Data Architect

Data ArchitectRemoteRate: $70/hr on C2CAbout the RoleWe are seeking a mid-level Data Architect to design and evolve modern Azure-based data lake and lakehouse platforms that enable enterprise analytics and AI/ML use cases. This role partners closely with data engineering, data science, and product teams to define scalable, secure, and governable data architectures.Key ResponsibilitiesDesign end-to-end Azure data lake / Lakehouse architectures for batch and streaming workloads.Define data modeling standards and curated datasets for analytics and AI/ML consumption.Enable AI/ML data workflows including training datasets, feature-ready data, and MLOps integration.Establish data governance, security, lineage, and compliance-by-design.Create architecture artifacts such as diagrams, reference patterns, and ADRs.Guide engineering teams through design reviews and implementation best practices.Optimize platform performance, scalability, reliability, and cost.Core Technology StackAzure Data Lake Storage Gen2 (ADLS)Azure Databricks / Apache SparkAzure Data Factory (ADF)Azure Synapse / Azure SQL / Databricks SQLEvent Hubs / Kafka (preferred)Microsoft Purview / Unity Catalog (preferred)Azure AD, RBAC, Managed Identity, Key VaultCI/CD with Azure DevOps or GitHub, Infrastructure as Code (Terraform/Bicep)Required Qualifications5+ years of experience in data engineering, analytics platforms, or data architecture roles.2+ years of hands-on experience with Azure data services.Strong understanding of data modeling, integration patterns, and lakehouse concepts.Experience designing secure and governed enterprise data platforms.Proficiency in SQL and Python.Ability to communicate architecture clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Preferred QualificationsExperience supporting AI/ML and MLOps data workflows.Hands-on exposure to Microsoft Purview and Databricks Unity Catalog.Knowledge of Delta Lake or Apache Iceberg.Azure certifications such as Azure Data Engineer or Azure Solutions Architect.