Data Architect

Job Title: Data Architect – Technical Lead Location: Hybrid – up to 4 days onsite Washington DCClearance: U.S. Citizenship Required; Ability to Obtain Public Trust ClearancePosition Type: Full-Time Contractor Salary: $160,000 - $170,000 Position Overview We are seeking a Data Architect to support a federal agency’s Digital Transformation and Data Services program. This role will require strong enterprise level data architecture experience. The Architect role will design, integrate, and optimize the agency’s enterprise data architecture to support mission-critical analytics, interoperability, and cloud-based modernization initiatives. The Data Architect will serve as a strategic and technical leader, developing frameworks that unify diverse data sources into a scalable Integrated Data Environment (IDE). Candidates should have demonstratable mastery of data integration, architecture design, and governance-by-design principles, with a strong understanding of how to operationalize federal data strategies across multiple domains. Candidates will be working in a highly visible and integrated team environment. Key Responsibilities Architecture & Design Develop and maintain the agency’s enterprise data architecture, ensuring alignment with mission objectives, governance standards, and interoperability requirements. Lead design and optimization of cloud-native data pipelines leveraging Databricks, Spark, Kafka, Airflow, and AWS Glue. Establish reference architectures, standards, and models for structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data. Enable data sharing, lineage, and reuse across multiple mission systems and environments. Governance & Compliance Embed data governance and security controls directly into the data architecture. Support A&A processes, including eMASS documentation, POA&M tracking, and alignment with FedRAMP, FISMA, and RMF requirements. Implement and maintain metadata management and access control frameworks using Collibra, Enlighten BDP, or equivalent tools. Strategy & Modernization Advise leadership on architectural modernization, cloud migration, and data platform optimization. Develop data roadmaps, blueprints, and documentation supporting the agency’s long-term analytics and AI strategy. Collaborate with Engineers, Scientists, and Business Analysts to translate strategy into technical implementation. Evaluate emerging data technologies for scalability, interoperability, and compliance readiness. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Architecture, Information Systems, or related field (Master’s preferred). 15+ years of experience in data architecture, enterprise data management, or data integration. Expertise with Databricks, AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform data architectures. Strong proficiency in SQL, Python, and big data frameworks (Spark, Kafka, Airflow, AWS Glue). Deep understanding of data lakehouse, data mesh, and ETL/ELT pipeline architectures. Knowledge of federal cybersecurity and compliance standards (FedRAMP, FISMA, RMF). Proven experience guiding strategic data modernization initiatives within regulated environments. Preferred Qualifications Experience supporting federal digital transformation or enterprise data governance programs for DOD Clients including the Army, Air Force, Navy, or United States Coast Guard. Familiarity with Collibra, Enlighten BDP, Qlik, or similar platforms. Certification in AWS Data Architect, Azure Data Engineer, or related discipline. Working knowledge of Responsible AI, metadata-driven governance, and data ethics frameworks. Pay: $160,000.00 - $170,000.00 per year Benefits: 401(k) Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Work Location: Hybrid remote in Washington, DC 20032