Lead Data Architect

Overview

At ACT Your Work Makes a Difference

Education has power – a power that changes lives forever. It creates opportunities that lift up individuals, their families, and sparks societal change that echoes through generations to come. From our grassroots we have fought the good fight for fairness in education, and we remain devoted to helping anyone who struggles to access that power. This is what matters to us and we must do better -- we’ve never been more sure of our purpose.

ACT Education Corp. team members are part of an organization dedicated to an important mission:  Helping people achieve education and workplace success.  Advancing the mission internally, by helping team members achieve education and workplace success of their own, is core to our values. ACT values a diverse workplace and is committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every team member has equal opportunity to grow.

We want our team members to have the well-being and confidence they need to do their best work, in an environment where both they and the company thrive.  To support this, our total rewards include company paid life insurance, medical, dental, vision, flexible spending accounts, 401(k) with company contributions, paid holidays, paid time off, and so much more.  You can find a comprehensive list of our benefits here.  

We are seeking a Lead Data Architect to help us fulfill that mission.

The Lead Data Architect will be highly involved in project design from a data perspective. Providing guidance related to standardization of data across the enterprise in a rapidly changing environment. Provide thought leadership in developing and implementing ACT's enterprise information architecture, including defining principles, standards and designing data models. Is accountable for solution design and technology choices of those solutions.

The finalist will be hired at the salary and level commensurate with their qualifications. For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary in the range of $135,000 to $155,000. ACT manages salaries within the range based on relevant factors including, skills, experience, and internal equity. The position is incentive eligible.

Location: Remote (can also be onsite or hybrid if in Iowa City, Iowa area)

A Day in the Life:

• Develops enterprise-level data models in support of dynamic data domains working with the software engineering teams and architects.
• Provides thought leadership, technology guidance, supports troubleshooting, manages proof of concept, defines solutions, and frameworks.
• Collaborates and facilitates architectural design, reviews and technology roadmap sessions with stakeholders.
• Develops multiple solution alternatives based upon an understanding of the key requirements, aligning with enterprise architecture strategy and roadmaps, alignment to guiding architecture principles, and total cost of ownership.
• Actively participates in, initiating, leading and providing recommendations on process improvement, implementation of innovative technology, technology selection discussions and decisions within area of expertise, as well as technologies to discontinue. Recommends tools and standards to ensure software quality and performance standards.
• Stays abreast of technology trends and reads the changing technology landscape as they relate to ACT.

Role Progression:

• Within 1 month you will have a high-level understanding of ACT's products and technologies.  You will be engaged with the various teams you support and have a basic understanding of the work and technologies each supports.
• Within 3 months you will have a solid understanding of the business needs and technologies currently utilized by the teams you support and begin to provide documented data architecture mapping and solutions in conjunction with the technology teams. 
• Within 6 months you will be able to provide documented architecture mapping and solutions for the technology teams you support. You will be fully integrated into Agile team processes and be monitoring future features and deliverables to proactively identify solutions/technologies to meet the upcoming needs.

This could be the job for you if you have (minimum requirements):

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible IT experience that includes working in a microservice architecture and developing applications using company standards and best practices.
• Demonstrated experience working in an environment with large volumes of data, complex user interfaces, multiple systems interface and data warehousing.
• Demonstrated experience working on one more of the following: Kafka, Kubernetes (Docker), Java, AWS data services (S3, Glue, Athena, RDS, Entity Resolution), Spark on Data bricks, Snowflake design and patterns.
• Demonstrated ability to apply core development principles, practices, and procedures to multiple applications.
• Demonstrated knowledge of application development lifecycle processes with application design experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical professionals and influence product stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new technologies quickly and effectively required.
• Deep understanding of relational or no-SQL databases (MongoDB) and data modeling.
• Demonstrated ability to be results-oriented and are able to work across the organization in a rapidly transforming organization.
• Ability to communicate effectively across all levels in the organization to build support for adoption and implementation of solutions.
• Experience developing ideas that are new, better, or unique; embraces and promotes diverse perspectives.
• Skills and knowledge required for success in this position attained through experience and education (Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Statistics, Information Systems or related area of study), or a combination of both.

It’s a plus if you have:

• Working knowledge of CEDS & IMS Standards (QTI, LTI, Caliper, etc.).
• Experience working in a product driven Agile development.
• Certification in data architecture or related fields.
• Experience with machine learning and AI technologies.
• Familiarity with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

About ACT

When ACT was founded in 1959, it disrupted the assessment industry with a new approach to helping students better understand their readiness so they could take steps to improve it.  By leveraging our expertise and authority in assessment and research, we will again disrupt the industry—helping more people learn, better measure their progress, and improve their navigation through life’s transitions. 

More than ever before, ACT is fulfilling its mission of helping people achieve education and workplace success. We’re doing it by pushing the boundaries of learning innovation through the work of our people, who we call team members because we’re all in this together.

We know transformation does not come without challenge. That’s why ACT invests in a variety of experiences for team members to strengthen their connections, explore ideas, learn from customers, and celebrate success.

Learn more about working at ACT at act.org!

ACT is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. ACT participates in E-verify. ACT's online position announcements are intended only to provide general descriptions of employment opportunities; none of the information provided for any position should be interpreted as a commitment by ACT to specific terms and conditions for employment.

Application FAQs

**If you have received an ACT employment-related communication from an email address that is not affiliated with @act.org and/or that requests personal or financial information, please do not reply. Instead, reach out to us at careers@act.org with the details. ACT's recruitment team appreciates your interest in working with us to transform college and career readiness pathways for all learners and wishes you the best of luck in your career journey.**