Data Architect - Technology Assessment Consultant
First seen by Alion on Oct 6, 2026.
This is a remote position.
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, IT Consulting, IT Strategy, Data Management