Lead Data Architect

Power the Future of New York At the New York Power Authority, we’re not just part of the energy landscape—we’re leading the charge toward a carbon‑free, resilient, and economically vibrant New York. Our work keeps the state moving, innovating, and thriving.Summary The Lead Data Architect is responsible for defining, designing, and governing the enterprise data ecosystem across cloud, on‑premises, and hybrid environments. The role establishes the long‑term technology vision and innovation roadmap for analytics, data engineering, and data platform capabilities, enabling advanced analytics, real‑time and streaming use cases, and AI/ML workloads. The architect partners with business analysts, data engineers, data governance, data domain leaders, and analytics teams to translate business requirements into scalable, maintainable technical designs that improve data discoverability, usability, and trust. This includes defining reference architectures, canonical data models, and integration patterns that support enterprise analytics and operational reporting. The role also establishes and enforces technical standards for data engineering, ELT/ETL pipelines, metadata management, data quality, observability, governance, and security to ensure consistent implementation across domains and platforms. This includes providing architectural leadership for Lakehouse and modern data platform solutions, event‑driven architectures, API‑based integrations, and real‑time data pipelines. Additional responsibilities include evaluating emerging technologies, optimizing storage and compute strategies, defining governance and lineage frameworks, and guiding engineering teams in delivering resilient, cloud‑native data services. All solutions must align with enterprise architecture principles while meeting the evolving needs of data consumers across the enterprise. #LI-JP1Responsibilities Actively drive common standards, best practices and process improvements across the development teams. Oversee project efforts to identify/document client/user requirements, and lead effort to design/develop/test solutions to meet defined specifications. Ensure project teams uncover, comprehend, and document complex business requirements, challenges, and processes. Support in developing and maintaining Enterprise Architecture & Engineering standards and frameworks that drive the Technology strategy within one or more specific disciplines. Oversee, develop conceptual and logical models representing database solutions to be incorporated into technical designs. Communicate technical business solutions to senior Information Technology and Business Unit Management as well as to peers and staff, for understanding, agreement, and implementation. Provide expert insight and advice on developing conceptual and logical models representing database solutions to be incorporated into technical designs. Influence the technology strategy through in-depth understanding of customer needs and technical understanding to align business outcomes to technology strategy and roadmaps. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Demonstrated ability to identify and quickly learn, understand, and work with new emerging technologies, methodologies, and solutions. Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with a diverse audience at all levels of the organization. Experience developing and reviewing project planning activities related to architecture including: schedules, budgets and deadlines. Experience in producing technical documentation and delivering presentations to a wide variety of technical, business and executive audiences. Knowledgeable in advanced concepts and business issues of cloud computing, datacenter consolidation, IT infrastructure services, cyber security, data management services, etc. Ability to quickly assess technology and business impacts of network administration and security principles and practices for technology projects Proficiency in architecting applications across SaaS / IaaS / PaaS and Hybrid cloud environments. Ability to lead team members by providing clear direction, coaching, mentoring, and constructive feedback. Education, Experience and Certifications Bachelor of Science Degree in an IT related field preferred. An advanced degree is preferred. Minimum 8 years or more experience of providing solution engineering, application architecture and systems integration services for technology projects preferred. Experience leading delivery of complex software projects by analyzing business and application requirements. Knowledge of EA and SA principles and frameworks. Professional experience in architecting/operating solutions built on public cloud platforms with Solution Architecture certification (TOGAF, AWS, Azure, Google etc.,) Physical Requirements Overnight travel to the various NYPA locations within New York State. The New York Power Authority is committed to providing fair, competitive, and market-informed compensation. The estimated salary range for this position is: $160,000-$200,000. The salary offered will be determined based on the successful candidates’ relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The New York Power Authority and Canal Corporation believes that diversity, equity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents and veterans to apply. As an equal opportunity employer, NYPA/Canals is committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect communities across New York and enthusiastically serve them. We proudly celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race/color, creed/religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, disability, military status, gender/sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy and related conditions, familial/marital status, domestic violence victim status, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest/criminal conviction record or any other category protected by law. NYPA/Canals will also provide reasonable accommodations during the hiring process related to candidates’ disabilities, pregnancy-related conditions, religious observances/practices and/or domestic violence concerns. To request an accommodation, please email View email address on click.appcast.io.