Principal Data Architect

As a Principal Data Architect, you will serve as the enterprise technical leader driving the vision, strategy, and governance of our cloud-native, serverless data architecture. This is a high-impact, forward-looking role where you will define standards, mentor senior architects, and work directly with executive leadership to shape data strategy and innovation.You will leverage deep expertise in AWS, data lakes, and modern analytical platforms like Snowflake and Dremio to architect and scale mission-critical platforms. Your work will influence how we design, secure, and deliver data at scale across business units, ensuring alignment with the AWS Well-Architected Framework and our organizational objectives.
Key Responsibilities
🧭 Enterprise Strategy & Leadership
- Define and lead the enterprise data architecture roadmap aligned with company-wide business and technology strategy.- Champion cloud-native, serverless-first, and event-driven architectures that scale globally and securely.- Provide technical thought leadership on data lake architecture, data mesh, Zero ETL, and multi-cloud strategies.
🏗️ Platform Design & Governance
- Own the reference architecture for enterprise-scale data platforms using AWS (S3, Glue, Lake Formation), Snowflake, Dremio, and data lake table formats (Iceberg, Delta Lake).- Establish and maintain enterprise standards for data modeling, schema evolution, metadata management, lineage, and observability.- Drive platform-wide decisions on infrastructure as code, serverless orchestration, and data pipeline frameworks.
🤝 Cross-Functional Influence
- Partner with engineering, product, security, and compliance leaders to ensure data platforms support real-time analytics, ML/AI, and regulatory needs.- Present architecture proposals and strategic initiatives to senior executives and technical governance boards.- Mentor Senior and Lead Data Architects, enabling growth of architectural capability across the organization.
🚀 Innovation & Technology Evaluation
- Lead the evaluation, POC, and adoption of emerging technologies (e.g., data mesh, GenAI data stack, lakehouse evolution).- Publish internal architecture papers, host knowledge-sharing sessions, and contribute to the broader architecture community.
Qualifications
- 12+ years of experience in data architecture, cloud platform engineering, or related technical leadership roles.- Expert-level knowledge of AWS cloud architecture with a focus on serverless, data lakes, and distributed systems.- Proven experience architecting enterprise-grade data platforms with Snowflake, Dremio, or similar technologies.- Demonstrated success applying the AWS Well-Architected Framework, especially in analytics-heavy domains.- Mastery of infrastructure-as-code principles, preferably with AWS CloudFormation or CDK.- Strong communication skills with the ability to influence at the executive level and guide enterprise-wide architecture direction.
Preferred QualificationsAWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty and/or AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.Deep understanding of data governance, access control models (e.g., row/column-level security), and compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR).Experience driving data modernization efforts or cloud data migrations for Fortune 500 or global-scale organizations.Background in architecting data platforms for machine learning and advanced analytics workloads.Published architecture blogs, conference talks, or open-source contributions in the data space.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in data architecture, cloud platform engineering, or related technical leadership roles.
• Expert-level knowledge of AWS cloud architecture with a focus on serverless, data lakes, and distributed systems.
• Proven experience architecting enterprise-grade data platforms with Snowflake, Dremio, or similar technologies.
• Demonstrated success applying the AWS Well-Architected Framework, especially in analytics-heavy domains.
• Mastery of infrastructure-as-code principles, preferably with AWS CloudFormation or CDK.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence at the executive level and guide enterprise-wide architecture direction.

Preferred Qualifications

• AWS Certified Data Analytics – Specialty and/or AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional.
• Deep understanding of data governance, access control models (e.g., row/column-level security), and compliance frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR).
• Experience driving data modernization efforts or cloud data migrations for Fortune 500 or global-scale organizations.
• Background in architecting data platforms for machine learning and advanced analytics workloads.
• Published architecture blogs, conference talks, or open-source contributions in the data space.

At Model N we offer fair, equitable and competitive salary ranges for all positions. Compensation varies depending on factors that may include a candidate’s relevant experience, education and/or certifications, location, training, and other skills. Positions are eligible to participate in either our employee bonus program or commission payments, depending on the nature of the role.
Additionally, Model N offers a robust total rewards package that supports individuals to be their best and protects the well-being of participating dependents. Such benefits include medical, dental, vision, health savings, flexible savings, commuter benefits, matching 401K, PTO, VTO, life insurance, pet insurance, employee assistance programs, mental health programs, charitable giving, coaching, career growth and much more. 
The base salary for this position will be $144,900 - $181,000.  If your salary expectations are outside of this range, feel free to apply and discuss your expectations with our recruiters.  We are constantly opening up new positions and you might match another opening at a different level.  
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About Model N  Model N is the leader in revenue optimization and compliance for pharmaceutical, medtech, and high-tech innovators. For more than 25 years, we have helped customers maximize revenue, streamline operations, and maintain compliance through cloud-based software, value-add services, and data-driven insights. With a focus on innovation and customer success, Model N empowers life sciences and high-tech manufacturers to bring life-changing products to the world more efficiently and profitably. Model N is trusted by over 150 of the world’s leading companies across more than 120 countries. For more information, visit www.modeln.com.  Equal Opportunity Statement Model N values diversity at our company and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Model N considers qualified applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, creed, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class. Please reference https://www.eeoc.gov/employers/eeo-law-poster for more information.  
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