Senior Data Architect

Calgary, AB
Hybrid
Posted Oct 9, 2026
1 position

Opens an external site

Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Senior · 20+ years
Posting language: English
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Office presence: 2 days per week
Seniority: Mid-Senior level

Job summary

Lead enterprise data architecture assessments and design scalable, governed data platforms and implementation roadmaps for clients. Support proposals and business development, mentor colleagues, contribute to thought leadership and internal tools, and present recommendations to executive stakeholders.

Job details

Role Overview As a Senior Data Architect, you'll lead the design and implementation of modern data platforms for enterprise clients across Energy, Financial Services, and Public Sector. You'll work directly with C-level stakeholders to translate business requirements into scalable, governed data architectures on Azure, Databricks, and Microsoft Fabric. Key Responsibilities Client Delivery (60%) Lead data architecture assessments and gap analysis for enterprise clients Design target-state architectures (lakehouse, data mesh, modern data warehouse) Create detailed technical roadmaps with phased implementation plans Architect end-to-end solutions: ingestion, storage, processing, consumption layers Develop governance frameworks: data cataloging, lineage, quality, security Lead discovery workshops and present architectural recommendations to executives Mentor junior consultants and provide technical oversight on projects Ensure solutions align with industry best practices and compliance requirements (GDPR, PIPEDA, SOC 2) Pre-Sales & Business Development (20%) Support sales team with technical discovery and proposal development Develop client-facing architecture diagrams and solution designs Provide effort estimates and technical scoping for proposals Present capabilities and case studies to prospective clients Participate in industry conferences and networking events Thought Leadership (10%) Contribute to Ripotek's knowledge base and best practices Mentor team members on architecture patterns and methodologies Stay current with emerging technologies and platform updates Write whitepapers and blog posts on data architecture topics Present at internal lunch-and-learns and training sessions Internal Projects (10%) Contribute to Ripotek's internal IP development (accelerators, frameworks, templates) Participate in hiring and interviewing candidates Support development of training curriculum content Participate in strategic planning and service offerings refinement Experience Required Qualifications 8+ years in data architecture, engineering, or related roles 5+ years designing and implementing enterprise data platforms 3+ years with Azure data services (Data Lake, Synapse, Data Factory, Databricks) Proven track record delivering 5+ large-scale data platform implementations Experience across multiple industries (Energy, Finance, or Public Sector preferred) Technical Skills Cloud Platforms Azure (primary), AWS or GCP (secondary) Data Platforms Azure Synapse, Databricks, Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake Data Modeling Dimensional modeling, Data Vault 2.0, one big table patterns Architecture Frameworks TOGAF, Zachman, or similar Governance Tools Azure Purview, Collibra, or similar Programming SQL (advanced), Python or Scala (intermediate) DevOps Git, Azure DevOps, CI/CD pipelines BI Tools Power BI, Tableau, or Looker Soft Skills Exceptional communication skills - can explain complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders Strong facilitation skills for workshops and discovery sessions Proven ability to influence and gain stakeholder buy-in Experience managing client relationships and expectations Comfortable presenting to C-level executives Self-motivated with ability to work independently Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills Preferred Qualifications ✓Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert ✓Databricks Certified Data Engineer or Architect ✓TOGAF 9.2 certification ✓Experience with data mesh or modern data architecture patterns ✓Knowledge of AI/ML platform design ✓Prior consulting experience (Big 4, boutique firm, or independent) ✓Industry-specific domain knowledge (Oil & Gas, Banking, Government) What We Offer Work Environment Hybrid model: 2 days/week in Calgary office, 3 days remote Flexible hours (core hours 10am-3pm MT) Modern downtown Calgary office with standing desks Latest MacBook Pro or Surface Laptop Home office setup allowance ($2,000) Growth & Development Work on cutting-edge Azure, Databricks, and AI projects Exposure to diverse industries and use cases Mentorship from seasoned architects (15-20+ years experience) Opportunity to contribute to training curriculum Clear path to Principal Architect and leadership roles Conference attendance and speaking opportunities Culture & Impact Small team environment - your impact is visible and valued Direct client interaction - you own the relationship Collaborative, low-ego culture focused on client success Contribute to training the next generation of data professionals Opportunity to work on projects that drive real business transformation Interview Process 1 Phone Screen (30 min) HR and hiring manager 2 Technical Interview (90 min) Whiteboard architecture design exercise 3 Case Study Presentation (60 min) Present solution to mock client scenario 4 Culture Fit (45 min) Meet with leadership and peers 5 Reference Checks 3 professional references Timeline:2-3 weeks from application to offer Ready to Join Our Team? We'd love to hear from you. Apply now and let's build something amazing together.

What you’ll do

Requirements

Requires 8+ years in data architecture, engineering, or related roles, including 5+ years designing enterprise data platforms and 3+ years with Azure data services. Candidates should have delivered at least five large-scale implementations and bring strong technical expertise, client-facing communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills; relevant certifications and consulting experience are preferred.