How to hire an enterprise data architect

How to hire an enterprise data architect, step by step

Here's a step-by-step enterprise data architect hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an enterprise data architect job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new enterprise data architect
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an enterprise data architect do?

Post an enterprise data architect job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The enterprise data architect hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect enterprise data architect also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents enterprise data architect salaries for various positions.

   Type of Enterprise Data Architect	Description	Hourly rate
   Enterprise Data Architect		$44-82
   Architect And Developer	An Architect And Developer is focused on the technical design, architecture, and development of products. They generally work as a part of the development team.	$40-69
   Lead Solution Architect	A lead solution architect is in charge of leading the efforts in improving a company's information systems, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities typically revolve around performing research and analysis to identify the strengths and weaknesses of existing systems, coordinating with different departments to gather data, and developing solutions to optimize business procedures... Show more	$42-75

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Analytics
   • Cloud
   • Python
   • Data Management
   • Data Quality
   • Hadoop
   • AWS
   • Data Integration
   • Azure
   • Data Lake
   • Metadata
   • Infrastructure
   • Data Governance
   • Data Standards

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead the effort to create Splunk indexing cluster from requirements gathering to implementation in AWS.
   • Report procedures against SSAS are constructed and ExcelWriter templates are developed to automate and replace existing manually generate, client-contract reports.
   • Develop strategies for business intelligence, analytics, and enterprise reporting.
   • Set design patterns for application integration, data governance, and analytics development.
   • Design requirements for an enterprise data profiling utility, with Hadoop as primary focus.
   • Provide enhancement and optimization with ETL process development and maintenance.

   More enterprise data architect duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your enterprise data architect job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. An enterprise data architect can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, enterprise data architects' average salary in oklahoma is 37% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level enterprise data architects 46% less than senior-level enterprise data architects.
   • Certifications. An enterprise data architect with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in an enterprise data architect's salary.

   Average enterprise data architect salary

   $127,432yearly

   $61.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level enterprise data architect salary

   $93,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average enterprise data architect salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$155,381	$75
   2	New York	$140,145	$67
   3	District of Columbia	$137,137	$66
   4	Oregon	$126,115	$61
   5	New Jersey	$125,393	$60
   6	Nevada	$124,042	$60
   7	Wisconsin	$123,100	$59
   8	Maryland	$122,730	$59
   9	Florida	$118,974	$57
   10	North Carolina	$118,971	$57
   11	Washington	$118,514	$57
   12	Massachusetts	$117,382	$56
   13	Minnesota	$117,184	$56
   14	Michigan	$115,665	$56
   15	Texas	$115,161	$55
   16	Ohio	$113,039	$54
   17	Georgia	$111,626	$54
   18	Nebraska	$109,116	$52
   19	Iowa	$103,796	$50
   20	Pennsylvania	$103,130	$50

   Average enterprise data architect salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Google	$166,374	$79.99	268
   2	Cohesity	$149,694	$71.97	19
   3	Bloomberg	$146,981	$70.66	59
   4	Hearst	$146,906	$70.63	18
   5	CDW	$143,772	$69.12	18
   6	JPMorgan Chase & Co.	$139,831	$67.23	299
   7	Extreme Networks	$138,481	$66.58	22
   8	Harland Clarke	$138,044	$66.37
   9	Stand Together	$137,855	$66.28	1
   10	Autodesk	$137,121	$65.92	18
   11	City National Bank	$136,018	$65.39	5
   12	Elevate	$135,821	$65.30	5
   13	MUFG EMEA	$135,587	$65.19
   14	Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc	$135,497	$65.14	16
   15	Intel	$135,352	$65.07	50
   16	Wawa	$134,898	$64.85	1
   17	Ample	$134,643	$64.73
   18	Genesis Financial Solutions, Inc.	$134,579	$64.70
   19	Shippo	$134,239	$64.54
   20	Tango Card	$134,115	$64.48

4. Writing an enterprise data architect job description

   A good enterprise data architect job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of an enterprise data architect job description:

