Pay
In line with similar jobs
$131K–$190K against $154K–$225K, the middle half of what similar US postings state.
From 2,958 postings in the last year. Stated ranges, not salaries paid.
Senior Data Architect
Boston, MA (Main Campus)
Open 5 months, first seen by us 156 days ago- Pay
$130,945–189,868.75/yearAnnual period assumed — pay source
Expected Hiring Range: $130,945.00 - $189,868.75 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
Read the full posting- Work setting
- Not stated
- Employment
Full-time — employment source
Employment type in the employer’s posting: Full time
From the employer’s posting
Before you apply
- Work authorization
- Must already have the right to work in the US
*Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States
What you’ll work on
Full postingAssess existing data structures, integrations, and legacy platforms
Define the future-state enterprise data architecture for AI, automation, and analytics
Create conceptual, logical, and physical data models across domains
Design datasets and metadata for AI, RAG, vector search, and agentic workflows
Lead ingestion architecture, streaming frameworks, and API integrations
From the employer’s posting
Assess existing data structures, integrations, and legacy platforms.
Define the enterprise’s future-state data architecture aligned with AI, automation, and analytics needs.
Create conceptual, logical, and physical data models across domains.
Design datasets and metadata structures supporting AI, RAG, vector search, and agentic workflows.
Lead ingestion architecture, streaming frameworks, and API integrations.
Education & alternatives
Minimum Qualification Knowledge and skills required for this position are typically acquired through the completion of a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and ten or more years of progressive experience in data architecture, enterprise data modeling, or data engineering. - Proven experience modernizing legacy data environments and designing cloud-native, AI-ready data architectures.
About Northeastern
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.
In the employer’s words · Read in context
Posting record
Report an errorOpen 5 monthsWe first saw this posting 156 days ago and it is still up. Roles open this long are often slow to fill or kept open to collect applications.
- Status in our records
- Live
- First seen by us
- Jun 1, 2026156 days ago
- Recorded sightings
- 231
- Last seen by us
- Nov 5, 2026
These dates show when we found the posting. Check the employer’s website to confirm it is still accepting applications.
How this job compares
Time since we first saw it
Day 156
Up longer than most. Similar jobs usually come down between day 7 and day 54.
From 7,946 similar postings that came down. Coming down is not always a hire.
Northeastern is hiring
6 open jobs
Open jobs by the week we first saw them, last 12 weeks.
- Hiring at a steady pace
- Takes jobs down at a usual pace
See how this role fits your experience
Add your resume and we’ll mark which of these tools you already use, and point out anything in the posting that could rule you out.
- SQL
- Azure
- Databricks
- dbt
- Fivetran
- Kafka
- Snowflake
Where the posting names them
- Expertise in modern data architecture patterns (data products, lakehouse, domain-driven design, semantic layers). - Deep knowledge of Snowflake, Azure SQL, Databricks, or similar cloud data platforms. - Proficiency with DBT, Fivetran, Informatica, or equivalent ELT/ETL tools.
Job Summary The Senior Data Architect is responsible for architecting Northeastern University’s transition from legacy data structures to a modern, scalable, AI‑ready data architecture. This role conducts deep assessments of existing systems—including Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Azure—and designs future-state structures that support data products, analytics, automation, and AI/ML enablement. Establishes enterprise data standards, models, governance structures, and integration patterns, ensuring that data is trustworthy, discoverable, interoperable, secure, and prepared for advanced use cases such as RAG, vector search, semantic layers, and agentic workflows. *Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future.
- Proven experience modernizing legacy data environments and designing cloud-native, AI-ready data architectures. - Experience working with large, complex enterprise systems (e.g., Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Azure). - Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional initiatives involving data governance, analytics, and platform modernization.
- Partner with data owners to deliver scalable data products. - Support Snowflake, Azure, Salesforce, Banner, and ServiceNow data alignment 3) AI/ML Enablement & Advanced Capabilities
- Deep knowledge of Snowflake, Azure SQL, Databricks, or similar cloud data platforms. - Proficiency with DBT, Fivetran, Informatica, or equivalent ELT/ETL tools. - Experience with event-driven and API-based integrations (Kafka, EventHub, microservices).
- Proficiency with DBT, Fivetran, Informatica, or equivalent ELT/ETL tools. - Experience with event-driven and API-based integrations (Kafka, EventHub, microservices). - Knowledge of AI/ML foundational components: vector databases, feature stores, RAG pipelines, metadata management.
Your next step
Complete your application on northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com. The employer’s form will show what is required.
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Already applied? Track this application
Demand for Data Leadership roles
New Data Leadership postings at the employers we follow are up 7% over the last 5 weeks compared with the 5 before.
Each bar is one week of new postings. The darkest bars are the last 5 weeks.
