Data Architect

Summary

Join Ncontracts as a Data Architect, a senior technical role reporting to the CTO, where you will design and implement the architectural foundation unifying data across 17 products. This hands-on role requires expertise in SQL, Python, and modern data tools to create canonical data models and harmonize data domains. You will lead technical decisions, develop foundational data models, and ensure efficient data sharing. The goal is to establish a data lake foundation for AI initiatives and support the company's transition to a modern, scalable data platform. Success involves delivering high-quality artifacts, normalizing data definitions, and serving as a thought partner to engineering and data teams. This position offers a chance to shape the future of Ncontracts' data architecture and AI strategy.

Requirements

• Deep experience in designing enterprise data models and modern data architectures
• Strong skills in SQL and modeling for both transactional and analytical workloads
• Experience with ETL/ELT tools
• Expertise with at least several of the following: Python, dbt, Spark, Kafka, Azure Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake, Delta Lake, and Iceberg
• Experience supporting or enabling AI/ML teams with clean, well-modeled data
• Understanding of data governance, data contracts, lineage, and observability best practices

Responsibilities

• Designing and evolving our enterprise data architecture, with a strong focus on enabling AI/ML, analytics, and operational reporting
• Creating canonical data models that harmonize domains across acquired and organically grown products
• Driving technical decisions around data platforms and leading proof-of-concepts
• Developing foundational data models, schemas, and integration patterns using SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and other modern data tools
• Enabling efficient and secure data sharing across teams, products, and environments
• Defining architectural standards, patterns, and best practices for how we model and move data
• Collaborating closely with engineering, product, and analytics teams to understand data needs and ensure solutions are pragmatic and future-minded
• Supporting our transition to a modern, scalable data platform architecture that can serve both internal and customer-facing needs
• Lead architectural planning for our future-state data platforms, enabling both batch and real-time pipelines
• Deliver working, high-quality artifacts - schemas, pipelines, metadata, documentation, not just PowerPoint decks
• Help us normalize and unify data definitions across business units, products, and functions
• Serve as a thought partner to engineering leads and data engineers as we scale up our AI and analytics capabilities
• Create clarity and structure where ambiguity exists, especially across acquired systems
• Balance speed with long-term value - know when to build and when to buy
• Successfully establish our data lake in production by year-end, creating the foundation for our AI initiatives

Preferred Qualifications

• Worked in a multi-product, multi-team environment, especially one that has grown through acquisition
• Built or were a senior contributor to a central data platform or data mesh initiative
• Been the first or second data architect in a growing organization
• Supported real-time data needs (event-driven systems, Kafka, streaming pipelines)
• Helped define cross-team standards and led data modeling workshops with stakeholders
• Experience transforming siloed data into unified canonical models

Benefits

• A fun, fast-paced work environment
• Responsible PTO Plan that meets or exceeds state and local medical and family leave laws
• 11 paid holidays
• Community and social events to keep you connected and engaged
• Mental Health Benefits
• Medical, Dental and Vision insurance
• Company-paid Group Life Insurance, Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account & Health Savings Account
• Aflac Benefits – Critical Illness, Cancer Protection, & Hospital Choice
• Pet Insurance
• 401 (k) with company match with eligibility on Day 1 of employment
• 2 Paid Volunteer Time Off Days