Lead Data Architect

Lead Data Architect
Location- NYC, NY (Hybrid)

About the Role

We're looking for a hands-on Lead Data Architect to anchor the US side of a multi-year data platform modernization for a leading global financial services client. The program moves on-premises Hadoop workloads to Snowflake. You'll own the target architecture, work with client stakeholders, guide an India-based delivery team through an AI-assisted migration approach, and help grow the account by identifying new opportunities and shaping solutions for them.

What You'll Do

- Define the target Snowflake architecture, including data models, layering, and ingestion and transformation patterns.

- Lead assessment and design for Hadoop-to-Snowflake migrations, deciding which assets to migrate, re-engineer, archive or retire.

- Guide conversion of Hive, Spark, Python and shell workloads to Snowflake SQL and Snowpark, using AI-assisted tools with clear review controls.

- Set the validation approach: reconciliation, data-quality rules, parallel runs, cutover and rollback.

- Work with client architecture, security and governance teams on access, retention and compliance decisions.

- Identify new growth opportunities within the account, such as further migration domains, data platform and AI-enabled consumption initiatives, by building relationships with client architects and business stakeholders.

- Recommend solutions and shape proposals for these opportunities, working with Altimetrik account, sales and delivery leadership on scope, approach, estimates and commercials.

- Mentor engineers and support estimates, scope and risk management.

What You Bring

- 12+ years in data engineering and architecture, with 4+ years of hands-on Snowflake experience.

- Proven Hadoop (Cloudera, Hive, Spark) to cloud data platform migration delivery.

- Strong SQL, Python and Spark; working knowledge of Snowpark, orchestration and CI/CD for data pipelines.

- Experience with data modeling, lineage and reconciliation in a regulated environment.

- Experience leading distributed teams and presenting to senior client stakeholders.

- Track record of solutioning and proposal development, including identifying client needs, framing solutions and contributing to winning new work.

- Preferred: financial services background, generative AI tooling for code conversion, SnowPro Advanced Architect certification.