Data Architect

DATA PLATFORM ARCHITECT: COPA is establishing a new CDAI Office to build enterprise data capabilities that will enable every agency to deliver improved digital services, data analytics and AI solutions. This is a technical leadership position for the implementation and continual evolution of the Commonwealth’s enterprise data platforms. Working under the direction of the Chief Data and AI Officer, this position designs, engineers, and delivers reusable cloud-based data products and shared services that enable agencies to securely develop digital services. The position establishes engineering practices, implementation standards, automation, and shared platform services that support enterprise modernization while enabling agencies to consume standardized capabilities rather than developing agency-specific solutions. This role will balance tech strategy with practical execution, partner with solution architects, data teams in delivery centers and enterprise tech teams such as security, governance. Key Responsibilities 1. Enterprise Platform Architecture • Define target architecture for an enterprise data platform • Multi-year roadmap aligned to enterprise modernization initiatives • Evaluate emerging tech while maintaining architectural consistency 1. Platform Engineering • Build MVP and mature cloud data platform over time • Set engineering standards and operational guardrails • Design secure multi-tenant environments capable of serving multiple agencies with data co-mingling considerations • Partner with CISO teams to implement IAM, encryption and audit capabilities 1. Enterprise enablement • Design and build platform services instead of agency-specific implementations • Develop onboarding patterns for agencies adopting enterprise products and services • Ensure alignment across modernization initiatives • Develop data products identified by Product team and AI-ready infrastructure 1. Leadership • Develop engineering best practices • Collaborate with tech leaders across agencies and enterprise • Partner with cloud, integration and data teams to implement enterprise data products. • Promote API-first and product-based approaches to information sharing. Desired Background and Experience • Bachelor of Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Programming or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience • 10+ years of experience building large scale cloud data platforms • At least 7 years of hands-on experience in modern data architecture, platform engineering, cloud infrastructure • Experience designing and implementing enterprise security controls for cloud data platforms, including IAM, RBAC etc. • Proven experience building and operating cloud infrastructure as Code (Terraform or equivalent) • Hands-on experience implementing modern DevSecOps practices and champion shift-left approach to security • Partner with Cloud Engineering, CISO and GRC teams to integrate security controls into the data platforms while maintaining clear ownership boundaries. • Data Platform & Services experience including platforms Snowflake, Databricks, AWS, Azure, containerized applications • Soft skills important to this role o Effective communication of technology concept to non-tech audience o Can start from ground up o Think patterns and reusable capabilities o Worked at enterprise level for data platforms supporting multiple teams across the company o Lead through influence\[SK1.1]\[NN1.2] not direct reports ENTERPRISE DATA ARCHITECT: Role Summary The Enterprise Data Architect is responsible for defining and evolving the Commonwealth’s enterprise information architecture and reusable data products to support transformation and AI priorities. This role partners with business leaders, product and engineering teams and enterprise technology org to identify which information assets should be shared across agencies and which should remain domain specific. The position will define data domains, create data models, ensure data quality, map source to domain and assist in creating contracts to support modernization initiatives and future AI capabilities. The role serves as the bridge between business processes and technical implementation, ensuring that new solutions contribute to a sustainable enterprise data foundation rather than creating additional silos. The ideal candidate possesses a comprehensive understanding of data architecture principles, practical data modeling experience, and deep expertise in data-centric architecture. Key Responsibilities 1. Enterprise Information Architecture • Define conceptual and logical data models for common business entities. • Establish canonical models and enterprise information standards. • Define relationships between enterprise and domain-specific data assets. • Design enterprise information architecture that incorporates data classification, privacy, security, and regulatory requirements by design. 1. Modernization Programs • Partner with workflow modernization teams (product and engineering) to embed reusable data products into solution designs. • Analyze legacy systems and identify information assets suitable for enterprise reuse. • Prevent duplication of data structures across applications and agencies. • Support data migration strategies and target-state architecture. 1. Data Product Architecture • Identify and support design of reusable data products • Define schemas, interfaces, metadata and quality requirements • Establish product boundaries, stewardship and ownership models. 1. Data Governance and Metadata • Establish data architecture principles, data standards, best practices, and guidelines including data catalog, data lineage, observability, security and interoperability • Define business definitions and data quality expectations. 1. Platform and Technology Collaboration • Work with engineering and platform teams to translate business concepts into technical designs. • Partner with cloud, integration and data teams to implement enterprise data products. • Promote API-first and product-based approaches to information sharing. 1. AI Enablement • Ensure enterprise data products are discoverable, governed and suitable for future AI use cases. • Support semantic layers, knowledge graphs and natural language access to enterprise information. Desired Background and Experience • Bachelor of Computer Science, Information Systems, Systems Programming or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience • Minimum 10 years of experience in data architecture, information architecture or enterprise architecture. • 8+ years of hands-on experience in data architecture, data engineering, or advanced database design, modeling experience in designing or implementing data warehouse/data marts, MDM concepts and tools • At least 5+ years of experience with data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, MongoDB and big data on cloud-based ecosystems (AWS, Azure, GCP). Experience working with unstructured data is a plus. • Experience working with data security, privacy and regulatory requirements for handling sensitive data • Experience in designing and implementing data quality initiatives, including platforms and tooling • Demonstrable experience supporting large-scale modernization or digital transformation initiatives across multiple domains and stakeholders • Ability to work across domains and stakeholders with strong communication skills • Proven ability to develop work plans for self, resolve ambiguity and lead teams without authority Industry Experience in Public sector, Healthcare or Financial Services is preferable Candidates may have previously served as Principal Architect, Enterprise Information Architect, Solution Architect for large enterprises or modernization initiatives Success Measures During the first year, this role will • Establish enterprise information architecture principles. • Define reusable enterprise data products for priority domains. • Support specific modernization initiatives as a model implementation. • Introduce metadata and ownership standards. • Enable future modernization efforts to reuse common data assets rather than recreating them. • Lay the foundation for enterprise analytics and AI capabilities across the Commonwealth.