Data Architect

Senior Data Architect / Engineer (AWS + Snowflake) Location: Hybrid / Onsite in Pennsylvania Experience: 10+ Years Type: On-going Contract We are partnering with a high-growth enterprise organization seeking a Senior Data Architect / Engineer to help design, build, and scale a modern cloud data platform. This role is ideal for someone who can operate at both the architectural and hands-on engineering level — someone who not only builds production-grade pipelines but also mentors and elevates other engineers. What You’ll Do • Architect and build scalable data platforms in AWS, leveraging services such as S3, EMR, Glue, Lambda, Kinesis/MSK, Redshift, Step Functions, and related components • Design and optimize Snowflake data warehouse environments, including ELT workflows, performance tuning, clustering strategies, RBAC/security models, and cost optimization • Develop and maintain batch and real-time data pipelines using Spark, Python, SQL, and streaming technologies • Lead design decisions around data modeling (dimensional, normalized, lakehouse patterns) and governance • Establish best practices around data quality, observability, CI/CD, and environment promotion • Mentor junior and mid-level engineers through code reviews, architectural guidance, and technical leadership • Collaborate with analytics, data science, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into scalable solutions • Contribute to long-term platform strategy and modernization initiatives What We’re Looking For • 10+ years of experience in data engineering and platform design • Deep hands-on experience in AWS-based data architectures • Strong expertise in Snowflake (schema design, clustering, performance optimization, warehouse management, security) • Advanced proficiency in Python, SQL, and Spark (PySpark or Scala) • Experience building both batch and streaming data pipelines • Strong understanding of data governance, RBAC, encryption, and cloud security best practices • Experience implementing CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform or similar) • Demonstrated ability to mentor engineers and influence technical direction • Strong communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally Nice to Have • Experience with real-time streaming frameworks (Kafka/MSK, Kinesis) • Exposure to knowledge graphs or semantic modeling • Experience in highly regulated or enterprise-scale environments • Familiarity with orchestration tools (Airflow/MWAA, Matillion, dbt, etc.)