Data Architect Sr

Southern Company•Birmingham, AL

20h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Data Architect, Generation Technology Solutions, partners with supported data and analytics organizations to support the Generation Lakehouse and business and analytics solutions that use its data. This strategic role focuses on solution design, data architecture, and system integration. The architect evaluates business requirements, develops technical solution proposals and conceptual designs, provides cost estimates and technical input for business cases, and works across the Technology Organization (TO) to identify infrastructure and services needed to support the business. The position is a key interface between business partners and TO for security, standards, and lakehouse administration. As a data and analytics advocate within TO, the architect helps accomplish business objectives within TO policies and standards and owns the development of data management and integration strategy for business partners. The role works with data and analytics organizations and Generation Technology leadership to develop information management strategy for the generation fleet, including business-focused data modeling. It provides technical leadership on selected projects through design and analysis sessions, interface design, mentoring, troubleshooting, technology selection, and delivery across the project lifecycle. The position requires independent work, analysis, research, problem-solving, and technical proposals addressing business processes. The work location is Birmingham, Alabama, with an onsite schedule of four days per week and one remote day.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or an equivalent technology area.
Experience with Microsoft Azure cloud and data services.
Experience with Databricks and lakehouse architecture, including Unity Catalog, Delta Lake, and workspace administration.
Understanding of REST APIs and modern data integration patterns.
Experience with identity and access management, role-based access control, and data security standards.
Experience with modern data ingestion and ETL tools, such as Azure Data Factory, Databricks jobs and workflows, and SQL.
Familiarity with AI-assisted coding technologies.
Experience with code-scanning technologies and secure development practices.
Experience with GitHub for source control, collaboration, and CI/CD.
Ability to envision, define, and shape innovative concepts and system solutions in response to evolving requirements, technology, and market capabilities.
Ability to assess emerging technologies and concepts for their potential to meet business needs.
Expert knowledge of computing infrastructure and architectural design concepts and their application to strategic and tactical architecture decisions.
Knowledge of business and energy-industry trends, opportunities, and challenges.
Strong understanding of application development, software evaluation practices, and enterprise design.
Ability to build productive relationships and cooperate with business and TO teams.
Ability to build consensus, present a strategic vision, and influence others.
Exceptional analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to handle multiple assignments and conflicting priorities, prioritize work, and execute tasks independently in a high-pressure environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and effective verbal and written communication with clients, peers, and TO management at all levels.
Ability to present ideas in clear, easy-to-understand business language.
Ability to plan work and coordinate teams.
Knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws.
Demonstrated commitment to Southern Company's values.
Ability to work without direct supervision.

Responsibilities

Support cross-functional projects using artificial intelligence, data modeling, and analysis techniques to uncover insights and optimization opportunities.
Promote excellence in TO by communicating business needs and appropriate technical responses.
Administer the Generation Lakehouse in collaboration with the business architect, including platform security, access management, standards, and configuration.
Promote and deploy Databricks applications and solutions in accordance with TO standards, security requirements, and change-management processes.
Build, develop, and maintain data models, reporting systems, data automation systems, dashboards, and performance metrics that support key business decisions.
Provide consulting services to business customers.
Mentor others to grow their business knowledge.
Manage and optimize data intake, validation, data quality management, mining, engineering, modeling, visualization, and communication processes and deliverables.
Lead data ingestion and curation for the Generation Lakehouse, including designing and supporting systems, platforms, and pipelines that deliver trusted, analytics-ready data.
Examine, interpret, and report analytical initiative results to stakeholders in leadership, technology, sales, marketing, and product teams.
Organize and communicate results effectively to broad audiences at different organizational levels.
Build and maintain strong relationships with business partners, business analysts, peers, management, and vendors.
Evaluate technologies and contribute to strategic selection and planning, develop architectural drawings, and guide new architectures, technologies, and data connections through internal architectural governing bodies.
Coordinate with partners to ensure services are planned, budgeted, and completed to meet technical and budget requirements.
Represent Southern Company and demonstrate its values.
Evaluate business requirements and develop solution proposals, conceptual designs, cost estimates, and technical input for business cases.
Work across TO to identify infrastructure requirements and services needed by the business.
Develop information management strategy for the generation fleet, including business-perspective data modeling.
Provide technical leadership through project design, analysis, interface design, technology selection, and delivery.
Stay current on trends in data provisioning, application and data integration, big data, and business intelligence.
Develop working relationships with the Information Management Office and Development Strategies and Standards organizations.