Data Architect Jobs in Virginia
Data Architect jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the country, concentrated in federal contracting, defense, financial services, and cloud infrastructure across a seniority range from entry-level data engineer to principal architect. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor are the primary hiring hubs, with established employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Leidos, and Capital One driving consistent demand. The most sought-after specializations are cloud data architecture on AWS and Azure, enterprise data governance, and real-time analytics pipeline design. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Title of Position: Principal Data Architect
Department: Data
Reports to (Title): Director, Data
Salary Grade: P5/Zone 3
Position Description
The Principal Data Architect is the senior individual contributor accountable for data architecture across UNOS Data, AI and Analytics. The role owns the end-to-end architecture for the UNOS data intelligence platform: a lakehouse that unifies clinical, operational and financial data, including EMR/EHR data.
The Principal Data Architect will set the technical direction for how data is ingested, modeled, governed, secured and served, and will build the data foundation for an AI-enabled BI platform that supports both analytics and agentic AI. Working closely with data engineering, data science and technology teams, the Principal Data Architect will take a hands-on role in setting architectural standards during the lakehouse build and stewarding the platform as it scales.
Key Responsibilities
DATA ARCHITECTURE
- Own the enterprise data reference architecture, from ingestion to consumption, across a multi-cloud and on-premises estate.
- Create conceptual and logical data models and guide their physical implementation for all data types.
- Define enterprise data standards and naming conventions, enforced through automated pipeline checks.
- Design integration patterns (batch, streaming, CDC, event-driven, API, file) and document end-to-end data flows.
- Design master and reference data (patient, provider, organization, location and code sets) with clear stewardship.
- Establish systems of record for each authoritative dataset and how others consume it.
- Turn business, clinical and regulatory requirements into scalable architecture.
LAKEHOUSE BUILD & EMR/EHR INTEGRATION
- Own the target design for the UNOS data intelligence lakehouse, using medallion architecture on open formats (Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg).
- Lead EMR/EHR source discovery and integration using HL7 v2, FHIR R4 and vendor extracts.
- Build and oversee production pipelines and pipeline frameworks on Azure and Databricks that capture changes, adapt to schema updates and are fully monitored.
- Standardize clinical data using common models (OMOP CDM, FHIR) and terminologies (SNOMED CT, LOINC, ICD-10, CPT, RxNorm).
- Build governance, lineage and data quality rules into the platform using Unity Catalog and Azure access controls.
- Protect PHI and sensitive data through classification, masking, retention, audit trails and least-privilege access.
AI-ENABLED BI PLATFORM FOR AGENTIC & ANALYTICS WORK
- Design one trusted semantic and metrics layer for both BI and AI.
- Prepare data architecture for AI, including model features, RAG, document intelligence, generative AI and agents.
- Define data contracts and governed access for AI agents.
- Set standards for testing, monitoring and responsible use of AI models and agents in production.
- Partner with AI and analytics teams to deliver secure, cost-effective, scalable solutions people use.
Core Ongoing Duties
- Maintain the data architecture roadmap as needs evolve.
- Review and approve designs, data models and pipeline changes, and guide teams through delivery.
- Design for performance, availability, resilience and cost efficiency, build in observability and operational readiness, and guide optimization of systemic issues.
- Define the data quality framework and resolve design-related quality issues.
- Support security and privacy teams in access reviews, incidents and new regulations.
- Partner with infrastructure and cloud platform teams to keep the platform aligned with enterprise standards and controls.
- Evaluate tools and vendors, run proofs of concepts and advise on build-vs-buy.
- Build reference implementations and hand validated patterns for delivery teams.
- Keep architecture diagrams, decision records, and specifications current.
- Coach architects and senior engineers on data modeling and data architecture.
- Contribute to Enterprise Architecture governance.
- Track trends such as TEFCA, CMS interoperability rules and generative AI in healthcare.
- Perform other duties and support additional administrative priorities as assigned, consistent with the general scope and level of the position.
Minimum Requirements
- 12+ years in technology, including 8+ years in data architecture, data engineering or related technical roles.
- 3+ years working with healthcare data in a regulated environment, including EMR/EHR integration and HIPAA compliance.
- Proven ownership of enterprise data architectures and reusable data product patterns.
- Experience designing a cloud lakehouse on Azure and Databricks using medallion architecture.
Critical Skills
- Expert SQL, Python and PySpark.
- Strong data modeling across dimensional, normalized, data mesh and data vault approaches.
