Data Architect

Key Responsibilities

• Solution Architecture & Design
  • Design the end-to-end Azure-based data lake architecture using Microsoft Fabric (OneLake, Data Factory, Synapse, Power BI).
  • Define integration approaches with IHRC/HRMS, SAP, Access, IBM, and flat file systems (.csv/.txt).
  • Architect secure ingestion pipelines with scheduled refresh, delta detection, and lineage tracking.
• Security, Compliance & Governance
  • Implement encryption (at rest and in transit), RBAC (role-based access control), and secure access policies using Azure Key Vault, Private Endpoints, and Entra ID.
  • Align all architectural decisions with SOX controls, HIPAA, IITAA, and NIST 800-53 standards.
  • Lead data governance implementation via Microsoft Purview or equivalent (e.g., Alation, Collibra) for metadata tagging and classification.
• Metadata, Lineage & Data Classification
  • Establish naming conventions, tagging strategy (e.g., PII indicators), and schema harmonization across all ingested sources.
  • Design a metadata-driven ingestion framework that supports lineage tracking and audit logs.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Documentation
  • Collaborate closely with ZCS Customer’s  security, compliance, IRB leadership, and business stakeholders.
  • Deliver technical documentation including architecture diagrams, lineage maps, access controls, and compliance evidence packages.
  • Support development of training materials and knowledge transfer for operational continuity.
• Operational Support & Scalability
  • Guide the deployment of a production-ready platform with runbooks, DR procedures, and access monitoring.
  • Architect the system to support future expansion to other Illinois Racing systems and bureaus.
  • Define and enforce cost-efficient practices (FinOps) to optimize resource utilization in Azure.

Technical Skills & Tooling

• Cloud Platform & Architecture: Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Azure Synapse, Azure Data Factory
• Data Governance: Microsoft Purview, Azure Policy, data classification frameworks
• Security & Compliance: Azure Key Vault, RBAC, Private Endpoints, NIST 800-53, SOX
• Integration Technologies: SAP connectors, Access/ODBC integrations, IBM data interfaces, flat file ingestion (csv/txt)
• Visualization & Reporting: Power BI (Workspace Configuration, Shared Datasets, Dashboards)
• Monitoring & Operations: Azure Monitor, Application Insights, CI/CD pipelines with Azure DevOps
• Documentation & Standards: Visio, Draw.io, TOGAF-aligned modeling, Confluence/Wiki
• Languages: T-SQL, PySpark, KQL preferred

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Data Architecture roles with recent Azure cloud-native project experience
• 3+ years delivering secure, compliant architectures for government or regulated industries
• Familiarity with FISCAL, ERP integration, and public sector analytics/reporting platforms
• Strong understanding of metadata strategy, lineage, and data stewardship principles
• Excellent client communication, technical documentation, and solution governance skills
• Preferred: Microsoft Certified (Azure Solutions Architect / Data Engineer), experience with State of Illinois systems