Senior Data Architect

Quick Facts

• Role: Senior Data Architect (individual contributor)

• Focus: Analytics and transactional data platform architecture

• Key platforms: Google BigQuery and Google Cloud Spanner

Description

A Senior Data Architect designs, builds, and continuously improves the architecture behind analytics and transactional data platforms. The role sets technical direction and standards for the Software Development team—leading BigQuery data warehouse design (schema, partitioning/clustering, and data modeling standards) and advising on Cloud Spanner as the system of record. You will translate analytics reporting needs into IS-supported data architecture and build a medallion (bronze/silver/gold) model with ETL/ELT pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain the BigQuery analytics data warehouse layout (datasets, table schemas, partitioning, clustering) to optimize performance and cost.

• Design and develop a medallion (bronze/silver/gold) data architecture within BigQuery, defining structure and quality standards.

• Build and maintain ETL/ELT pipelines to move and transform data from Spanner, Salesforce, and Workday (and MySQL/Microsoft SQL Server during consolidation) into BigQuery layers.

• Consult on Cloud Spanner schema design, indexing, and interleaving strategy to support transactional workloads and reliable extraction into BigQuery.

• Advise on consolidating MySQL and Microsoft SQL Server onto Spanner so downstream ETL/ELT into BigQuery remains efficient.

• Define and enforce data modeling standards and naming conventions across analytics and operational databases.

• Review schema changes for downstream impact on reporting, analytics, and reconciliation.

• Collaborate with stakeholders and analysts to translate reporting requirements into scalable data models.

• Serve as liaison between Information Systems and Analytics to keep both teams aligned as requirements evolve.

• Evaluate tools and best practices for data governance, data quality, and cost optimization in Google Cloud.

• Support evaluation and implementation of an AI-assisted BI frontend to replace Oracle Analytics Cloud, including BigQuery-side data structures and access.

• Document data architecture, lineage, and schema design decisions; troubleshoot performance issues in BigQuery and Spanner.

• Stay current with Google Cloud Platform features and advise on adoption; mentor developers and review schema changes before release.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience designing and maintaining data warehouse or analytics database architectures.

• Expert knowledge of SQL and relational database design principles.

• Hands-on experience with Google BigQuery (schema design, partitioning/clustering, query optimization).

• Experience with Google Cloud Spanner (or another distributed/NewSQL OLTP database).

• Hands-on ETL/ELT pipeline experience using tools such as Apache Hop, Google Cloud Dataflow, or Pentaho Kettle.

• Experience designing medallion (bronze/silver/gold) or similar layered data architectures.

• Data modeling knowledge for analytics (dimensional modeling, normalization/denormalization trade-offs).

• Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform services and IAM/data governance practices.

• Strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills.

• Ability to influence technical direction and decisions without direct management authority.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or related field.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules

• 401(k) retirement plan

• Health Insurance (including Dental and Vision) and Telehealth

• Health Savings Account

• Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Life Insurance

• Long Term Care, Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability

• Associate Assistance Fund and other associate funds

• Associate Savings Plan

• Paid Time Off

• Discounts (cell phone, vehicle, pet insurance)

• Training & Career Development