Senior Data Architect
About The Position
The Senior Data Architect is the experienced, journey-level architecture professional who leads data architecture for complex, multi-source initiatives and serves as a mentor to less experienced architects. This role is central to DTS's Unified Data Platform strategy — designing the data architecture foundation that enables AI-infused experiences, product analytics, and operational intelligence. The Senior Data Architect works independently, defines technical standards for data architecture within assigned areas, and is the domain authority for integration architecture, API connectivity design, and Python-based automation. The Senior Data Architect position reports to the Director, Data Platform Architecture & Operations and can be based out of our home office in Topeka, Kansas, or remotely for the right candidate. We work a hybrid schedule, offering flexibility to work both remotely and on-site.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Management, or related field
- Minimum 5 years of experience in data architecture or data engineering, with significant architecture ownership
- Hands-on experience with Snowflake; deep familiarity with ELT tooling (Fivetran, Coalesce, dbt, or equivalent)
- Strong experience with AWS data services (S3, Glue, Lambda, Step Functions, API Gateway)
- Proficiency in Python for data engineering automation, architecture validation scripting, and shared tooling development
- Experience designing and governing REST and event-driven API integration patterns for data ingestion and inter-system connectivity
- Understanding of data governance, data lineage, and data quality practices
Nice To Haves
- Collibra or equivalent catalog experience preferred
- Experience in financial services or regulated industry preferred
Responsibilities
- Lead data architecture for complex, multi-source initiatives including enterprise data pipelines, platform migrations, API-based integrations, and third-party system integrations
- Define and enforce data architecture standards, pipeline design patterns, and API integration patterns within the domain
- Architect data solutions on Snowflake, Coalesce, Fivetran, and AWS (Lambda, Glue, S3, Step Functions, API Gateway); ensure alignment between ingestion, transformation, and storage patterns under the Snowflake-First architecture
- Lead API integration architecture for data ingestion from REST, GraphQL, and event-driven API sources; define API contract evaluation standards and source system connectivity patterns
- Develop and maintain Python-based tooling for architecture validation, automation scripting, and shared engineering utilities across the architecture team
- Lead data architecture and integration design reviews for significant data initiatives within the domain
- Lead migration architecture for legacy-to-modern data platform transitions (MS SQL Server/SSIS to Snowflake/ACUMEN), including report repointing from CDR, FAR, MCS, and SQL Server to Snowflake
- Partner with Data Governance team to ensure designs support lineage, quality, and classification requirements; govern Collibra catalog alignment
- Document architectural decisions using ADRs and maintain the domain architecture knowledge base in Confluence
- Mentor Data Architects (IC2) and provide architectural guidance to Data Engineers
Benefits
- Competitive salary and annual incentive bonuses
- 33 days of paid time off (including PTO, holidays, Volunteer Day, and days of significance)
- Paid parental leave after 90 days of service
- Comprehensive medical, dental & vision insurance
- 401(k) with company match
- Profit Sharing & Savings Plan
- Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts for medical and dependent care
- Life Insurance
- Educational assistance
- Associate assistance programs
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
