Data Architect

Our vision for the future is based on the idea that transforming financial lives starts by giving our people the freedom to transform their own. We have a flexible work environment, and fluid career paths. We not only encourage but celebrate internal mobility. We also recognize the importance of purpose, well-being, and work-life balance. Within Empower and our communities, we work hard to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and our associates dedicate thousands of hours to volunteering for causes that matter most to them.Chart your own path and grow your career while helping more customers achieve financial freedom. Empower Yourself.Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time, including CPT/OPT.The Data Architect will analyze, design, and implement scalable data architectures and data models within cloud-based platforms. This hands-on technical role translates business and technical requirements into secure, reliable, and high-performing data solutions that support analytics, reporting, and operational data products. Working with data architects, engineers, analytics teams, and business stakeholders, the Data Architect develops models, architectures, and frameworks that enable data-driven decision-making while aligning with enterprise standards, governance practices, and evolving business needs.What you will do:Analyze large and complex data sets to identify trends, patterns, and insights, and translate them into scalable data architectures and models.Design and implement end-to-end data architectures supporting ingestion, storage, processing, and consumption for analytics and operational use cases.Develop and maintain logical and physical data models, data flows, and architecture documentation.Create and optimize data models to support dashboards, reporting, and data visualization tools.Apply modern data architecture patterns, including data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouses, batch and event-driven processing, and change data capture.Design cloud-native and cloud-compatible solutions, including data platform modernization and migration strategies.Ensure data solutions adhere to governance, security, privacy, and compliance standards.Design for scalability, reliability, and performance, including partitioning strategies and schema optimization.Collaborate with engineering, infrastructure, security, and business teams to deliver aligned data solutions.Participate in architecture and design reviews, identifying risks, trade-offs, and optimization opportunities.Support DevOps and DataOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code.Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineers and team members on data architecture and modeling best practices.Translate business requirements into data quality standards and actionable data solutions.Continuously refine models, methodologies, and architectures based on feedback and evolving business needs.What you will bring:Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, Mathematics, Business, or equivalent experience.7-10 years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, analytics engineering, or related technical roles, including a minimum of 5+ years in a data-centric role.Strong experience in data modeling, including logical and physical modeling, and use of data modeling tools such as ER/Studio, ERwin, or PowerDesigner.Advanced SQL skills and experience with relational databases such as Oracle, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, DB2, or Redshift.Experience with cloud platforms and data services, including AWS, Azure, or GCP, and big data frameworks such as EMR or Spark.Strong understanding of modern data architectures, including data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouses, and streaming platforms.Hands-on experience with distributed data processing, data integration, and NoSQL technologies, including graph, key-value, and columnar technologies.Experience with data visualization and analytics tools such as Tableau, Cognos, BusinessObjects, MicroStrategy, SAS, or SPSS.Proficiency in programming or scripting languages such as Python, R, or SQL.Understanding of data governance, data quality, data privacy, and security practices.Experience with DevOps and DataOps practices, including CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code.Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage both technical and non-technical stakeholders.Ability to work independently and collaboratively within cross-functional teams.What will set you apart:This job operates in a professional office environment.This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications of the job. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. You will be evaluated in part based on your performance