Data Architecture & Engineering Director

Data Architecture & Engineering Director

Department: Technology & Development

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Remote or Hybrid, US

Reporting To: VP, Data Solutions & Campaign Deployment

Description

The Director, Data Architecture & Engineering is responsible for advancing AGP's enterprise data architecture, engineering capabilities, platforms, and modernization initiatives. Reporting to the VP, Data Solutions & Campaign Deployment, this role provides technical leadership for the design and evolution of AGP's data ecosystem, ensuring data platforms, databases, pipelines, and integrations are scalable, secure, reliable, and positioned to support analytics, reporting, fundraising performance, and future business growth.

The Director serves as a senior technical leader and strategic partner across Strategic Intelligence, Campaign Operations, Analytics, Client Services and Technology. The role translates business requirements into scalable technical solutions, establishes data engineering and architecture standards, and identifies opportunities to modernize AGP's data environment while improving the performance and value of existing platforms.

A critical focus of this role is advancing AGP's use of AI within the data ecosystem. The Director will identify and lead opportunities to use AI, automation, and predictive technologies to improve data engineering, accelerate insights, increase efficiency, and create measurable value for AGP and its clients.

The ideal candidate is a pragmatic technical leader with a growth mindset who can balance modernization with the realities of an established data environment, maximizing the capabilities of existing systems while developing a thoughtful roadmap for future-state architecture and

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, evolution, and optimization of AGP's enterprise data architecture, data platforms, warehouse environments, cloud infrastructure, and integration frameworks.
• Develop and execute a data architecture and engineering roadmap that supports organizational growth, analytics, reporting, constituent intelligence, and emerging business requirements.
• Establish and lead the vision, strategy, and roadmap for AI-driven tools within AGP's data ecosystem, enabling scalable automation, predictive intelligence, responsible AI adoption, and measurable business value.
• Identify practical opportunities to embed AI and automation into data engineering, data quality, monitoring, analytics enablement, and other data workflows.
• Design and optimize ETL/ELT frameworks, APIs, data pipelines, and integration patterns across fundraising, CRM, web analytics, financial, external data, and partner systems.
• Establish technical standards and best practices for data engineering, architecture, development, testing, deployment, documentation, and performance optimization.
• Establish and maintain technical standards for data quality, integrity, stewardship, access, retention, privacy, and lifecycle management in partnership with appropriate business and technology stakeholders.
• Lead the technical design and optimization of operational and analytical database environments.
• Design data models and analytical structures that support reporting, self-service analytics, predictive intelligence, machine learning, and fundraising optimization.
• Advance AGP's modern data capabilities through technologies including Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Python, APIs, and Snowflake where appropriate.
• Implement automated monitoring, auditing, alerting, and remediation capabilities to improve the reliability and performance of AGP's data environment.
• Evaluate existing data platforms, architecture, and technical debt and recommend modernization priorities based on business impact, scalability, cost, risk, and client value.
• Partner with Analytics and Reporting teams to ensure data assets and architecture support accessible, reliable, and timely insights.
• Partner with Campaign Operations to ensure architecture, platforms, and engineering solutions effectively support downstream campaign execution without assuming ownership of campaign deployment or operational delivery.
• Partner with IT and Technology on data security, infrastructure, integrations, access controls, privacy, and applicable compliance requirements.
• Serve as a senior technical resource for complex data architecture, engineering, integration, and platform challenges.
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship to data engineering and development resources while collaborating with the VP, Data Solutions & Campaign Deployment on resource priorities.
• Evaluate emerging data and AI technologies and recommend adoption where they can materially improve efficiency, scalability, insight, or client value.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree (BA or BS) in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, Data Science, or a related field.
• 8–10+ years of progressive experience in data engineering, database administration, data architecture, or related technical disciplines, including experience leading complex technical initiatives, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred experience includes:

• Experience designing and modernizing enterprise data platforms and architecture.
• Deep experience with Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, SQL, Python, ETL/ELT pipelines, APIs, cloud-native data services, warehouse management, database optimization, and/or Snowflake.
• Demonstrated experience working with large constituent, customer, donor, or transactional datasets.
• Experience developing scalable data integrations and engineering frameworks across multiple systems and data sources.
• Experience using AI, automation, predictive modeling, or machine learning to improve data processes and business outcomes.
• Experience modernizing legacy data environments while maintaining critical operational systems.
• Experience in direct marketing, fundraising, nonprofit, membership, agency, or other data-intensive environments.
• Experience partnering with Analytics, Campaign Operations, Technology, and business stakeholders to translate requirements into technical solutions.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Deep knowledge of enterprise data architecture, data engineering, database design, data integration, and modern data platform practices.
• Strong expertise in relational databases, cloud-based data architecture, warehousing, ETL/ELT frameworks, APIs, and integration technologies.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server, Azure, Microsoft Fabric, SQL, Python, Power BI, and related technologies.
• Understanding of AI, machine learning, predictive analytics, and emerging technologies and their practical application within enterprise data environments.
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable technical architecture and engineering solutions.
• Ability to assess existing technology environments and balance modernization opportunities with operational requirements, cost, risk, and business value.
• Strong understanding of data governance, quality, security, privacy, stewardship, and lifecycle management.
• Strong technical problem-solving and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to establish technical standards and influence adoption across teams without relying on formal reporting authority.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers, developers, and other technical resources.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences.
• Strong judgment, accountability, curiosity, and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Demonstrated growth mindset with the ability to identify practical opportunities for AI, automation, and modernization.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At AGP we strive to build a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. You could be just the person we are looking for to fill this, or other, roles!

Benefits, Rewards & Perks

We are friendly, smart, curious and passionate about what we do! Working here, you will also enjoy:

• Competitive salaries + quarterly recognition program
• Work-life balance + 100% remote workforce
• Excellent benefits including Health, Dental, and Vision plans, Disability and Company Paid Life Insurance!
• Flexible PTO Policy + Paid Parental Leave
• 401k and company match
• Oh, and don’t forget - You're working with clients who are making a positive difference in the world.