Sr Data Solution Architect

AtAmerican Equity Investment Life Holding Company, we think of ourselves asThe Financial Dignity Company. Our policyholders work with independent agents, banks and broker-dealers through our wholly-owned operating subsidiaries, to choose one of our leading annuity products best suited for their personal needs to create financial dignity in retirement. We remain steadfast in our commitment to quality products, excellent customer service, integrity, safety and delivering on our promises to our policyholders. Our success comes from hiring people who embody the beliefs that drive our unique, energetic, fast-paced and caring culture of collaboration, ownership and innovation.

We currently fund over half a million retirements nationwide, and have been headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, for over twenty-five years, withsatellite offices slated to open in 2022 in Charlotte, NC, and New York, NY. We are a NYSE-listed company and maintain an "excellent" rating from AM Best. Our companyhas over $57 billion in assets, 26,000 active agents and over 650 employees.

GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

The Senior Data Solution Architect analyzes, designs, develops, tests, implements, troubleshoots, optimizes and/or maintains complex enterprise level data solutions which include source data structures, ETL jobs implementing complex ETL processes and/or targeted data lake/operational data store/centralized data warehouse/data mart designs. This role utilizes the ability to identify and understand of source to target mapping of data attributes as they reside in both sources systems, data stores, data lake, and EDW. As a Senior Data Architect, this role also requires an expertise knowledge in cloud computing, cloud optimization, and tools that can be utilized in order to help bring an increased value to the business at an optimal cost. The architect utilizes SQL, tools, and/or technology to implement robust, maintainable data solutions meeting business and technical requirements and provides data architectural and modeling expertise in creating, refining and implementing highly complex data model designs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leverages Data Modeling and ETL tools performing mapping design, architectural design, modeling, coding, implementation, performance tuning and debugging tasks.
• Strong understanding and ability to leverage python and other programming languages to execute data/file acquisition and transformation.
• Develops data extracts, applications and ad-hoc queries using Informatica Power Center, Informatica Cloud and/or SSIS.
• Applies understanding of the relationship between different data warehouse architectural layers, constructs and data design concepts.
• Creates highly complex SQL queries required to access tabular structures in Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS).
• Creates and defines data structures using columnar database systems.
• Provides technical direction in the ongoing development of best practices for data movement, data quality, data cleansing and other ETL-related activities.
• Transforms functional specifications into ETL technical specifications and source to target mappings.
• Communicates effectively with Business Analysts, Data Modelers and Solution Architects to convert the ETL design into specific development activities.
• Constructs/refines ETL processes related to loading data into warehouse and provides.
• Demonstrates advanced proficiency in ETL methodology in performing Data Profiling, Data Migration, and Data Conversion.
• Documents ETL process thoroughly, including steps needed to migrate ETL/database objects between various environments including Development, UAT, Staging, and Production.
• Plans Unit and Integration Testing activities and assist in User Acceptance Testing as needed.
• Coaches, mentors and provides work direction to other junior level data solution architects.
• Performs other related work as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Reports:None.

General Description of Indirect Reports (2 and 3-downs):None

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, MIS, Mathematics, Information Management or related field of study; plus ten (10) years of progressively responsible relate experience; or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

Seven (7) years moderate level experience working with ETL tools in addition to modeling tool expertise leveraging ERWin and/or similar tools.

Five (5) years of experience with cloud computing technology. This position ideally has experience with AWS services found in Analytics, Compute, Database, Developer Tools, and Storage.

Five (5) years of experience working with APIs as a means of data ingestion from sources.

Experience with digital analytics (Google Analytics) feeds is a plus.

Experience creating test plans for ETL processes plus strong understanding of regression testing methods a plus.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS:N/A

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to understand API utilization, optimization, and caching data for use of downstream systems is essential.
• Must be able to understand and analyze data transformation requirements leveraged to build, refine, deploy and/or configure ETL architectural design patterns which maximize reuse and minimize change impact.
• Advanced data model knowledge leveraged to build complex data warehouse solutions. (relational, dimensional, historical data support, etc.)
• Understanding of complex ETL design/development principals and techniques required in building an enterprise data warehouse environment, including ability to work with various ETL frameworks.
• Advanced knowledge of cloud computing and services available/utilized in the AWS/Azure clouds.
• Advanced knowledge of python.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Informatica development and administration tools, including complex transformations.
• Working knowledge of RDBMS and data warehouse front-end tools.
• Advanced level development experience working with SQL scripting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Mathematical skills and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work cooperatively and successfully with employees, customers, and other outside third parties.
• Solid organizational and planning skills.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to successfully handle pressure and meet deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.