Data Architect
First seen by Alion on Oct 6, 2026.
This is a remote position.
Role : Data Architect / Technology Assessment Consultant
Engagement :
Contract : 1 month
Extendable based on performance and project requirements
Role objective :
Lead technology assessment engagements focused on data platform modernization, legacy ETL replacement and target-state architecture.
The role combines architecture, technology evaluation, stakeholder management and structured assessment delivery.
Key responsibilities :
- Lead data modernization assessments from discovery through final recommendations.
- Define assessment objectives, evaluation criteria, evidence requirements and workplan.
- Analyse legacy ETL estates and identify workload, architecture and operating-model patterns.
- Evaluate multiple technologies against functional, architectural, operational and economic criteria.
- Assess ETL, ELT, ingestion, transformation and orchestration architecture options.
- Define target-state data architecture and technology roles.
- Develop workload-to-technology decision frameworks.
- Assess migration approaches, automation opportunities, remediation requirements and sequencing.
- Develop migration effort and cost models in collaboration with technical specialists.
- Assess governance, metadata, lineage, security, CI/CD and production operating requirements.
- Lead client workshops with architecture, engineering, platform and operations stakeholders.
- Synthesize technical findings into clear decision papers, architecture views and modernization roadmaps.
- Distinguish validated findings, assumptions and areas requiring subsequent proof of concept.
Required experience :
- Strong experience in data architecture, data engineering or technology consulting.
- Proven experience with enterprise data platforms and modernization programs.
- Strong understanding of Informatica PowerCenter and modern cloud data architectures.
- Good working knowledge of Snowflake, MuleSoft, dbt and modern ingestion and transformation patterns.
- Strong understanding of ETL, ELT, orchestration, metadata and lineage.
- Experience evaluating technology options and defining target-state architectures.
- Strong documentation, workshop facilitation and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to translate detailed technical analysis into clear business and technology decisions.
Preferred experience :
- Financial services or other regulated industries.
- Large-scale legacy modernization assessments.
- Experience defining migration strategies, operating models and implementation roadmaps.
What success looks like :
Strong architecture judgement, structured assessment leadership, effective stakeholder engagement, and clear translation of technical evidence into a practical target-state and modernization strategy.
Common engagement expectations :
All roles are expected to :
- Work as part of a cross-functional assessment team.
- Participate in client workshops and technical working sessions.
- Analyse client-provided artefacts and evidence.
- Produce concise, high-quality technical documentation.
- Work within the agreed assessment timeline.
- Clearly distinguish evidence, assumptions and areas requiring further validation.
- Maintain confidentiality of client information and technical artefacts.
- Support transition of assessment findings into the next phase where applicable
Skills
Data Architect, Data Engineering, ETL, Data Ingestion, Cloud, Informatica, Power Center, Snowflake DB, Data Governance, Data Lineage, Legacy Modernization