Principal Data Architect

Role Value Proposition :

The Data Architect serves as a pivotal force in driving the organization's data and analytics strategy, delivering transformative impact across the entire data lifecycle. Leveraging deep expertise in data warehousing, big data, engineering, and cloud technologies, this role is entrusted with architecting and designing scalable, innovative solutions that address complex business challenges. As both a technical thought leader and hands-on contributor, the Data Architect provides visionary guidance to data engineers while mentoring and developing fellow architects and engineers, thereby cultivating a high-performance team. By championing best practices in data architecture and analytics, this role empowers the organization to unlock actionable insights, ensure data quality and security, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.

Key Responsibilities :

Architect, design, and deliver scalable, efficient, and trustworthy enterprise data solutions using modern Azure technologies.

Analyze source systems and current data infrastructure to recommend future-state solutions aligned with business needs.

Develop business and functional requirement documents and design specifications for data delivery.

Partner with business and technology teams to co-create impactful data solutions and contribute to long-term data roadmaps.

Institutionalize best practices and accelerate solution delivery through reusable frameworks, prototypes, and innovation initiative.

Align data architecture with enterprise governance, privacy, and compliance standards (e.g., HIPAA).

Lead and mentor teams focusing on talent acquisition, coaching, and professional development.

Build, optimize, and maintain ETL / ELT pipelines for large, complex datasets, ensuring compliance with data standards and best practices.

Translate business requirements into secure, high-performance Azure and Big Data solutions.

Drive stakeholder engagement and effectively present solution architectures to diverse audiences.

Stay current on industry trends, promoting the adoption of emerging cloud and data technologies.

Required Skills :

Bachelor's degree in engineering or equivalent degree type.

10 - 12+ years of overall experience in modern data solution architecture, data engineering, data security and privacy, including end-to-end development and delivery across various industries and technologies.

Data Architecture Expertise - Proven ability to design, implement, and optimize modern data architectures such as data warehouses, fabrics, lakes, marts, and / or mesh concepts to meet complex business needs and diverse consumption patterns (APIs, reporting, advanced analytics).

Advanced skills with Databricks and Spark with most of the following : Data Factory, Functions, Event Hub, Cosmos DB, Azure SQL DB, Delta Lake, and big data platforms; deep understanding of building reliable and efficient data layers.

Exceptional analytical and communication skills for effective collaboration with business stakeholders, business systems analysts, and technical teams.

In-depth understanding of emerging trends in cloud and data technologies, with the ability to translate industry advancements into innovative and responsible solutions.

Responsible for developing data solutions and creating comprehensive technical documentation.

Understanding of the Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) domain.

Experience with DevOps practices, including Git, Azure or AWS DevOps, and CI / CD pipelines.

Preferred Skills :

Familiarity with GenAI, LLMs, and AI integration in data platforms.

Advanced knowledge of machine learning and AI integration within data pipelines.

Relevant industry certifications such as Microsoft Certified : Azure Solutions Architect Expert or AWS Certified Data Analytics - Specialty.

Equal Employment Opportunity / Disability / Veterans

If you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email us at accommodations@metlife.com. This information will be held in confidence and used only to determine an appropriate accommodation for the application process.

MetLife maintains a drug-free workplace.