Senior Staff Data Platform Architect

Job OverviewSenior Staff Data Platform ArchitectSan Francisco, CA (Hybrid – 3 days onsite)Our client, a leading technology-driven organization operating at global scale, dedicated to empowering individuals and communities to support one another, is seeking a Senior Staff Data Platform Architect to design, modernize, and lead the evolution of its enterprise data platform.This role is instrumental in building a scalable, cloud-native data ecosystem that supports advanced analytics, real-time decision-making, experimentation, and AI/ML-driven innovation. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in data architecture, platform engineering, and large-scale distributed systems, with a proven ability to translate complex business needs into high-performing data solutions.You will play a critical role in shaping the organization’s data strategy, enabling reliable, secure, and efficient access to data across engineering, product, analytics, and data science teams.Key ResponsibilitiesArchitect and modernize the enterprise data platform into a scalable, secure, and high-performance cloud-native ecosystem.Own end-to-end data architecture, including data ingestion, transformation, modeling, storage, and consumption layers.Design and implement systems that support analytics, real-time reporting, experimentation frameworks, and AI/ML use cases.Define and enforce enterprise-wide standards for data modeling, semantic layers, and trusted datasets.Establish frameworks for data governance, including data lineage, quality, privacy, and security, ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.Drive platform reliability, observability, and cost optimization to support large-scale data operations.Evaluate and guide adoption of modern data technologies, tools, and architectural patterns.Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, product, analytics, and data science teams to deliver scalable data solutions aligned with business objectives.Provide hands-on technical leadership in solving complex data platform challenges.Mentor engineering teams and elevate best practices across the data organization.Required QualificationsDemonstrated experience working with agentic systems and AI-assisted development workflows, leveraging tools and autonomous agents to accelerate architecture design, data workflows, and platform delivery.Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field (or equivalent experience).10+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering, including 3+ years in a senior or architect-level role.Proven experience building and scaling enterprise data platforms end-to-end, beyond individual pipelines.Strong expertise with modern cloud data platforms such as Snowflake, Databricks, or equivalent technologies.Deep understanding of data modeling, semantic layers, and building trusted datasets for analytics and product use cases.Experience designing both batch and real-time data processing systems, including streaming or event-driven architectures.Hands-on experience implementing data governance frameworks, including data quality, lineage, access controls, and compliance.Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex, large-scale data challenges.Excellent communication skills, with the ability to articulate technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and align cross-functional teams.Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools or workflows to accelerate platform design and delivery.Preferred QualificationsExperience working within high-growth technology organizations, marketplaces, fintech, or SaaS environments.Background supporting experimentation platforms, trust & safety systems, fraud detection, or AI/ML-driven products.Familiarity with tools such as dbt, Looker, or similar analytics and semantic modeling platforms.Experience with lakehouse architectures and technologies such as Delta Lake or Apache Iceberg.Core CompetenciesEnterprise Data Architecture & Platform DesignCloud-Native Data SystemsData Modeling & Semantic Layer DesignReal-Time & Batch Data ProcessingData Governance & CompliancePerformance Optimization & ScalabilityCross-Functional Leadership & CollaborationAI/ML Data EnablementWhat Sets This Role ApartThis is a high-impact opportunity to shape the future of a rapidly evolving data ecosystem at scale. You will be at the forefront of building a modern data platform that powers critical business decisions, advanced analytics, and next-generation AI capabilities. The role offers a unique blend of strategic influence and hands-on technical leadership within a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.If you’re passionate about building scalable data platforms, enabling high-quality insights, and solving meaningful problems at scale — this is a great opportunity for you! Contact Us