Data Architect (Consulting) — SAP / EDW / Snowflake / Anaplan Integration

Engagement Type: Contract / Consulting (4–5 week initial engagement, with potential extension)

Overview

We''re looking for a hands-on Data Architect with strong consulting instincts to lead a focused as-is assessment of our current data flows across SAP, our enterprise data warehouse(s), Snowflake, and Anaplan. This is a discovery-first engagement: the goal is to map, document, and diagnose current-state data architecture — including source-to-target lineage, integration patterns, and data model structures — not to build net-new pipelines, though findings will feed directly into a future-state roadmap.

Key Responsibilities

•         Conduct stakeholder interviews with IT, finance, and business teams to understand current data flows, extraction methods, and integration architecture

•         Map existing data pipelines and integration points between SAP (ECC/S4HANA), EDW platforms, Snowflake, and Anaplan, including batch vs. real-time flows, API/middleware layers, and staging/landing zones

•         Document source-to-target data lineage, transformation logic (ETL/ELT), latency SLAs, data ownership, and system-of-record designations

•         Evaluate SAP extraction methods (e.g., BW extractors, IDocs, CDS views, RFC/BAPI calls) and how data lands in downstream warehouse and Snowflake environments

•         Assess Snowflake schema design, warehouse sizing/performance patterns, and role-based access controls as they relate to upstream sources

•         Review Anaplan integration touchpoints (Anaplan Connect, REST API, CloudWorks) and how planning data reconciles back to source systems

•         Identify redundancies, bottlenecks, data quality issues, schema drift, and governance gaps

•         Produce a clear as-is architecture diagram (conceptual, logical, and physical layers) and findings summary within the 4–5 week window

•         Present findings and preliminary recommendations to stakeholders and leadership

Required Experience

•         8+ years in data architecture, with direct hands-on experience across SAP (ECC/S4HANA data structures and extraction tooling), enterprise data warehouses, Snowflake, and Anaplan

•         Proven experience running as-is / current-state assessments in a consulting or advisory capacity (not just internal architecture work)

•         Strong data modeling skills across conceptual, logical, and physical layers, including dimensional modeling and star/snowflake schema design

•         Working knowledge of ETL/ELT tooling and integration patterns (e.g., SAP BW/BODS, Informatica, Fivetran, dbt, Talend, or similar) and orchestration frameworks

•         Understanding of data governance, metadata management, and lineage tracking practices

•         Comfortable interviewing stakeholders and translating technical findings into business language

•         Experience producing architecture diagrams (e.g., using Visio, Lucidchart, or similar) and executive-ready documentation

Ideal Background

•         Prior experience at a consulting firm (Big 4, boutique data consultancy, or systems integrator) or as an independent consultant delivering similar assessments

•         Ability to work independently, manage ambiguity, and deliver a polished output on a tight timeline

•         Strong communication skills — this role is as much about diagnosis and stakeholder alignment as it is technical mapping