Senior Data Architect - Remote / Telecommute

Job Title: Senior Data Architect - Remote / Telecommute

Job Location: Edmonton, AB

Job Type: Contract

Pay Range: $95.00hr - $100.00hr

Job Overview:

The organization is modernizing how it regulates and assures environmental outcomes. The Digital Regulatory Assurance System (DRAS) is central to that work, supporting applications, approvals, compliance, and monitoring activities that protect air, land, water, and biodiversity. The successful candidate will fill the role of Data Architect to design and lead data integration between DRAS, the Databricks-based Data Management Platform, and the Geospatial Platform. The candidate will set the direction for how regulatory, environmental, and spatial data moves, connects, and is governed across these systems to ensure trusted, timely, and reusable data for regulators and decision-makers. The candidate will join a high-performing, multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced, agile environment alongside developers, data engineers, GIS specialists, business analysts, and product owners.

Key Responsibilities:

Architecture and Design:

• Define and maintain the target-state data architecture for integrating the Digital Regulatory Assurance System (DRAS), the Databricks Data Management Platform, and the Alberta Geospatial Platform.
• Design conceptual, logical, and physical data models for regulatory, environmental, and geospatial data domains.
• Establish integration patterns (batch, near-real-time, event-driven, API-based, change data capture) suited to each use case.
• Design lakehouse structures on Databricks, including medallion (bronze/silver/gold) layers, Delta Lake tables, and Unity Catalog organization.
• Architect spatial data flows that preserve geometry, coordinate reference systems, and spatial accuracy across platforms.

Integration and Delivery:

• Lead the design of data pipelines and interfaces between systems, working closely with data engineers and developers during build.
• Define data contracts, API specifications, and interface agreements between system owners.
• Resolve complex integration issues involving data quality, schema changes, latency, and system dependencies.
• Take part in agile ceremonies (sprint planning, backlog refinement, reviews) and turn architecture into actionable user stories.

Data Governance, Security, and Quality:

• Embed data governance practices, including metadata management, lineage, data classification, and master and reference data.
• Ensure designs meet organization standards for information security, privacy (including access-to-information and privacy legislation), and records management.
• Define data quality rules, validation frameworks, and monitoring approaches across integrated systems.
• Apply role-based access controls and data-sharing policies appropriate to data sensitivity.

Leadership and Collaboration:

• Serve as the trusted data architecture advisor to program leadership, product owners, and technical teams.
• Work with business areas to understand regulatory processes and turn them into data requirements.
• Coordinate with enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, and other ministry platform teams to keep the work aligned with organization standards and roadmaps.
• Produce clear architecture documentation, diagrams, and decision records.
• Mentor team members and promote data architecture best practices.

Required Qualifications:

• University degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Geomatics, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in data architecture, data engineering, or data integration, with at least 3 years in a data architect role.
• Hands-on experience designing solutions on Databricks, including Delta Lake, Spark (PySpark/SQL), and Unity Catalog.
• Strong experience with data modelling (relational, dimensional, and lakehouse approaches).
• Proven experience designing enterprise integration patterns, including REST APIs, ETL/ELT, event streaming, and change data capture.
• Experience with cloud data platforms, preferably Microsoft Azure (Data Lake Storage, Data Factory, Event Hubs, Key Vault).
• Experience with ServiceNow Integration.
• Experience in the public sector, ideally with government regulatory systems or programs.
• Experience integrating with geospatial platforms, and working knowledge of geospatial data concepts, formats, and standards.
• Solid understanding of data governance, metadata management, data quality, and data security principles.
• Experience working in agile delivery teams in a public sector environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical audiences.

Competencies:

In line with the organization s competency model, the successful candidate will show:

• Systems Thinking: Understands how DRAS, the data platform, and the geospatial platform connect, and anticipates downstream impacts of design choices.
• Creative Problem Solving: Finds practical, innovative solutions to complex integration and data challenges.
• Agility: Adapts quickly to changing priorities and evolving technology in a fast-paced environment.
• Drive for Results: Delivers high-quality architecture that produces measurable value for the program.
• Build Collaborative Environments: Works effectively across teams, ministries, and disciplines to reach shared goals.
• Develop Networks: Builds relationships with stakeholders and technical partners to advance the work.
• Develop Self and Others: Shares knowledge, mentors colleagues, and keeps learning.

Must Have:

• College or Bachelor degree in Computer Science or a related field of study.
• 8+ years of experience designing, planning, implementing, and supporting enterprise solution databases in a large enterprise IT environment.
• 8+ years of experience documenting enterprise solution databases in a large enterprise IT environment.
• 6+ years of experience in performing threat and risk assessments and presenting recommendations for risk mitigation to senior management.
• Experience providing leadership, planning, estimating, and presenting ideas and solutions.
• 8+ years of experience with enterprise architecture principles and associated best practices, methods, standards, tools, policies, and processes.
• 8+ years of experience working as a Data Architect in a large enterprise IT environment.

Nice to Have:

• Certification in The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).
• 5+ years of experience designing and implementing enterprise architecture database plans and models that help align an organization s data, information, or technology with its required business capabilities in a large enterprise IT environment.
• 4+ years of experience in using a tool for architecture models such as PowerDesigner, ER Studio, ER/Studio, BPwin, or Rational Rose.
• 4+ years of experience project managing application development projects using Agile sprint development.
• 5+ years of experience with cloud computing or big data platforms and infrastructure.
• 4+ years of experience with enterprise business intelligence and performance management products, specifically Cognos BI Suite, Microsoft SQL Server Services, MS Power BI (Query, View), or MicroStrategy.
• 4+ years of experience working as a Data Architect designing and implementing enterprise database solutions within a large enterprise IT environment.
• 5+ years of experience working with developing SQL databases.
• 5+ years of experience working with implementing a SQL data warehouse.
• 5+ years of experience working with querying data with Transact-SQL.
• Prior experience with public sector organizations is considered a strong asset.

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• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Disability Insurance (Short-Term and Long-Term)
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Paid Sick Leave (where required by applicable state or local law)
• Supplemental Insurance Plans
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Wellness Programs
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Career Growth and Professional Development Opportunities