- Hands-on experience with Azure data services: ADF, ADLS, Synapse, Azure SQL and Delta Lake, Azure Databricks.
- Experience with Epic Clarity/Caboodle, Oracle Health (Cerner) or MEDITECH data structures (preferred).
- Experience with vector search, feature stores and MLOps for AI and agentic systems (preferred).
- Exposure to Microsoft Foundry and/or Databricks Genie agents (preferred)
- Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Azure Health Data Services (preferred).
- Experience with governance and master data tools such as Collibra, Informatica or EMPI solutions (preferred).
- Experience with Airflow, Terraform and CI/CD for data pipelines (preferred).
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Health Informatics or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Relevant industry certifications in cloud architecture preferred (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake), data management (CDMP, TOGAF) or healthcare interoperability (HL7 FHIR).
Physical Requirements
-
General office demands
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Frequent reaching, handling, and fine manipulation for using office equipment, filing, and managing paperwork.
- Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other office tools.
- Occasional standing, walking, and bending.
- Ability to lift up to 10-20 pounds occasionally.
- Vision abilities required include close vision for computer work and reading documents.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Title of Position: Principal Data Architect
Department: Data
Reports to (Title): Director, Data
Salary Grade: P5/Zone 3
Position Description
The Principal Data Architect is the senior individual contributor accountable for data architecture across UNOS Data, AI and Analytics. The role owns the end-to-end architecture for the UNOS data intelligence platform: a lakehouse that unifies clinical, operational and financial data, including EMR/EHR data.
The Principal Data Architect will set the technical direction for how data is ingested, modeled, governed, secured and served, and will build the data foundation for an AI-enabled BI platform that supports both analytics and agentic AI. Working closely with data engineering, data science and technology teams, the Principal Data Architect will take a hands-on role in setting architectural standards during the lakehouse build and stewarding the platform as it scales.
Key Responsibilities
DATA ARCHITECTURE
- Own the enterprise data reference architecture, from ingestion to consumption, across a multi-cloud and on-premises estate.
- Create conceptual and logical data models and guide their physical implementation for all data types.
- Define enterprise data standards and naming conventions, enforced through automated pipeline checks.
- Design integration patterns (batch, streaming, CDC, event-driven, API, file) and document end-to-end data flows.
- Design master and reference data (patient, provider, organization, location and code sets) with clear stewardship.
- Establish systems of record for each authoritative dataset and how others consume it.
- Turn business, clinical and regulatory requirements into scalable architecture.
LAKEHOUSE BUILD & EMR/EHR INTEGRATION
- Own the target design for the UNOS data intelligence lakehouse, using medallion architecture on open formats (Delta Lake, Apache Iceberg).
- Lead EMR/EHR source discovery and integration using HL7 v2, FHIR R4 and vendor extracts.
- Build and oversee production pipelines and pipeline frameworks on Azure and Databricks that capture changes, adapt to schema updates and are fully monitored.
- Standardize clinical data using common models (OMOP CDM, FHIR) and terminologies (SNOMED CT, LOINC, ICD-10, CPT, RxNorm).
- Build governance, lineage and data quality rules into the platform using Unity Catalog and Azure access controls.
- Protect PHI and sensitive data through classification, masking, retention, audit trails and least-privilege access.
AI-ENABLED BI PLATFORM FOR AGENTIC & ANALYTICS WORK
- Design one trusted semantic and metrics layer for both BI and AI.
- Prepare data architecture for AI, including model features, RAG, document intelligence, generative AI and agents.
- Define data contracts and governed access for AI agents.
- Set standards for testing, monitoring and responsible use of AI models and agents in production.
- Partner with AI and analytics teams to deliver secure, cost-effective, scalable solutions people use.
Core Ongoing Duties
- Maintain the data architecture roadmap as needs evolve.
- Review and approve designs, data models and pipeline changes, and guide teams through delivery.
- Design for performance, availability, resilience and cost efficiency, build in observability and operational readiness, and guide optimization of systemic issues.
- Define the data quality framework and resolve design-related quality issues.
- Support security and privacy teams in access reviews, incidents and new regulations.
- Partner with infrastructure and cloud platform teams to keep the platform aligned with enterprise standards and controls.
- Evaluate tools and vendors, run proofs of concepts and advise on build-vs-buy.
- Build reference implementations and hand validated patterns for delivery teams.
