Data Architect

Title: Lead Data ArchitectLocation: Remote (U.S. Based)Terms: Full-TimeClearance: U.S. Citizenship required and ability to obtain and maintain a Federal Security ClearanceTravel: 0–10%RESULTS. INNOVATION. VALUES. ACCOUNTABILITY.That’s RIVA. Our employee-first approach has manifested a culture that attracts the best and brightest. By investing in people first and providing a flexible work environment, our employees have higher morale, higher productivity rates, and lower turnover. At RIVA, people are our #1 priority.Program OverviewRIVA Solutions supports a large federal intellectual property organization by providing enterprise-level data and architecture expertise that enables modernization, interoperability, and data-driven decision-making across a broad portfolio of mission-critical systems.This program operates within a centralized Enterprise Architecture and Data Governance function, serving as a strategic advisory and delivery partner to dozens of product teams. The organization has made significant investments in modern data platforms, including Databricks, to establish a scalable, governed, and standards-based data ecosystem that supports analytics, reporting, and operational insight across the enterprise.Position OverviewRIVA Solutions is seeking a Lead Data Architect to serve as a senior member of an enterprise architecture “tiger team” responsible for defining, guiding, and governing data architecture across 50+ product lines.This role is highly visible and advisory in nature. The Lead Data Architect will work across programs as a trusted expert, helping teams solve complex business problems through sound data design, platform alignment, and architectural best practices. While cloud experience is important, the core objective of this role is deep data architecture leadership, with a strong emphasis on Databricks as a foundational enterprise data platform.The ideal candidate brings both hands-on technical expertise and the ability to influence, guide, and align multiple teams to shared standards and blueprints within a large, complex federal environment.Core ResponsibilitiesServe as a lead data architect within an enterprise architecture group supporting dozens of product teamsProvide architectural guidance and advisory support to application, platform, and analytics teams across the organizationDefine, evolve, and enforce enterprise data architecture standards, patterns, and blueprintsLead the design and governance of data solutions leveraging Databricks as a core enterprise data platformAdvise teams on effective use of Databricks for data ingestion, transformation, analytics, and integrationEnsure data architectures align with organizational standards, security requirements, and governance policiesCollaborate with product teams to translate business requirements into scalable, well-governed data solutionsReview and provide feedback on solution designs, data models, and platform implementationsSupport enterprise-wide data governance initiatives, including data quality, lineage, and interoperabilityPartner with cloud, security, and platform teams to ensure data architectures are compliant and scalableAct as a technical mentor and thought leader within the enterprise architecture communityContribute to long-term data strategy and modernization roadmapsMinimum QualificationsBachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Engineering, or a related field10+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data designDemonstrated experience serving in a lead or enterprise-level data architect roleStrong hands-on experience with Databricks in enterprise environmentsDeep understanding of data architecture concepts, including data modeling, integration patterns, and analytics platformsExperience advising multiple teams or programs within a large, complex organizationStrong ability to communicate architectural concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholdersExperience working within governed, standards-driven environmentsU.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a Federal Security ClearancePreferred QualificationsExperience supporting large federal IT organizations or enterprise programsExperience working within an Enterprise Architecture or Data Governance OfficeStrong familiarity with modern cloud-based data ecosystemsExperience defining and maintaining architectural standards and reference architecturesDatabricks certifications highly preferred (e.g., Databricks Data Engineer, Databricks Lakehouse Architect)Experience mentoring architects or serving as a center-of-excellence advisorSalaryNegotiable, based on experienceRIVA BenefitsHealth, Dental, and Vision CoverageLife InsuranceRetirement Benefits / 401K with company matchingHSA/FSA Spending AccountsLong- and Short-Term DisabilityPet InsuranceWellness Program InitiativesRIVA FlexAdditional Workplace BenefitsEqual Opportunity StatementRIVA Solutions is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any protected class. If you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please email accommodations@rivasolutionsinc.com. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned.