Enterprise Data Architect (100% Onsite)

Luna Data Solutions is seeking an Enterprise Data Architect for a contract role based in Fort Wayne IN.

• 6-12 month contract, potential for 2-3 years contract
• 100% onsite
• Open to candidates in other locations if willing to be in Fort Wayne during contract
• Client is moving a complex silo'd environment from 100% on-prem SQL Server to Azure Cloud

Will act as the primary technical leader for a strategic enterprise data platform initiative. The selected individual will be responsible for shaping and delivering a greenfield scalable, company-wide data platform that underpins enterprise reporting, analytics, and advanced AI/ML capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design and development of the enterprise data platform, including technology selection, reference architecture, and foundational design standards.
• Define and implement approaches for ingesting data from various divisional systems—largely on-premises SQL Server—into a centralized, Azure cloud-based platform, ensuring security, scalability, and reliability.
• Establish and enforce enterprise-level standards and best practices for data engineering within the shared platform environment.
• Collaborate with divisional IT teams to integrate their data into the enterprise platform, offering guidance and support while allowing divisions to retain ownership of their data assets.
• Provide hands-on engineering support to business units lacking dedicated data engineering resources, with an eventual transition plan as internal capabilities expand.
• Design and implement platform-wide security, governance, and access management frameworks.
• Ensure the platform is architected to enable advanced analytics, including artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads.
• Define best practices for environments, CI/CD pipelines, cost optimization, and operational monitoring.
• Lead technical evaluations of vendors and tools, including proof-of-concept initiatives and final technology recommendations.
• Mentor and guide data engineers and analysts across business units in using the platform effectively.
• Communicate technical architecture, risks, and trade-offs clearly to executive and non-technical stakeholders, aligning solutions with business goals.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience delivering enterprise-grade software solutions in production environments.
• At least 4 years of hands-on experience in Azure data engineering, data warehousing, or data architecture.
• Proven track record of leading and delivering large-scale or greenfield enterprise data platforms across multiple systems or business areas.
• Experience designing hybrid architectures that integrate on-premises systems with cloud-based data platforms.
• Familiarity with multiple cloud data technologies and the ability to evaluate and recommend appropriate solutions.
• Strong experience within the Microsoft data and analytics ecosystem.
• Solid technical skills in SQL, at least one programming language commonly used in data engineering, and modern data platform practices.
• Experience working with diverse data sources, including ERP and operational systems, across multiple business units.
• Understanding of data governance, security, and compliance considerations in enterprise environments.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage both technical teams and executive audiences.
• Ability to influence across a decentralized organization and build alignment without direct authority.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in manufacturing, industrial, or asset-intensive industries.
• Experience integrating MES, historian, or shop-floor systems alongside ERP or financial platforms.
• Experience designing platforms that support AI/ML and large language model use cases.
• Experience mentoring or leading distributed data engineering teams.
• Experience implementing data governance in decentralized organizational structures.

What Luna Data Offers

• High profile projects with collaborative and mission-driven work environments.
• Competitive compensation and benefits including health, dental, vision, life and accident insurance, short-term disability insurance, and more.

Luna Data Solutions, Inc. (LDS) provides equal employment opportunities to all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment. LDS prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type regarding age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, national origin, genetics, protected veteran status, and/or disability status. A 7-year background check is required for this role.