Sr. Data Governance Platform Specialist - Hybrid (Houston or Dallas TX)

Company Description

Work with Us. Change the World.

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

We are a global organization committed to harnessing data as a strategic asset to improve decision-making, enhance operations, and drive digital transformation. Our Data Strategy & Governance Office plays a central role in enabling data accountability, transparency, and quality across the enterprise. As part of this strategy, we are investing in an enterprise data governance and cataloging platform and are seeking a hands-on technical specialist to build and operate this capability.

This role is a highly hands-on technical position responsible for the implementation and operation of enterprise data governance platforms. Candidates should have direct experience configuring, integrating, and administering catalog or discovery platforms (such as Alation, Collibra, BigID, or similar), including connector setup, metadata ingestion automation, lineage enablement, and platform troubleshooting.

Role Overview

The Data Governance Platform Specialist is a hands-on technical individual contributor responsible for the installation, configuration, integration, and ongoing operation of the enterprise data governance platform. This role focuses on the technical enablement of data governance, including metadata ingestion, catalog configuration, data profiling, data quality automation, lineage enablement and platform support. The Platform Specialist works in close partnership with Data Governance leadership, data engineering and security teams, cloud architects, and data stewards to ensure governance tooling is effectively integrated into the enterprise data ecosystem.

This position will offer some flexibility for hybrid work schedules to include both in-office presence and telecommute/virtual work, to be based in either Houston or Dallas, TX.

Key Responsibilities:

Governance Platform Implementation & Operations:

• Install, configure, and maintain the enterprise data governance and cataloging platform, including environment setup, upgrades, patching, and ongoing maintenance.

• Configure metadata models, asset types, relationships, workflows, and role-based permission structures within the governance platform.

• Monitor platform performance, availability, and reliability, and troubleshoot technical issues related to configuration, integrations, and connectivity.

Metadata Ingestion, ETL & Profiling:

• Design and implement automated metadata ingestion pipelines using native connectors, APIs, and ETL/ELT frameworks.

• Perform technical data profiling using SQL and governance platform capabilities, leveraging ETL processes for automation and integration to support data quality and data readiness initiatives.

• Enable and support data quality automation in collaboration with data engineering and governance teams.

Integration, Lineage & Classification:

• Integrate the governance platform with data warehouses, cloud data lakes, BI and reporting platforms, and document repositories such as SharePoint.

• Enable, validate, and troubleshoot technical lineage across ingestion, transformation, and consumption layers.

• Implement data classification and tagging mechanisms to support sensitive data identification and compliance requirements.

Platform Support, User Enablement & Access Configuration:

• Act as the primary technical support owner for the data governance platform, resolving configuration, integration, and user-reported technical issues.

• Configure and maintain role-based access controls and permission models within the platform in alignment with approved governance and security policies.

• Support user onboarding and deprovisioning from a technical configuration perspective, based on approved access requests.

• Develop and deliver technical user training, onboarding materials, and platform usage guidance for analysts, stewards, and technical users.

• Maintain operational documentation, configuration standards, and troubleshooting guides to ensure consistent and secure platform usage.

Technical Collaboration & Enablement:

• Partner with Data Governance leadership to translate governance requirements into technical configurations and platform capabilities.

• Collaborate with data engineering, cloud, security, and privacy teams to embed governance tooling into data pipelines and platform architecture.

• Provide technical guidance to Data Governance Analysts and stewards on effective use of governance tools and metadata standards.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Data Science, Computer Science, or a related field plus at least 8 years of relevant experience in data governance, data management, or information architecture, or demonstrated equivalency of experience and/or education.

• Experience in data platform administration, data engineering, or information management roles, with hands-on responsibility for implementing, configuring, and supporting enterprise data platforms.

• Proven, hands-on experience administering and operating data governance and catalog platforms (e.g., Alation, Collibra, BigID, AWS DataZone), including platform configuration, upgrades, metadata ingestion, and operational support.

• Experience working with Oracle databases, enterprise data warehouses, and AWS-based enterprise data platforms, with exposure to Azure environments.

• Practical experience enabling metadata ingestion, technical data lineage, data profiling, and data quality automation across source systems, data platforms, and analytics environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong SQL and scripting skills to support metadata ingestion, automation, integration, and technical data analysis.

• Experience integrating governance platforms with Oracle, AWS-based data services, and analytics tools using native connectors, APIs, and ETL/ELT frameworks.

• Working knowledge of data privacy, security, and compliance as they relate to metadata, classification, and access controls.

• Solid understanding of cloud-native data platforms, with emphasis on AWS enterprise data platforms and familiarity with Azure data services.

• Experience using workflow orchestration tools to manage metadata ingestion and profiling processes.

Additional Information

• Sponsorship for US work authorization is not available for this position, now or in the future

• Relocation assistance is not available for this position

Offered rate of compensation will be based on individual education, qualifications, experience, and work location. The range for this position is $140000 to $175000.

About AECOM

AECOM is proud to offer comprehensive benefits to meet the diverse needs of our employees. Depending on your employment status, AECOM benefits may include medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, disability benefits, paid time off, leaves of absences, voluntary benefits, perks, flexible work options, well-being resources, employee assistance program, business travel insurance, service recognition awards, retirement savings plan, and employee stock purchase plan.

AECOM is the global infrastructure leader, committed to delivering a better world. As a trusted professional services firm powered by deep technical abilities, we solve our clients' complex challenges in water, environment, energy, transportation and buildings. Our teams partner with public- and private-sector clients to create innovative, sustainable and resilient solutions throughout the project lifecycle - from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. Learn more at aecom.com.

What makes AECOM a great place to work

You will be part of a global team that champions your growth and career ambitions. Work on groundbreaking projects - both in your local community and on a global scale - that are transforming our industry and shaping the future. With cutting-edge technology and a network of experts, you'll have the resources to make a real impact. Our award-winning training and development programs are designed to expand your technical expertise and leadership skills, helping you build the career you've always envisioned. Here, you'll find a welcoming workplace built on respect, collaboration and community-where you have the freedom to grow in a world of opportunity.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in your potential and are here to help you achieve it. All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

ReqID: J10144098

Business Line: Corporate

Business Group: Corporate

Strategic Business Unit: Information Technology

Career Area: Information Technology

Work Location Model: Hybrid

Compensation: USD 140000 - USD 175000 - yearly