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Data Architect
Description: Reporting to the Vice President of Enterprise Architecture Services, the Data Architect helps define and implement standards, processes, methods, and reference libraries used within client IT organizations to ensure the stability, scalability, and efficiency of information and database systems that support business growth.
Driving the adoption of best practices for information and database design and management. This role is highly cross-functional and requires strong communication, facilitation, and influencing skills.
Essential Functions:
- Consult with Product Development project teams and other business partners in the development of application data models (conceptual, logical and physical) that fulfill application requirements and also conform to published standards.
- Monitor and evaluate new database-related technologies.
- Recommend DBMS platform, data access, and ETL tools.
- Design cost-effective technical solutions that encompass in-house developed and purchased products; and that address business need.
- Develop company-wide data architecture standards including policies, procedures, and best practices for database design, data naming conventions, data modeling, data retention, and database programming.
- Define and communicate data management policy and guidelines for replication, parallel processing, data warehousing, distributed database, database middleware and data migration.
- Ensure development standards are defined and implemented and that development staff is educated on use of standards.
- Provide mentoring, assistance, and oversight to ensure effective implementation.
- Lead or contribute to project planning, control and status reporting functions for assignments/projects, including setting cost, schedule and performance targets.
- Participate in resource planning (people, hardware and software).
- Train, develop and mentor other engineers and technical staff.
- Define and implement processes (such as code reviews) to ensure adherence to architecture standards, code consistency and maintainability.
- Work with QA testing groups to ensure resolution to issues and quality solutions.
- Prepare and/or review system and technical design documentation. Interfaces, tests, implements and supports purchased vendor products.
Requirements:
- Bachelor of Science or equivalent degree.
- 8+ years relational DBMS experience
- 4+ years data modeling and database design experience, including at least 2 years using a data modeling tool for schema design and delivery of design artifacts (ER diagrams, DDL and metadata reports).
- Expert knowledge of relational modeling and database design techniques.
- Expert knowledge of SQL including proprietary extensions included in the major commercial DBMSs. Oracle DBMS experience required.
- Working knowledge of diverse platforms, operating systems, TP monitors and network protocols.
- Knowledge of stored procedures, triggers, and implementation of relational database integrity.
- Expert knowledge of at least one extended SQL language, such as PL/SQL and Transact-SQL.
- Working knowledge of database middleware, such as gateways, RPC mechanisms, and message queuing systems.
- Strong knowledge of data warehousing techniques and tools.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, time management, problem solving and decision making skills.
- Extensive business and product knowledge. Ability to work well in a fast-paced, team environment with minimal direct supervision.
- Demonstrated leadership skills.
- Mastery of data analysis, normalization, de-normalization, indexing, generalization/specialization trade-offs, and operational implications for large, high volume, operational OLTP and OLAP databases.
- Significant contribution to data schema design for multiple, substantial applications/systems
- Significant experience using scripted tools to automate database deployment, installation and data migration.
- Capable of analyzing and tuning database performance for at least one major database product (Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or IBM DB2).
- When called upon, able to install and initialize one or more major data server products (Oracle, MS SQL Server, DB2)
- Understanding of XML schema and experience using XML for data interchange. Prefer familiarity with XML formats pertaining to HR, Payroll, and Benefits such as those defined by the HR-XML Consortium.
- Experience collaborating with geographically dispersed development teams.
- Able to travel up to 80% within the U.S. and abroad
Desirable Skills:
- Relational Database (Oracle and SQL Server)
- Web Services (Java, Apache, BEA, WebLogic, SOA)