Data Architect (DMV Metro Area - Remote)

ICF International

Reston, VA

Full Time

Senior

98k-202k

6 days ago

Job Description

About the Role

ICF is a rapidly growing, entrepreneurial, multi-faceted consulting company, seeking a Data Architect. This resource will lead the design and implementation of a robust, scalable, and secure data lake architecture to support advanced analytics and AI/ML initiatives for a government agency committed to improving child welfare. The team performs custom software development, analytics, and maintenance on web-based applications, working closely with clients and contractors to ensure performance and reliability of mission-critical applications. The role may involve supporting growth activities such as RFI, RFP, prototypes, and presentations. The position is fully remote but tied to the Washington, DC Metro area, with occasional in-person meetings and an in-person interview required.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the architecture and design of an enterprise-scale AWS-based data lake and data integration ecosystem to support advanced analytics and AI/ML initiatives.
Define and enforce data modeling, metadata, data lineage, and data governance standards to support analytics and machine learning workflows.
Establish best practices in data architecture, including schema design, data normalization, and optimal format selection (e.g., Parquet, JSON).
Work with cross-functional teams to define data ingestion, transformation, and curation strategies aligned with AI/ML use cases.
Collaborate across teams to design scalable, secure, and cost-efficient data architectures that support analytics and machine learning needs.
Guide the selection and use of AWS services (e.g., Glue, S3, Lake Formation, Redshift, Athena, Step Functions) and integration tools (e.g., Kafka, Informatica, Talend).
Mentor technical teams on architectural standards, data modeling practices, and modern cloud-native data design patterns.
Support project delivery on Data Lake, Data Warehouse, and BI projects for external and internal clients, including partnering with subject matter experts.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline.
8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or enterprise data management.
3+ years of experience designing and implementing cloud-native data solutions in AWS, including services such as Glue, S3, Athena, Redshift, Lake Formation, Step Functions, and Lambda.
Experience in data modeling, metadata management, and data governance frameworks.
Understanding of ETL concepts such as data flow, data enrichment, data consolidation, change data capture, and transformation.
Hands-on experience architecting data lakes, data warehouses, and real-time data pipelines.
Experience working with databases and BI tools such as Tableau, PowerBI, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services.
Proficiency in SQL, Python, and working knowledge of big data tools such as Spark, Kafka, or AWS Kinesis.
Knowledge of DevOps tools like Jenkins/Git.
Excellent communication and leadership skills; ability to collaborate across technical and non-technical teams.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
Must reside in the United States and perform work within the U.S.

Nice to Have

Familiarity with data privacy, security, and compliance frameworks in regulated environments.
Background supporting data science, BI, or AI/ML product teams.
AWS Certification (Solutions Architect, Data Analytics, or Big Data Specialty).
Knowledge of integration tools such as Storm, Spark, AWS Kinesis, Kafka.
Familiarity with multi-cloud environments (e.g., Azure or GCP).

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
8+ years of experience in data architecture or related fields.
3+ years of cloud-native data solutions experience in AWS.

Benefits & Perks

Pay range from $98,124 to $201,840 annually, based on experience and qualifications.
Remote work opportunity within the U.S.
Work with a leading consulting firm that combines expertise with cutting-edge technology.
Supportive workplace culture that empowers employees to share expertise and collaborate.

Working at ICF International

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider that values expertise, innovation, and collaboration. They are committed to building a workplace where everyone can thrive, promoting diversity and equal opportunity, and supporting accommodations for candidates with special needs.

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