What does a senior data architect do?
A senior data architect is responsible for analyzing the company's existing database, ensuring its efficiency and accuracy to support business functions and operational processes. Data architects manage network systems according to business requirements and specifications, upgrading the database's infrastructure, and conducting regular configuration. They also create alternative database models that would secure the information from the company's networks to prevent unauthorized access and malfunctions. A senior data architect runs quality checks with every database to monitor its structural condition and modify procedures as necessary.
Senior data architect responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real senior data architect resumes:
- Develop shell scripts to automate some db maintaining and monitoring tasks.
- Report procedures against SSAS are constructed and ExcelWriter templates are developed to automate and replace existing manually generate, client-contract reports.
- Work at length with pycassa (python driver) and Astyanax (Java driver).
- Implement enterprise grade platform (mark logic) for ETL from mainframe to NOSQL (cassandra).
- Analyze the existing ETL application (python base), which is written using BTEQs to understand the ETL transformations.
- Establish escalation policies for the db team.
- Define and deploy monitoring, metrics, and logging systems on AWS.
- Include migration of existing applications and development of new applications using AWS cloud services.
- Develop strong MDM practice, client relationships, new opportunities, resources, and center of excellence for MDM practice.
- Develop VBA script to send bulk email to all managers for those employees that have an unresolve status for resolution.
- Design and develop processes to interface all the changes in the legacy systems to the CRM system on an ongoing basis.
- Streamline and automate reports using VBA
- Develop a dividend forecasting system and rule-compiler in Java.
- Develop client segmentation strategy for product and infrastructure assignment.
- Utilize other technologies such as Kafka for distribute message processing.
Senior data architect skills and personality traits
We calculated that 10% of Senior Data Architects are proficient in Analytics, Data Lake, and AWS. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Organizational skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Senior Data Architects that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Analytics, 10%
Participated in numerous communities of practice groups including development, data architecture, business intelligence and analytics, and project management.
- Data Lake, 7%
Unified data lake architecture integrating various data sources on Hadoop architecture.
- AWS, 6%
Defined and deployed monitoring, metrics, and logging systems on AWS.
- Python, 5%
Implemented Python scripts to import/export JSON file, which contains the customer survey information and/or asset information, to/from the database.
- Hadoop, 5%
Installed and made operational HADOOP's PDCR tool for Performance Data Collection & Reporting.
- Java, 4%
Developed a dividend forecasting system and rule-compiler in Java.
Common skills that a senior data architect uses to do their job include "analytics," "data lake," and "aws." You can find details on the most important senior data architect responsibilities below.
Leadership skills. The most essential soft skill for a senior data architect to carry out their responsibilities is leadership skills. This skill is important for the role because "many computer network architects direct teams of engineers, such as computer hardware engineers, who build the networks they have designed." Additionally, a senior data architect resume shows how their duties depend on leadership skills: "provided thought leadership to reengineer ginnie mae data governance manual processes using automation through sharepoint. "
Organizational skills. Many senior data architect duties rely on organizational skills. "computer network architects who work for large firms must coordinate many different types of communication networks and make sure they work well together.," so a senior data architect will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways senior data architect responsibilities rely on organizational skills: "identify organizational units/areas where a bi solution is needed 2. "
Detail oriented. senior data architects are also known for detail oriented, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to senior data architect responsibilities, because "computer network architects create comprehensive plans of the networks they are creating with precise information describing how the network parts will work together." A senior data architect resume example shows how detail oriented is used in the workplace: "designed and developed each source system data flow diagram as well as data flow details including hadoop eco components. "
Analytical skills. A big part of what senior data architects do relies on "analytical skills." You can see how essential it is to senior data architect responsibilities because "computer network architects have to examine data networks and decide how to best connect the networks based on the needs and resources of the organization." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical senior data architect tasks: "consulted as sme on reporting using business objects and in-house data visualization needs. "
The three companies that hire the most senior data architects are:
- Amazon446 senior data architects jobs
- Deloitte241 senior data architects jobs
- Guidehouse72 senior data architects jobs
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Compare different senior data architects
Senior data architect vs. Data engineer
A data engineer is someone who makes data science possible. This IT job requires the search for data set trends and algorithm development to make raw data more beneficial to the enterprise. Data engineers are responsible for establishing and maintaining an environment that permits other data functions. The necessary skills for the job include in-depth knowledge of multiple programming languages and SQL database design. Among the other skills data engineers should develop include data warehousing and architecture, data mining and modeling, and statistical regression analysis.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a senior data architect are more likely to require skills like "analytics," "aws," "hadoop," and "emerging technologies." On the other hand, a job as a data engineer requires skills like "cloud," "kafka," "data analytics," and "redshift." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Data engineers really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $125,579. Comparatively, senior data architects tend to make the most money in the technology industry with an average salary of $127,355.data engineers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior data architects. In fact, data engineers are 4.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Senior data architect vs. Data warehouse developer
Data Warehouse Developers are information technology (IT) professionals assigned to manage company-related information or data. They are responsible for creating the company's data warehouse, where the company's data will be stored. Data warehouse developers are also expected to provide the maintenance needs related to the program.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that senior data architect responsibilities requires skills like "analytics," "aws," "python," and "nosql." But a data warehouse developer might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "c #," "strong analytical," "microsoft sql server," and "data models."
Data warehouse developers may earn a lower salary than senior data architects, but data warehouse developers earn the most pay in the insurance industry with an average salary of $107,723. On the other hand, senior data architects receive higher pay in the technology industry, where they earn an average salary of $127,355.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Data warehouse developers tend to reach similar levels of education than senior data architects. In fact, they're 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior data architect vs. Data consultant
A data consultant is primarily responsible for devising strategies on finding data and utilizing them according to the needs of a company. Most of the time, they are in charge of gathering data through various means and opportunities, maintaining and designing a database, coordinating with multiple data specialists, inspecting data for any inconsistencies, and performing corrective measures. Furthermore, a data consultant may develop systems and networks for data storage, all while adhering to the policies and standards of the company.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, senior data architects are more likely to have skills like "aws," "emerging technologies," "distributed computing," and "data integration." But a data consultant is more likely to have skills like "data management," "master data," "kafka," and "technical specifications."
Data consultants earn the best pay in the health care industry, where they command an average salary of $106,674. Senior data architects earn the highest pay from the technology industry, with an average salary of $127,355.Most data consultants achieve a lower degree level compared to senior data architects. For example, they're 6.6% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Senior data architect vs. 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.
Types of senior data architect
Updated January 8, 2025
