Data Architect

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About UsStraighterLine is the leading provider of high-quality, affordable, online courses that help learners earn college credit and meet their professional goals. Each year, 150,000 learners take one of StraighterLine’s 215 courses to upskill into new careers or earn credit from over 2,000 colleges and universities worldwide. StraighterLine works with institutions and corporate partners to provide their students and employees with flexible education options that allow them to work and learn at their own pace. Visit www.straighterline.com for more information.

The Data Architect will develop and maintain a long-term data strategy to drive business growth. Key responsibilities include designing and implementing modern data lake/warehouse solutions, integrating multiple systems into a cohesive data architecture, designing enterprise-wide data flows and processes, and implementing data governance initiatives. The role requires close collaboration with key stakeholders such as marketing, product, or customer success teams to ensure data alignment across the business, while working with analysts and engineers to ensure that data models meet organizational needs. The Data Architect will also optimize data storage and processing systems and support machine learning and advanced analytics initiatives. Staying current with emerging technologies and recommending new solutions is critical.

The ideal candidate will live within 90 minutes of Arlington, VA in one of the following states (VA, MD, PA, DC).

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a long-term data strategy to drive business growth.
• Design and implement a data lake/warehouse architecture that aligns with business and organizational data strategies.
• Lead projects to integrate multiple data sources into a modern, unified data architecture.
• Develop and implement data integration processes, including data mapping, transformation, and ETL/ELT pipelines, to ensure seamless data flow between systems and applications across the enterprise.
• Design and implement data governance architectures to support data quality and governance initiatives.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the business to understand their requirements, ensure data alignment, provide solutions, and offer training and support as needed.
• Partner with business analysts and data engineers to identify data needs and design models that meet the organization's requirements.
• Apply data security best practices, implementing safeguards to protect data assets.
• Work with IT teams to optimize data storage and processing for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency.
• Design and implement data architectures that support machine learning, generative AI (GenAI), and advanced analytics use cases.
• Stay informed about emerging data technologies, evaluating and recommending solutions for enterprise adoption.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation of data architectures, models, and processes.

Qualifications

• Must be passionate about StraighterLine’s mission and vision, with a genuine enthusiasm for using data to impact and change lives through education.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in technical data roles, including at least 5 years in data architecture, data modeling, and building data warehouses, data lakes, and lakehouse solutions.
• Expertise in logical and physical data modeling techniques.
• Strong proficiency in designing and managing relational (SQL) and NoSQL databases.
• Extensive experience with data integration tools and ETL/ELT processes, using tools such as Apache Airflow, dbt, and similar technologies.
• Experience with data visualization and analytics tools, such as Amazon QuickSight or Tableau.
• Advanced SQL skills, and proficiency in Python for data processing and automation.
• Knowledge of and experience implementing data governance frameworks, data quality standards, and best practices.
• Strong understanding and practical experience in applying data security principles and techniques.
• Strong communication skills to effectively convey complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally with various departments, including marketing, product, and customer success teams, to ensure data alignment with business goals.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to troubleshoot and resolve complex data management challenges.
• Experience with cloud-based data architectures (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud).Knowledge or experience with AI/ML architecture is a strong plus.