Senior Enterprise Data Architect

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

This job is a commitment to reshape systems so they work better for everyone. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

Lead the design and modernization of enterprise data architecture by defining structural frameworks, integration patterns, and governance standards that guide development, interoperability, and system alignment across all agency divisions.
Tasks include:
• Independently resolve complex data challenges, improve data management processes, and provide advanced technical guidance on data architecture, standards, and best practices.
• Independently collect, inventory, and validate datasets from various agency divisions using enterprise data management tools and governance practices, ensuring organization-wide coverage, accessibility, and alignment with data standards.
• Design, develop, optimize, and administer secure enterprise data systems, including databases, ETL processes, and integration processes, using advanced data management platforms, modeling techniques, and performance tuning methods.
• Apply advanced analytical, statistical, and automated validation techniques to evaluate and improve data quality, consistency, and integrity across multiple systems; devise new methods for resolving complex non-routine data issues.
• Lead cross-divisional collaboration to establish, refine, and implement metadata standards, classification rules, and documentation practices; provide guidance to staff and stakeholders on best practices and data governance principles.
• Contribute expert technical insight to enterprise data architecture initiatives by modeling complex systems, evaluating emerging technologies, designing improved data workflows, and recommending improvements that support strategic, agency-wide operations.

Provide advanced technical leadership and support for urgent and complex enterprise data requests by independently diagnosing issues across multiple systems, ensuring data accuracy and compliance, and guiding staff in applying best-practice data management methods.
Tasks include:
• Independently triage incoming data requests from program staff by evaluating scope, required data sources, and risk; assign tasks to appropriate team members based on expertise and capacity; and ensure timely, accurate responses consistent with established service-level expectations.
• Conduct advanced root cause analysis to diagnose complex non-routine data quality issues across multiple systems; collaborate with system owners to correct upstream causes; and determine when remediation requires deviation from routine solutions or development of new methods.
• Design, implement, and optimize automated validation and cleansing routines within ETL processes to resolve inconsistencies, missing values, and structural defects; introduce improvements that strengthen enterprise data integrity and reduce recurring failures.
• Provide senior-level coaching and mentorship to junior staff by sharing advanced data management techniques, reviewing work for accuracy and completeness, delivering training, and developing documentation that supports staff growth and consistent application of enterprise data standards.

Architect and lead the enterprise data governance operating model and strategy. Provide advanced technical leadership in agency data governance initiatives by independently applying and improving data management standards, supporting the IT Data Manager in developing and implementing the strategic data frameworks, and ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
Tasks include:
• Define, implement, and maintain the enterprise data governance framework, including the operating model (roles, responsibilities, councils, decision rights, and stewardship), as well as enterprise-wide data standards and procedures for metadata, data quality, retention, access, and classification. Collaborate with agency policy, privacy, and security leaders to support and operationalize established policies, standards, and procedures, and maintain the enterprise data domain taxonomy, business glossary, and authoritative data sources.
• Lead and actively participate in data governance councils and working groups, applying advanced knowledge to align standards, enforce compliance, and resolve complex issues across divisions.
• Document, maintain, and enhance enterprise data architecture standards and models, ensuring they guide system development, integration, and modernization efforts in accordance with best practices and organizational needs.
• Support and improve the implementation of agency data governance frameworks by independently evaluating alignment with established policies, identifying gaps, and recommending process improvements to strengthen compliance and data quality.

Lead the implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement of the enterprise metadata, data catalog, and lineage platform, ensuring governance standards, secure integration, and organization-wide adoption.
Tasks include:
• Lead tool evaluation and selection (RFI/RFP), ensuring alignment with WaTech standards, security, privacy, and interoperability.
• Design target architecture and integration patterns for metadata, catalog, and lineage services across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Implement automated ingestion pipelines to inventory and maintain metadata for datasets across SharePoint, Smartsheet, databases, file shares, and enterprise applications.
• Establish and enforce data classification, tagging, access controls, and role-based security integrated with enterprise identity management.
• Lead cross-division engagement to inventory data assets, translate business needs into governance artifacts, and drive adoption of enterprise standards and catalog practices.
• Develop onboarding playbooks, training, guidance, and reference materials; mentor data stewards and technical staff on governance standards and platform capabilities.
• Establish review cycles, audits, and quality checks to monitor compliance, remediate gaps, and continuously improve metadata quality, lineage, and platform adoption.
• Provide senior technical leadership to resolve complex cross-system metadata, lineage, and non-routine data quality issues, and report progress, risks, and recommendations to IT leadership and executive sponsors.

Required Position Qualifications:
Eight (8) years of combined professional IT experience in the following IT disciplines:
1. Enterprise data management – Designing, implementing, and overseeing organization-wide data systems and platforms, ensuring data is acquired, stored, integrated, and retrieved securely and efficiently to support business operations and decision-making.
2. Data governance – Establishing and enforcing data policies, standards, and practices that ensure data quality, integrity, privacy, and compliance across all IT systems, while leading cross-functional initiatives to align data management with regulatory and strategic requirements.
3. Data architecture – Planning, designing, and modernizing the structural framework for enterprise data systems, integrating emerging technologies and aligning platforms with organizational goals to enable scalable, interoperable, and future-ready data solutions.
OR
Associate’s degree in IT or related field and at least six (6) years of relevant professional experience.
OR
Bachelor’s degree or higher in Information Technology , Computer Science, Data Science, or a closely related field and at least four (4) years of recent professional experience in enterprise data management, data analysis, or data architecture.
AND
• 6 years of experience with database technologies, ETL processes, data management tools, and statistical analysis software.
• Experience in resolving non-routine data quality issues, implementing validation and cleansing routines, and supporting compliance with privacy and regulatory requirements.
• Experience leading cross-division enterprise data governance and platform initiatives, including hands-on implementing and integrating data catalog, metadata, and lineage solutions across hybrid environments (e.g., Microsoft/Azure ecosystems), while developing policies, standards, taxonomies, and business glossaries, and driving organizational adoption through training, change management, and technical leadership.

Required Position Competencies:
• Experience collaborating with cross-divisional teams and mentoring junior staff.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to document standards, present findings, and provide technical guidance to program staff.
• Use knowledge and understanding of the organizational and political climate to make decisions and take actions that recognize, appreciate, and value diverse interests.
• Develop innovative ideas that provide solutions to workplace challenges.

• Ability to take action to learn and grow.

• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online) - that details how your skills and experience make you an ideal candidate for this position
• At least three professional references (enter online).

Work from Anywhere in Washington State
This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.