Data Architect

Position Summary The Data Engineer/Data Architect (Contractor) provides strategic and technical leadership in the design, implementation, and governance of data systems that support the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan’s mission to prevent kidney disease and improve quality of life for those living with it. We are seeking an experienced Data Engineer / Data Architect to design, build, and manage scalable data infrastructure that supports advanced analytics on complex healthcare datasets. The ideal candidate will have deep experience working with healthcare data such as Claims, EHR, and Lab data and will be responsible for building robust pipelines to ingest, transform, and manage large datasets for downstream analytics, reporting, and AI applications. This role will work closely with analytics, product, and NKFM teams to ensure high-quality, secure, and scalable data solutions. This role focuses on data architecture, integration, modeling, and platform optimization to ensure NKFM’s data ecosystem—particularly the CKD Dashboard and related systems—is scalable, secure, reliable, and fit for analytical and operational use. The contractor partners closely with analytics, programs, communications, IT, and external vendors to translate business and program requirements into well-structured data solutions and to strengthen NKFM’s long-term data foundation. Major Responsibilities Design and implement scalable data architectures and pipelines for healthcare data ingestion and processing. Build and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines to ingest data from multiple healthcare sources including claims, EHR, lab systems, and thirdparty data feeds. Develop and optimize data pipelines using Python, Spark, AWS Glue, and Databricks. Design and maintain data warehouses and data lakes using Snowflake or other relational database systems (RDS). Implement data transformation, normalization, and validation processes to ensure data accuracy and reliability. Enable data consumption for analytics, dashboards, AI/ML models, and reporting tools. Implement and enforce data security, privacy, and governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with healthcare regulations. Monitor and optimize data performance, pipeline reliability, and cost efficiency. Collaborate with data scientists, analysts, program experts and product teams to understand data requirements and support analytical initiatives. Serve as the subject matter expert for data architecture, data modeling, and system integration supporting NKFM analytics and reporting initiatives. Platform & Integration Strategy Design and oversee data ingestion and integration patterns across internal systems, vendor platforms, dashboards, and external data sources. Partner with vendors and internal teams to implement secure, automated, and auditable data pipelines. Ensure data architecture supports downstream analytics, dashboards, evaluation, and reporting needs without unnecessary complexity. Data Governance & Quality Establish and document data governance practices including data definitions, lineage, ownership, and access controls. Develop and enforce data quality standards, validation rules, and monitoring processes. Partner with analytics staff to ensure datasets are trustworthy, welldocumented, and reusable. Support compliance with HIPAA, privacy, security, and responsible datause requirements. Collaboration & Stakeholder Support Work closely with data scientists, analysts, program leaders, and leadership to understand current and future data needs. Translate business and program requirements into technical architecture solutions. Provide architectural guidance during new initiatives, system changes, or vendor onboarding. Represent data architecture considerations in planning meetings and project discussions. Position Qualifications: Education and Experience: 5+ years of experience in Data Engineering or Data Architecture roles. Healthcare data experience is required, including working with: o Medical Claims data, EHR/EMR data, Laboratory data Strong experience with Snowflake or other RDS / cloud data warehouse platforms Expertise building data pipelines and ETL/ELT workflows Strong programming experience with Python Experience with Apache Spark and distributed data processing Handson experience with AWS data stack, including: o AWS Glue Athena oS3 Airflow (or other orchestration tools) Experience with Databricks for largescale data processing Strong knowledge of data modeling, schema design, and performance optimization Understanding of healthcare data security and compliance (HIPAA or similar frameworks) Preferred Qualifications Experience with FHIR, HL7, or other healthcare interoperability standards. Experience supporting analytics platforms, BI tools, or AI/ML pipelines. Familiarity with data governance and metadata management tools. Experience building healthcare analytics platforms or data enclaves Healthcare Data Engineering Data Architecture Snowflake / Cloud Data Warehousing Python / Spark Databricks AWS Glue / Athena Airflow Data Security & Governance ETL / ELT Pipeline Development LargeScale Data Processing Competencies Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to nontechnical audiences. Strong problemsolving and systemsthinking skills. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with crossfunctional teams. High attention to detail, documentation quality, and data integrity. Commitment to ethical, responsible data use. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in both technical design and professional interactions. Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with diverse groups and stakeholders. Working Conditions Remote or office environment depending on project needs. Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver highquality work under time and funding constraints. Occasional offsite meetings or events may be required. Physical Requirements Ability to sit for extended periods. Ability to lift and carry up to 20 pounds (only if participating in onsite events). Compensation and Benefits The hourly rate range for this contractor position is typically $70–$110 per hour, commensurate with experience, technical depth, and project scope. This is an internal contractual position and is not eligible for NKFM employee benefits. Hours and contract duration depend on program funding and organizational priorities. Who We Are The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is a mission-driven organization dedicated to preventing kidney disease and improving the quality of life for those living with it. We pride ourselves on innovative health initiatives and measurable impact across Michigan. Our workforce has been key to NKFM being named a four-star charity by Charity Navigator every year since 2006 and a Platinum-level charity by Candid. More About Us We welcome diversity and highly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We are an equal employment opportunity for all regardless of race, color, citizenship, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran or reservist status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Learn more at https://nkfm.org/about-us/employment/ About The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan is a mission-driven organization dedicated to preventing kidney disease and improving the quality of life for those living with it. We pride ourselves on our innovative health initiatives and impact on the people of Michigan. We are dedicated to recruiting and retaining the best employees possible. Working for the NKFM provides a challenging, rewarding, educational, and supportive work environment with opportunity for professional and personal growth. Our workforce has been the key to the NKFM being named a four-star charity, each year since 2006 by Charity Navigator and a Platinum level charity by Candid.