Services domains.
Deep knowledge of payment instruments and rails: ACH, Wires, RTP, SWIFT, card networks, tokenization.
Hands-on experience with: o Data modeling (relational, dimensional, NoSQL) o SQL, Python, Spark, PySpark o ETL/ELT tools (Informatica, DBT, Talend, ADF, Glue, etc.) o Streaming technologies (Kafka, Event Hub, Kinesis) o MDM, metadata management, data lineage tools
Solid understanding of data security and compliance frameworks.

Nice To Haves

Experience with payment hubs , merchant gateways, issuing/acquiring platforms.
Knowledge of advanced analytics, machine learning, and real-time decisioning.
Familiarity with modern architecture: microservices, event-driven, and API-first design.
Prior experience leading data modernization or cloud migration programs.
Strong communication skills with the ability to interact with senior leadership.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain target-state data architecture for Commercial Banking Payments and Merchant Services.
Architect scalable, secure, and high‑performance data models spanning payment processing , merchant acquiring , settlement , chargebacks , fraud , and dispute management .
Define canonical data models and standards for ACH, RTP, Wires, card transactions, and merchant transaction lifecycle.
Lead architecture for on-premise and cloud-based data platforms supporting real-time and batch processing.
Partner with engineering teams to design robust data pipelines , streaming solutions (Kafka/Kinesis/EventHub), and data APIs .
Oversee data ingestion from core systems: payment hubs, card networks, merchant gateways, core banking, transaction monitoring, and risk decision engines.
Provide subject-matter expertise on: o ACH, Wires, RTP, etc. o Merchant onboarding and KYC o Settlement, reconciliation, interchange, and fee structures o Fraud, AML/BSA, risk monitoring
Translate payment and merchant services business requirements into scalable data solutions.
Establish and enforce data governance , metadata standards, lineage tracking, and data quality frameworks.
Work closely with compliance and risk teams to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
Advise executives, product leaders, and technology partners on data strategies that unlock business value.
Drive architectural decisions for new product offerings, modernization initiatives, and digital payment innovations.
Conduct architecture reviews, proof-of-concepts, and assessments of vendor or fintech solutions.