- Keep architecture diagrams, decision records, and specifications current.
- Coach architects and senior engineers on data modeling and data architecture.
- Contribute to Enterprise Architecture governance.
- Track trends such as TEFCA, CMS interoperability rules and generative AI in healthcare.
- Perform other duties and support additional administrative priorities as assigned, consistent with the general scope and level of the position.
Minimum Requirements
- 12+ years in technology, including 8+ years in data architecture, data engineering or related technical roles.
- 3+ years working with healthcare data in a regulated environment, including EMR/EHR integration and HIPAA compliance.
- Proven ownership of enterprise data architectures and reusable data product patterns.
- Experience designing a cloud lakehouse on Azure and Databricks using medallion architecture.
Critical Skills
- Expert SQL, Python and PySpark.
- Strong data modeling across dimensional, normalized, data mesh and data vault approaches.
- Hands-on experience with Azure data services: ADF, ADLS, Synapse, Azure SQL and Delta Lake, Azure Databricks.
- Experience with Epic Clarity/Caboodle, Oracle Health (Cerner) or MEDITECH data structures (preferred).
- Experience with vector search, feature stores and MLOps for AI and agentic systems (preferred).
- Exposure to Microsoft Foundry and/or Databricks Genie agents (preferred)
- Exposure to Microsoft Fabric, Azure Health Data Services (preferred).
- Experience with governance and master data tools such as Collibra, Informatica or EMPI solutions (preferred).
- Experience with Airflow, Terraform and CI/CD for data pipelines (preferred).
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, Health Informatics or a related field, or equivalent experience.
- Relevant industry certifications in cloud architecture preferred (Azure, Databricks, Snowflake), data management (CDMP, TOGAF) or healthcare interoperability (HL7 FHIR).
Physical Requirements
-
General office demands
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Frequent reaching, handling, and fine manipulation for using office equipment, filing, and managing paperwork.
- Manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, mouse, and other office tools.
- Occasional standing, walking, and bending.
- Ability to lift up to 10-20 pounds occasionally.
- Vision abilities required include close vision for computer work and reading documents.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
See All 94 Data Architect Jobs in Virginia
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Find Data Architect JobsData Architect Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Data Architect Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in data architect jobs across Virginia.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field
- Hands-on experience designing enterprise data models, warehouses, or lakehouse architectures
- Proficiency with cloud platforms such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud
- Experience with SQL, NoSQL databases, and ETL or ELT pipeline tools
- Familiarity with data governance frameworks and metadata management practices
- Strong communication skills to translate technical architecture decisions for business stakeholders
Data Architect Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a data architect in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a state-issued license to work as a data architect, so the path runs through education and industry credentials. Most Virginia employers expect at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, or a related field, and many prefer a master's. Vendor certifications such as AWS Certified Data Analytics, Microsoft Certified Azure Data Engineer, or Google Professional Data Engineer carry significant weight with the federal contractors and financial firms that dominate Virginia hiring.
Which companies hire data architects in Virginia?
Employers hiring data architects in Virginia right now include Booz Allen Hamilton, Peraton, and Steampunk, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's dense concentration of federal contractors and financial technology firms means data architect roles here frequently require experience with government cloud environments or regulated financial data.
Which Virginia cities have the most data architect jobs?
McLean, Arlington, and Reston account for the largest share of data architect openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because it hosts the country's largest data center corridor and a massive cluster of federal agencies and defense contractors, while Richmond draws demand from financial services firms and state government technology modernization projects, and Hampton Roads adds openings tied to Navy and Department of Defense IT programs.
Are there remote data architect jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than most fields. About 64% of data architect openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the fact that architecture work is largely design, documentation, and stakeholder collaboration that transfers well to distributed settings. The most fully remote roles tend to be with commercial cloud and SaaS companies, while federal contractor positions in Virginia more often require on-site or hybrid arrangements due to security clearance requirements.
How can I get hired as a data architect in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a junior data engineer or database developer role, which gives you hands-on exposure to the pipeline and modeling work that data architects oversee. Large Virginia-based federal contractors such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Leidos run associate and entry-level analyst programs that recruit candidates directly from Virginia's universities. Building a portfolio of data modeling projects using publicly available datasets, earning a cloud certification on AWS or Azure, and targeting Virginia state agency IT modernization contracts, which often hire junior talent, can all accelerate the transition into an architecture role.
Where can I find and apply to data architect jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to data architect jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 94 Data Architect Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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