Staff Data Architect

Are you passionate about building resilient, scalable data platforms that support strategic decision-making? Do you have a track record of delivering modern, cloud-native data architectures? At EdPlus Action Lab, we're reimagining what educational analytics can be, so keep reading below for this Staff Data Architect opportunity

EdPlus at ASU is a dynamic unit of Arizona State University focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education. We advance the economic, social, cultural, and overall health of the local, national, and international communities served by ASU.

Want to know more about working at EdPlus? Click here

Action Lab
is a data-driven, research-focused service organization—an impact hub—that supports ASU and EdPlus initiatives by equipping leaders with the insights and analyses they need to make informed, evidence-based decisions. Action Lab drives transformational change in education through data and research, focusing on learner behaviors and

the factors that drive success. Our goal is to enhance access and achievement while fostering the development of high-quality education for all learners.

We are seeking a highly motivated
Staff Data Architect
to join our dynamic Action Lab team. Every day you'll make a difference in the lives of others by being at the forefront of educational transformation, leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AWS and GCP to design and optimize robust data pipelines. You'll guide projects from conception to

deployment, driving decisions that will directly shape how Action Lab operationalizes and implements ETL processes and other data integrations.

As a Staff Data Architect, you will play a pivotal role in operationalizing Action Lab's data strategy. You will define and lead scalable architectural solutions that enable efficient data ingestion, transformation, quality assurance, and analytics across AWS and GCP environments. You'll guide our transition from legacy ETL systems to modern, event-driven, modular, CI/CD-enabled analytics engineering pipelines. Your work will ensure our data assets are
trusted, testable, and traceable
, empowering ASU leaders to make evidence-based decisions that enhance student success.

Essential Duties
:

• Lead the design, architecture, and implementation of highly complex and scalable data pipelines and ETL processes using dbt-core and Apache Airflow, demonstrating deep expertise in these tools.
• Serve as a technical lead and subject matter expert in multiple areas of data engineering, including data modeling, performance optimization, and cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP).
• Contribute as a key developer in extending new platform capabilities while ensuring the stability and maintainability of existing codebases.
• Exercise significant control over major data engineering projects, taking direct responsibility for their success and outcomes.
• May lead working teams by providing technical direction, guidance, and mentorship to both senior and junior data engineers.
• Design, define, and hone new processes, best practices, and technical standards for the data engineering team and other Action Lab members.
• Troubleshoot and resolve the most challenging data-related issues, developing innovative solutions and strategies.
• Drive significant influence on stakeholders across EdPlus and Action Lab, effectively communicating complex technical concepts and project strategies to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Introduce new technologies, processes, and knowledge sharing initiatives to the whole Action Lab team.
• Develop and implement advanced strategies for data quality, governance, and security, ensuring the reliability and integrity of data across all platforms (AWS Redshift, S3, GCP BigQuery, GCS).
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies and tools to improve the efficiency, scalability, and capabilities of the data infrastructure.
• Serve as a mentorship figure for the working team, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning.
• Leverage deep expertise in data visualization tools such as Tableau or Looker (nice to have) to guide the creation of impactful dashboards and reports.
• Assume or coordinate other duties or projects as assigned or directed.

NOTE
: This is not a fully remote position. Must be able to reliably commute to Scottsdale AZ.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in a related field.

Deep Expertise and Advanced Technical Skills:

• Extensive experience (8+ years) in designing, developing, and optimizing complex data pipelines and ETL processes in a production environment.
• Demonstrated deep expertise in dbt-core and Apache Airflow, including advanced features and best practices.
• Evidence of exceptional proficiency in SQL and extensive experience working with large-scale relational databases (AWS Redshift) and cloud data lakes/warehouses (S3, GCP BigQuery, GCS).
• Demonstrated strong command of multiple programming languages commonly used in data engineering (e.g., Python, Scala, Java) and experience with developing robust and efficient code.
• Evidence of in-depth knowledge of data modeling techniques, schema design, and database performance tuning.
• Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of cloud computing concepts and services (AWS, GCP), including architecture design, cost management, security, and compliance.
• Experience with data quality frameworks, data governance principles, and implementing automated monitoring and alerting systems.
• Evidence of advanced knowledge of data visualization concepts and extensive experience with tools such as Tableau or Looker (nice to have), including the ability to design and implement complex dashboards and reports.
• Experience with containerization, orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines.
• Demonstrated familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop) may be beneficial.

Extensive Relevant Experience:

• Experience in leading major data engineering projects from inception to completion, demonstrating significant control and responsibility for project outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead working teams and mentor senior and junior data engineers.
• Experience in designing and defining new processes, best practices, and technical standards for a data engineering team.
• Experience in troubleshooting and resolving the most complex data-related issues in a production environment.
• Experience influencing stakeholders across an organization and effectively communicating complex, technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience with agile development methodologies and advanced project management principles.

Advanced Soft Skills:

• Evidence of exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze complex technical challenges, identify root causes, and develop innovative and effective solutions.
• Demonstrated strong leadership and mentorship skills, with the ability to inspire, guide, and develop a team of data engineers.
• Demonstrated outstanding communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to interact effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including executives, technical teams, and business users.
• Demonstrated ability to influence technical direction and drive significant innovation within an organization.
• Demonstrated strong strategic thinking and the ability to align data engineering initiatives with broader organizational goals.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of rapidly evolving data engineering technologies.

NOTE
: Please answer the following questions in your cover letter:

• Describe the most complex data pipeline you've built. What made it complex?
• Have you migrated a team or system from a legacy ETL tool to dbt and Airflow? What was your role?

Salary & Benefits:

$90,000 - $100,000 per year; DOE

ASU offers a total compensation package that includes valuable employee benefits. Click here to explore options.

• Healthcare
• Financial Security
• Retirement
• Family Resources
• Tuition Reduction (Eligible ASU Employee, their dependents and spouse.)
• Discounts

Working Environment:

Your desk will be in the beautiful, cutting-edge, and collaborative workspace at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. The Center houses a diverse business community that links technology, research, education, and entrepreneurship to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders in the knowledge economy.

EdPlus at ASU supports flexible work options, ranging from alternate work schedules to hybrid remote work schedules, subject to approvals per ASU policy. (This is NOT a fully remote position.)

Applicant must be eligible to work in the United States. EdPlus at ASU will not be a sponsor for this position.

Department Statement:

EdPlus defines itself through a culture of curiosity, risk-taking and refusing to accept the status quo. As a central enterprise unit for ASU focused on the design and scalable delivery of digital teaching and learning models to increase student success and reduce barriers to achievement in higher education, our commitments support the University charter. ASU is a national service university and aspires to accelerate positive social outcomes through the seamless integration of cutting-edge technological innovation and scalability.

EdPlus employees are valued, respected, and encouraged to be their unique selves. We know that our ability to deliver high-quality services and educational experiences is strengthened by our culture of inclusion. Our innovative approach drives outcomes through serving learners, achieving milestones, striving for excellence, solving problems, embracing urgency, and being bold.

EdPlus at ASU

Apply before midnight Arizona time: Tuesday, December 23, 2025