Data Architect Specialist

You will be a hands-on technologist who serves as the lead architect for the agency's data engineering platforms. You design, build, and maintain a modern data lake architecture using Microsoft Azure and Databricks (or equivalent), providing high-level strategy as well as hands-on code-level execution. You will develop and optimize complex data pipelines using ADF and Python, provide technical mentorship to data engineers, and work closely with IT staff, data analysts, and key stakeholders.

Announcement VA-26-0028-DE-VD

Open Through April 15, 2026

Duties

Help

Specific duties as the IT Specialist (Data Architect) include the following:

• Develop, support, and modernize data engineering systems which collect, transform, and utilize data from various data providers.
• Work hands-on with technology including the Azure data platform (ADLS, ADF, Azure SQL, Databricks, Python, Spark) or equivalent;
• Design, build and maintain optimal data pipeline architecture;
• Support Data Analysts and other internal data consumers who use BI Tools, Python, and AI workloads;
• Create proof-of-concepts to demonstrate viability of solutions under consideration;
• Evolve data engineering practices within the team and across the Division;
• Oversee software analysis, requirements analysis, peer review, identification of code metrics, and performance monitoring;
• Proactively engage and collaborate with other offices to ensure that the data engineering solutions are aligned with organizational goals.

Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

Seeking an experienced data engineering platform architect with the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• You should be a strong analytical thinker and love working with data with a strong background in data engineering or application development;
• Must be a hands-on technologist passionate about learning new technologies and help improve the ways we can better support and leverage data engineering platforms for advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI.
• You must have significant hands-on experience with cloud data lake architectures and related services such as Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS Gen2), Azure SQL, and other Azure data services (or equivalents).
• Experience supporting data analysts using Databricks or equivalent analysis/AI platforms.
• A solid foundation in data technologies, including SQL, columnar, and NoSQL data stores;
• Hands-on programming experience writing Python code and developing data pipelines;
• Experience with modern software development tools and practices including unit testing, CI/CD, and API design.
• Demonstrated excellent skills in the ability to innovate, think critically and disaggregate problems;
• A passion for mentoring, coaching, and building collaborative teams.

You may qualify at the VH-39 (GS-13) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-38 (GS-12) band in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position such as architecting and implementing enterprise-scale data lakes within Azure and Databricks environments or equivalent; building, maintaining and optimizing complex data pipelines (e.g., Azure Data Factory and Python); and providing input on the evaluation of new technologies in the data and AI realms, in a hands-on technical capacity.

You may qualify at the VH-40 (GS-14) band level if you have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the VH-39 (GS-13) band in the Federal service. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position such as architecting and implementing enterprise-scale data lakes within Azure and Databricks environments or equivalent; building, maintaining and optimizing complex data pipelines using (e.g., Azure Data Factory ADF and Python); and providing strategic technical direction for the evaluation and adoption of emerging technologies in the data engineering and AI realms, in a hands-on technical capacity.

In addition to the specialized experience requirements listed above for each grade level, individuals must have IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies listed below:

1. Attention to Detail

2. Customer Service

3. Oral Communication

4. Problem Solving