Senior Data Architect

Blucora has a bold aspiration: we are committed to giving all people the tools needed to lead healthy financial lives - tools often reserved for the wealthy.

We now turn to the next leg, developing the technological tools that make our vision of financial health for all a reality. Atypical for the financial services industry, we take a contemporary approach to strategy and product development that is founded in user insights, rapid testing, and a singular focus on driving end-user value.

Since charting new territory daily is part of everyone's job at Blucora, we've attracted team members who thrive on the challenge, encourage each other, and are passionately committed to the goal. If you agree that problem-solving is a team sport, and feel energized by a good debate, deep-dive research, or a fun night out with colleagues, we might be the right firm for you!

Position Summary

Avantax Wealth Management, a subsidiary of Blucora and sister company to Avantax Planning Partners is seeking a Senior Data Architect to lead data design efforts and guide other data team members to develop standards, propose/ evaluate technology and or tools, and provide governance for data integration, data modeling, storage, and data delivery/ data access for the enterprise. The Senior Data Architect will drive the development of best practices for the organization and mentor developers, analysts, and other members of the team.

This position will lead the design and architecture as well as data modeling functions of our modern enterprise data landscape partnering with key business and development teams to deliver world-class Operational and Business Intelligence/ Advanced Analytics data-driven solutions.

The scope of the role involves all aspects of the project life cycle from envisioning to implementation and support. This role takes a lead in the department's strategic vision and implementation of critical BI data assets.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the business partners & product development teams to capture requirements & determine data-driven solutions to integrate with existing BI assets, prototypes, and systems.
• Drive key technical and design discussions with technical and non-technical audiences across the organization.
• Responsible for designing POCs, determining final designs, and working through data engineers to deploy solutions that optimize client satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain high-level enterprise data models and conceptual views of related data sub-architectures (e.g., database, data integration, data warehouse/business intelligence, reporting, metadata, and content management architectures).
• Identify and implement service standards in conjunction with stakeholder-specific requirements (e.g., transaction processing speed, data mining, and reporting capabilities, data security, scalability, etc.).
• Optimize overall data/information flow by reducing redundancy and enabling accessibility within security boundaries.
• Perform an active, leading role in shaping and enhancing overall ETL architecture, including ETL standards, patterns, and best practices.
• Determine organizational strategies for data integrity validation & governance practices and processes.
• Partner with the Leadership team to ensure the successful delivery of projects.
• Must drive innovations by keeping current on emerging technology and data trends and methodologies; communicate trends and opportunities to management and other stakeholders as needed.
• Play a key role in mentoring/training other team members and stakeholders.
• Identify alternative uses of technologies that enhance current or anticipated information systems that support overall corporate and business needs.
• Participate in the proliferation of our Corporate Meta-data Repository and distribution.
• Communicate, manage, and mitigate risks related to business, technology, and personnel.

Education & Experience

• 5 years of experience in data modeling, business system designs, and data architecture.
• 3 years of experience with hands-on experience designing data platforms and/ or data pipelines leveraging cloud data technologies on Amazon Web Services (AWS).
• 3 years of experience and extensive knowledge and understanding of data modeling for 3NF (OLTP) and STAR (OLAP - Kimball).
• 3 years of hands-on experience in ETL/ ELT development including SSIS, and AWS Glue.
• 3 years of SQL Server (or comparable database) experience with BI/DW deployments
• Hands-on experience developing and managing Agile or SAFe/Agile practices using industry-standard tools such as Jira or similar.
• 2 years of experience in Cloud Technologies (preferably AWS S3/Redshift, Snowflake, DBT).
• Experience designing streaming scalable architectures.
• Familiarity with designing and/ or implementing Advanced Analytics/ Machine Learning models (MLOps) in an Enterprise Environment.
• Strong understanding of SQL and NoSQL technologies and distributed storage/ systems
• Must have a thorough working knowledge of Erwin Data Modeler or similar data modeling software.
• Strong understanding of architecture/ modeling techniques such as Canonical/ Common, Dimensional, Hub, Spoke (Enterprise Data Hub), Data Mesh, Master Data Management, etc
• Strong understanding of Data Services (DaaS) techniques and architectures.
• Proven track record as Architect, leading development teams to deliver successful business intelligence solutions with complex data sources.
• Direct experience developing and managing structured test processes as well as test/dev & production technical environments (staging, test, dev, production).
• Experience with Github or similar "code management" systems and repositories.
• Strong analytical skills and enjoy solving complex technical problems.
• Ability to manage and make decisions about competing priorities and resources.
• Ability to delegate where appropriate.
• Must be a strong team player, team leader, and coach.
• Demonstrated exceptional oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
• Must have the ability to work both autonomously and with appropriate collaboration amount other team members applying Data Management concepts to a variety of "real-life" business scenarios.
• Must be able to influence others through the articulation of ideas, concepts, benefits, etc.
• Must possess strong organizational, facilitation, and critical thinking abilities, to assess complex problems, analyze options, navigate diverse perspectives and objectives, and develop acceptable Data Management solutions.
• Ability to represent complex business problems and technical solutions.

Physical Demand & Work Effort

• Keying/typing, standing, walking.
• Sitting for an extended period.
• Constant mental and/or visual attention; the work is repetitive or diversified requiring constant alertness in an office environment.
• The job is typically performed under comfortable working conditions; any disagreeable elements are generally absent during the regular performance of the job.
• Compliance with company attendance standards.

Comprehensive Benefits

We offer a competitive salary, and outstanding benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, paid vacation and sick days, paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, and 401(k) with company match.

#Avantax

At Blucora, we believe our work benefits from the diverse perspectives of our employees. As such, Blucora welcomes and celebrates diversity and inclusion and is committed to equal opportunity employment. At Blucora, you can expect a supportive, open, and inclusive atmosphere and a team that values your contributions.

Blucora, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Avantax Wealth Management, Avantax Planning Partners (formerly HK Financial Services), are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, and any other status protected under federal or state law. Blucora considers information gathered in the hiring process, including information on this application, confidential, and only shares it on a need-to-know basis or as required by law.

If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us at [email protected] or by calling 972-870-6000 to speak with a member of the HR Talent Acquisition team.