What are the responsibilities and job description for the Data Architect position at Beacon Systems, Inc?
Job Details
Title: Data Architect
Place of Performance: DC Metro Area, Washington, DC(Remote/Hybrid)
Key Responsibilities
The Data Architect will lead the planning, design, and development of robust data architectures supporting ACF s programs and initiatives. The ideal candidate will bring a blend of deep technical expertise in data architecture and integration, as well as knowledge of or experience with ACF s mission areas including child welfare, child care, child support, Head Start, and other human services programs. The Data Architect will work closely with cross-functional teams including data analysts, business intelligence experts, program managers, and external stakeholders to ensure data initiatives align with both business objectives and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities
- Data Architecture & Modeling
- Develop and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models to support ACF s diverse programs.
- Define and implement data integration strategies that ensure consistent, high-quality data across multiple systems.
- Create and maintain an enterprise data warehouse or data lake architecture that meets performance, scalability, and security requirements.
- Data Strategy & Governance
- Collaborate with senior leadership to define the organization s data strategy and roadmap, ensuring alignment with ACF s mission and program objectives.
- Establish data governance frameworks to standardize data collection, data dictionary, metadata management, and data quality.
- Develop guidelines for data lifecycle management, including data retention and archival policies, consistent with federal requirements.
- Technical Leadership
- Provide technical leadership and mentorship to data engineering, data analytics, and BI teams.
- Evaluate and recommend technologies (databases, ETL tools, cloud solutions, etc.) to optimize data architecture and processing.
- Oversee the implementation of data security measures, including role-based access controls, data encryption, and compliance with privacy regulations such as FERPA and HIPAA (as applicable).
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with program managers and subject matter experts to gather requirements and translate them into scalable data solutions.
- Partner with business intelligence teams to design and implement reporting platforms and dashboards.
- Collaborate with IT security and infrastructure teams to ensure data architecture is robust, secure, and highly available.
- ACF Program Alignment (Preferred Domain Experience)
- Leverage knowledge of ACF programs such as child welfare, child support, child care, Head Start, and related initiatives to design domain-relevant data structures and solutions.
- Understand and incorporate domain-specific data standards (e.g., CCWIS, Child Welfare Data, TANF data) into architectural designs.
- Guide the development of predictive models and advanced analytics in alignment with ACF s priority areas (e.g., reducing child poverty, improving child and family well-being).
Required Qualifications
- Education & Experience
- Bachelor s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field; Master s degree preferred.
- Minimum 5 7 years of experience in data architecture, data modeling, or a similar role.
- Proven track record of designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions, preferably in a government or large nonprofit setting.
- Technical Skills
- Expertise in database design and technologies (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle, PostgreSQL, NoSQL solutions).
- Strong proficiency in data modeling tools (e.g., ERwin, ER/Studio, PowerDesigner) and methodologies.
- Hands-on experience with data integration/ETL tools (e.g., Talend, Informatica, SSIS, Apache NiFi).
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform) and modern data warehousing/big data architectures (e.g., Snowflake, Redshift, Databricks).
- Demonstrated ability to implement and manage data security (encryption, masking, access controls) in compliance with relevant regulations.
- Soft Skills
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to present complex data concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical thinking skills, with a strategic mindset.
- Leadership abilities to guide cross-functional teams and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.