Sr. Data Architect

Sr. Data ArchitectLocation: Reston, VA (Hybrid – 1–2 Days Onsite per Month) Job Type: Contract Interview Type: Onsite interview required Eligibility: DMV local candidates onlyJob DescriptionWe are seeking a highly experienced Sr. Data Architect to lead the modernization and migration of large-scale data environments from Cloudera to AWS. This role involves designing high-performance data architecture solutions, optimizing current big data infrastructures, and ensuring seamless migration into AWS ecosystems including S3, Redshift, and Aurora PostgreSQL. The ideal candidate has deep experience in healthcare data, strong architectural expertise, and a proven background in handling massive data volumes.Key Responsibilities:Lead end-to-end data architecture design for enterprise-scale systems, ensuring scalability, reliability, and compliance.Architect and implement migration strategies to move large datasets from Cloudera into AWS environments (S3, Redshift, Aurora PostgreSQL).Analyze current-state Cloudera storage architecture and define optimized target-state models on AWS.Develop and maintain data models using ERWIN or similar modeling tools.Create architecture roadmaps, conceptual/logical/physical data models, and integration patterns for high-volume data systems.Collaborate with engineering, analytics, infrastructure, and product teams to ensure data architecture aligns with business and IT goals.Troubleshoot performance bottlenecks and optimize data ingestion, storage, and retrieval processes.Drive data governance, metadata management, and architectural standards across the enterprise.Participate in design discussions onsite in Reston, VA as required (1–2 times per month).Stay current with emerging AWS, big data, and data modeling technologies and provide recommendations for adoption.Required Qualifications:7+ years of experience as a Data Architect, with strong hands-on design and modeling experience.3+ years of direct experience in the Healthcare domain — must have worked with healthcare data sets, standards, and products.Proven experience migrating large-scale big data platforms from Cloudera to AWS.Strong expertise in building data solutions on AWS including: S3, Redshift, Aurora PostgreSQL.Deep understanding of big data infrastructure and high-volume data storage strategies.Proficiency with ERWIN or similar data modeling tools.Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.Preferred Skills & Certifications:Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF or similar).Certified System Architect or AWS certifications are a plus.Experience leading architecture reviews and technical deep dives.