Enterprise Data Architect

At SOM, we are a collective committed to shaping a better future for our clients, communities and planet. We aspire to create the most sustainable, impactful work through creative, interdisciplinary teams with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. We value those who are passionate about excellence, innovation, integrity, inclusivity, and collaboration. Together we can achieve great things.

Success at SOM Means

Ideas: Our highest aspirations go beyond known solutions and models. We are constantly innovating and attempting to bring new approaches, solutions and processes to our work.

Knowledge: We are not expected to know everything, but rather to passionately pursue answers. It is vital that we listen intently and are proactive about learning, integrating new skills and deepening our knowledge.

Deliverables: We strive for excellence in the concept, quality, and delivery of our work.

Individual: We believe in the individual and the wealth of attributes, skills, and knowledge that a person can develop and contribute.

Team: Our design ethos is founded on the principle of interdisciplinary integration. We foster a positive team culture in which everyone collaborates openly towards common goals. We proactively reconcile the goals and priorities of SOM and clients while fostering opportunities for design and technical excellence in alignment with the firm’s ethos.

Firm: We believe in a meritocracy of ideas. We are a collective that looks to everyone to actively contribute to the design discourse in the office.

Summary

The Enterprise Data Architect is both a highly strategic and technical role central to SOM’s Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) Initiatives. This role will lead the strategy, technical design, and implementation of a Data Lakehouse infrastructure to unify AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) design data with enterprise business systems. The role focuses on building scalable data pipelines, enforcing data governance, and enabling advanced AI/ML capabilities across the global firm. The position reports to the Technology Leadership team and works closely with design technology and business operations groups.

Position Responsibilities

• Architectural Design: Leads the design and maintenance of a Data Lakehouse infrastructure (utilizing Snowflake, Databricks, and AWS) to support global data accessibility and AI transformation efforts.

• AEC Data Integration: Develops workflows to extract, transform, and load complex data from design tools such as Revit and Rhino into the enterprise data ecosystem.

• Enterprise System Alignment: Implements and manages integrations between enterprise systems including Workday, Salesforce, Nasuni/Panzura, and the Google Workspace or Microsoft Office suites.

• Modernization Strategy: Translates digital transformation goals into technical controls and data architectures; ensures the enforcement of data standards across all regions.

• Automation & Code: Designs and maintains infrastructure-as-code and automation scripts to support data operations (e.g., Python, SQL, Terraform).

• Data Governance: Implements and audits data access controls, manages privileged access, and ensures data encryption and security practices are maintained.

• Documentation: Maintains comprehensive architectural diagrams, data dictionaries, and runbooks for the global data environment.

• Collaboration: Coordinates with infrastructure and engineering teams to ensure secure configuration standards are applied across data services.

• Project Leadership: Contributes to defining the technical scope of data-centric projects and identifies risks in system design or operations.

Leadership

• Mentorship: Inspires and leads others by example, participating in staff mentoring and training regarding data literacy and data-driven design.

• Work Planning: In collaboration with team members, contributes to a clear work plan to achieve project budgets, deliverables, and schedules.

• Risk Management: Protects the firm from financial and legal risk through robust data compliance and auditing.

• Continuous Improvement: Stays current with emerging data technologies, AI frameworks, and AEC industry trends to support strategic initiatives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Experience: 10+ years of direct experience in digital transformation, with a focus on data architecture or enterprise data management.

• Domain Expertise: Expert knowledge of Data Infrastructure including Medallion Architecture.

• Technical Stack:

• Data Platforms: Expert-level proficiency with Databricks and AWS cloud services.

• Productivity / Collaboration Systems: Proven experience integrating Workday, Salesforce, and productivity suites (Google Workspace or Microsoft Office).

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): Hands on experience integrating ERP data from Deltek Vision and/or  Deltek VantagePoint.

• Infrastructure: Proficient in infrastructure-as-code and scripting tools (e.g., Terraform, Python, SQL).

• Communication: Clear and direct communicator, able to collaborate effectively across technical teams and non-technical design leadership.

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Architecture, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry Knowledge: Deep familiarity with AEC data, workflows, and the specific challenges of large-scale design file management (Nasuni/Panzura).

Are you ready to join a team of creative professionals working on transformational projects around the world? Take advantage of this exciting opportunity to build a better future with SOM.

Our Benefits:

Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, and life & accident insurance

Savings: 401K matching, pre-tax spending accounts, and employee discount programs

Work/Life Balance: Inquire about our approach to flexible schedules, paid family leave, paid vacation, backup child and elder care, and an employee assistance program

Professional Development: Reimbursement for professional licenses, associated renewals, and exam fees as well as specialized in-house career development

Compensation for this role is based upon experience, qualifications, location, and education and typically ranges from $200,000 to $210,000.

Our Culture:

Our creative, interdisciplinary teams work like small, dynamic studios, with all the resources and diversity of a global firm. Here, you’ll collaborate with industry experts on some of the most exciting and transformative architecture, engineering, and planning projects in the world.

We believe an inclusive environment improves our teams, our firm, and our communities and are passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our DEI Action Plan was created to bring meaningful change to our profession, starting with our own culture and practices.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Visit this page to learn more about SOM's employment policy as well as additional information such as a privacy notice for California residents and how to apply offline.

For more about SOM: www.som.com