   Enterprise data architect job description example

   Graco manufactures and markets premium equipment to move, measure, control, dispense and spray a wide variety of fluid and powder materials. What does that mean? Well, we pump peanut butter into your jar, and the oil in your car. We glue the soles of your shoes, the glass in your windows and the screen on your phone. We spray the finish on your vehicle, coatings on your pills, the paint on your house and texture on your walls. Graco is part of your daily life.
   Job Purpose
   The Enterprise Data Architect will play a key role in shaping the new enterprise architecture environment at Graco. This role creates, evolves and governs the future state data architecture, providing direction for other architectural roles. The Enterprise Data Architect will have influence in executing Graco's enterprise data strategy program. The ideal candidate has a passion for using data as a strategic asset to drive business value.
   
   Essential Duties
   Collaborate with other Enterprise Architects to deliver a future state enterprise architecture and roadmap that enables business strategy and outcomes Maximize the value derived from data through effective governance, identification, storage, processing, modeling and provisioning Partner with Data Engineering leaders to execute the enterprise data strategy, including initiatives for data governance, metadata management, data quality, master data and privacy/security Lead architecture reviews, ensuring alignment with the enterprise architecture Supports the development and adoption of shared services and solutions across the enterprise Create and communicate recommendations to company leaders based on assessments of technology, business and industry trends Provide architecture consulting and mentoring services to stakeholders Other duties as assigned
   
   Position Requirements
   Education
   Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field of study
   
   Experience
   3-5 years of related experience Demonstrated ability to develop architectural models and roadmaps aligned with business capabilities and strategy Expert logical analysis and conceptualization skills Capable leadership, with the ability and courage to make sound decisions and drive change across the enterprise Data modeling expertise at the enterprise level Familiarity with data architecture concepts, including Master Data Management, data warehouse design, ETL/ELT, data pipelines and data security best practices Experience with distributed data management and analytics in cloud and hybrid environments Excellent understanding of system integration and data access approaches, such as microservices and event-based architectures Solid business acumen and experience developing business cases Good oral and written communication skills to effectively deliver messages to a wide range of audiences - from executive to technical Innovative and strategic mindset
   
   Desirable
   Strong programming background with languages such as SQL, Python, Java/Scala/Ruby, R, Hive QL or MapReduceData architecture on AWS, including Redshift, Microsoft AzureBig data architectures, such as HadoopFamiliarity with Business Intelligence tools, such as Cognos, Tableau or Microsoft Power BIExperience developing star schema data models for enterprise reporting needs.Predictive analytics technologies and concepts Data catalog and metadata management experience Agile methodologies, CI/CD and source control Familiarity with cloud-based data warehousing utilizing SnowflakeFamiliarity with data lake development using data pipeline tools such as Fivetran
   
   Power to BeAt Graco, the Power to Be means providing the support, resources and freedom to pave your own way. Bring your unique attributes to the table, along with a commitment to being your best self, and you can be a part of a culture that rewards effort, celebrates uniqueness, and gives you the tools you need to succeed and become your best, fullest self along the way. Our culture empowers employees to chart their own career path. Our managers provide support and opportunities while offering freedom for employees to find their own Power to Be. Whether you decide to move up within the same department or expand to another cross-functional group, you will gain the well-rounded experience to succeed on your own terms.
   Graco has excellent opportunities available to individuals who want to be part of a fast-moving, growing company that is committed to quality, innovation and solving fluid handling problems for our customers. Graco is proud to be named a Best Place to Work by Fortune Magazine in 2016, 2018, 2019 & 2021. Graco offers attractive compensation, benefits and career development opportunities. Graco's comprehensive benefits include medical, dental, stock purchase plan, 401(k), tuition reimbursement and more.
   Proven Quality. Leading Technology. Launch your career with Graco!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right enterprise data architect for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with enterprise data architects they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit enterprise data architects who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your enterprise data architect job on Zippia to find and attract quality enterprise data architect candidates.
   • Use niche websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit enterprise data architects, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   Sometimes, it's not enough to interview enterprise data architect candidates, so you can ask them to do a test project. If you are not a technical person and don't know what a test project should be, you can use these websites:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new enterprise data architect

   Once you have selected a candidate for the enterprise data architect position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new enterprise data architect first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire an enterprise data architect?