Data Architect / Lead

The Data Architect / Lead serves as the senior technical and strategic leader for the organization’s data platform, architecture, and analytics capabilities. This is a hands-on, player/coach role designed for an experienced Data Architect, Data Lead, or Senior Manager/Associate Director ready to step into a Director-level position.

This leader will define and execute the enterprise data strategy while remaining technically engaged—guiding architecture decisions, mentoring teams, and building scalable, high-impact data solutions that enable analytics, reporting, and advanced insights across the business.

Worksite Location: Downtown Minneapolis

Salary Range: $140,000 - $200,000 DOE

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care coverage
• HSA/FSA and telehealth coverage
• Retirement and pension plan contribution
• Dental coverage and child/adult orthodontia
• Short/long-term disability and life insurance
• Tuition reimbursement and development opportunities
• Paid time off
  
  

Key Responsibilities

• Own and execute the enterprise data architecture and data strategy, ensuring alignment with business objectives and long-term scalability.
• Act as a hands-on technical leader, contributing directly to solution design, data modeling, and complex data initiatives while coaching and mentoring the team.
• Lead and develop a team of data engineers, analytics engineers, analysts, and DataOps professionals.
• Design and oversee cloud-based data platforms, pipelines, and analytics architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Establish and enforce data governance, data quality, security, and lifecycle management standards across the organization.
• Partner closely with business and technology leaders to translate requirements into actionable data solutions and insights.
• Drive adoption of best practices in SQL development, Python-based data engineering, analytics engineering, and DataOps.
• Identify opportunities for advanced analytics, automation, and AI/ML enablement.
• Evaluate emerging data technologies and recommend innovations that enhance performance, reliability, and analytical maturity.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Data Science, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 8–12 years of progressive experience in data engineering, analytics, or data architecture, including leadership responsibilities.
• Expert-level proficiency in SQL and Python (required) with demonstrated experience building production-grade data solutions.
• Proven experience designing modern data architectures and working with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP).
• Strong understanding of data governance, security, compliance, and enterprise data management best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead as a player/coach, balancing hands-on technical work with team leadership and strategic planning.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at both technical and executive levels.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience enabling machine learning, AI, or advanced analytics use cases.
• Familiarity with modern DataOps / Analytics Engineering practices, including CI/CD for data pipelines.
• Experience with data visualization and BI tools such as Power BI or Tableau.
• Background driving organizational adoption of data-driven decision-making.
  
  

About Versique

Versique: /ver-seek/ adj. being both versatile and unique; n. a high-performance recruiting firm specializing in executive leadership search, direct hire, and interim hiring solutions.

Versique Executive, Professional, & Interim Recruiting is a locally owned and operated hiring and placement firm based in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. With specialized practice areas across our three divisions, Versique delivers tailored expertise to a wide range of industries. What sets us apart is our team of recruiters—seasoned professionals who have worked in the very fields they now hire for, providing unmatched industry insight and connections.

We believe people are more than resumes—they are transformative, unlocking the potential for organizational growth and success.

Versique is proud to be an award-winning company, earning recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies and the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal's Fast 50 list for 2023. We are also consistently recognized as a Star Tribune Top Workplace and were named a Best Place to Work in 2022 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Let's find your people, together.

Versique is an equal-opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse workforce. We consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status.

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