Counted from the hiring pages we’ve followed for at least five weeks, so employers we add don’t look like growth. Updated weekly.
About the role
We file this job under Data Leadership, by the work the posting describes.
Data leaders run data teams or design how a company's data fits together. Managers hire, set priorities and answer for whether the data work pays off; architects choose the systems and the shape of the data.
Expect years of hands-on data work, experience leading people or projects, and the ability to explain tradeoffs to executives.
Unlike a senior engineer or analyst, most of a data leader's week goes to people, planning and decisions rather than building.
US government figures for computer and information systems managers
- Median yearly pay, May 2025
- $175,140
- Expected change, 2025 to 2035
- 15.8% more jobsagainst 3.5% for all jobs
The government has no code for data leaders, so these figures are for the closest group, computer and information systems managers, which includes data processing and data operations managers.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025) and Employment Projections (2025 to 2035). Occupation code 11-3021.
Job description
About the Opportunity
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.
Job SummaryThe Senior Data Architect is responsible for architecting Northeastern University’s transition from legacy data structures to a modern, scalable, AI‑ready data architecture. This role conducts deep assessments of existing systems—including Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Azure—and designs future-state structures that support data products, analytics, automation, and AI/ML enablement. Establishes enterprise data standards, models, governance structures, and integration patterns, ensuring that data is trustworthy, discoverable, interoperable, secure, and prepared for advanced use cases such as RAG, vector search, semantic layers, and agentic workflows.
*Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future.
Minimum QualificationKnowledge and skills required for this position are typically acquired through the completion of a Bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field and ten or more years of progressive experience in data architecture, enterprise data modeling, or data engineering.
Proven experience modernizing legacy data environments and designing cloud-native, AI-ready data architectures.
Experience working with large, complex enterprise systems (e.g., Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, Azure).
Demonstrated leadership in cross-functional initiatives involving data governance, analytics, and platform modernization.
Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business-aligned architectural decisions.
Strong communication and data storytelling skills for senior leadership and non-technical stakeholders.
Effective collaborator with demonstrated ability to drive alignment across distributed teams. Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and architectural documentation skills.
Ability to set and enforce standards, patterns, reusable components, and governance practices.
Technical Competencies:
Expertise in modern data architecture patterns (data products, lakehouse, domain-driven design, semantic layers).
Deep knowledge of Snowflake, Azure SQL, Databricks, or similar cloud data platforms.
Proficiency with DBT, Fivetran, Informatica, or equivalent ELT/ETL tools.
Experience with event-driven and API-based integrations (Kafka, EventHub, microservices).
Knowledge of AI/ML foundational components: vector databases, feature stores, RAG pipelines, metadata management.
Strong understanding of data modeling (conceptual, logical, physical), master data management, and data quality frameworks.
1) Modern Data Architecture & Strategy Development
Assess existing data structures, integrations, and legacy platforms.
Define the enterprise’s future-state data architecture aligned with AI, automation, and analytics needs.
Establish standards, patterns, and reusable frameworks
2) Data Modeling, Products & Platform Enablement
Create conceptual, logical, and physical data models across domains.
Partner with data owners to deliver scalable data products.
Support Snowflake, Azure, Salesforce, Banner, and ServiceNow data alignment
3) AI/ML Enablement & Advanced Capabilities
Design datasets and metadata structures supporting AI, RAG, vector search, and agentic workflows.
Collaborate with AI Studio and analytics teams to enable model training and inference at scale
4) Data Integration, Quality, and Governance
Lead ingestion architecture, streaming frameworks, and API integrations.
Implement data quality, lineage tracking, and governance practices.
Support FERPA, GDPR, and institutional compliance.
5) Serve as trusted advisor to academic and administrative partners
Communicate roadmaps and architectural decisions to ITS leadership
Position Type
Information TechnologyAdditional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Compensation Grade/Pay Type:
114SExpected Hiring Range:
$130,945.00 - $189,868.75With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
Source details
Source notes
Source excerptsSelected passages from the saved posting. Check the full description for conditions and exceptions.
- Pay
Expected Hiring Range: $130,945.00 - $189,868.75 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.
- Location & working pattern
Boston, MA (Main Campus)
Working pattern and location restrictions need checking in the full posting.
- Work authorization
The Senior Data Architect is responsible for architecting Northeastern University’s transition from legacy data structures to a modern, scalable, AI‑ready data architecture. This role conducts deep assessments of existing systems—including Banner, Workday, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and Azure—and designs future-state structures that support data products, analytics, automation, and AI/ML enablement. Establishes enterprise data standards, models, governance structures, and integration patterns, ensuring that data is trustworthy, discoverable, interoperable, secure, and prepared for advanced use cases such as RAG, vector search, semantic layers, and agentic workflows. *Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. The University is unable to work sponsor for this role, now or in the future. Minimum Qualification