Data Architect

Role Responsibilities

Join the team shaping the future of how the Government of Alberta uses data to drive decisions, deliver services, and power innovation.

As a Data Architect within the Ministry of Technology and Innovation, you’ll be at the forefront of modernizing the enterprise Data Management Platform, a cloud-based, scalable environment that underpins the GoA’s digital, data, and AI strategies. This is a high-impact role where your technical leadership will help transform how data is collected, connected, secured, and used across the province.

In this role, you will lead the design and evolution of enterprise data architecture while guiding the development of modern, cloud-native data solutions. Working closely with analytics, platform, governance, and business teams, you will ensure that data systems are built for scale, efficiency, and AI-readiness. You’ll apply hands-on expertise across architecture, engineering, and integration to enable trusted, high-quality data that supports advanced analytics and future AI initiatives.

Responsibilities:
Key responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to:
•    Defining and implementing enterprise data architecture and standards that align with digital, data, and AI strategies across the GoA.
•    Leading modernization of the cloud-based Data Management Platform using technologies such as Delta Lake, Databricks, Azure Data Factory, and other cloud-native tools.
•    Designing and building scalable, secure data pipelines, ingestion frameworks, and transformation workflows with AI-ready structures and patterns.
•    Enabling advanced analytics and AI initiatives by supporting machine learning workflows, feature pipelines, and robust data models.
•    Ensuring strong data governance, quality, and security practices, incorporating requirements essential for AI-driven environments.
•    Developing and executing platform roadmaps in collaboration with teams and vendors to support long-term modernization.
•    Providing expert technical recommendations to ensure solutions are efficient, secure, scalable, and aligned with business priorities.
•    Mentoring team members on modern data engineering practices, cloud technologies, and emerging AI-enabling patterns.
•    Partnering with cross-functional teams—including platform services, governance, cybersecurity, and business stakeholders—to ensure seamless integration and operational excellence.

To be successful in this position, you will demonstrate:
•    Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, with the ability to resolve complex challenges effectively.
•    Excellent communication and collaboration skills, including consultation, facilitation, and presenting technical concepts to stakeholders.
•    Ability to convey complex data, systems integration, cybersecurity, and AI-driven concepts, solutions, and recommendations to key decision-makers in an understandable manner.

Future-Focused Skills Matter
As AI rapidly transforms how organizations use data, the ability to design systems that support AI-driven insights is essential. Experience with AI concepts, machine learning workflows, or data architectures that enable automation and advanced analytics or a strong willingness to learn, is a significant asset in this role. Curiosity about emerging technologies, passion for modern data engineering, and readiness to leverage AI-powered tools will help you drive innovation across the GoA’s evolving data ecosystem. 

If you’re excited about building the foundation for enterprise-wide AI capabilities, we encourage you to apply.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviours that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:  https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

•    Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, manage resilience in times of uncertainty and effectively work in a changing environment.
•    Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization, while maintaining accountability to each other and external stakeholders.
•    Develop self and others: A commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of yourself and others
•    Systems Thinking: The work done within the APS is part of a larger integrated and inter-related environment. It is important to know that work done in one part of the APS impacts a variety of other groups/projects inside and outside the APS. Systems thinking allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.
•    Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Qualifications

Required:

•    University degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Information Technology. 
•    Minimum of Four (4) years of directly related experience in Information Technology, including data engineering, transformation, and enterprise data architecture.
•    Hands-on experience with Azure cloud data platforms, including designing and implementing scalable data solutions and architectures.
•    Hands-on experience in data engineering and management, with strong expertise in building structured data pipelines using layered architectural patterns (e.g., bronze-silver-gold) to deliver clean, validated, and aggregated datasets.
•    Proven experience designing end-to-end, secure, and scalable solutions integrating cloud and on-premises systems.
•    Strong SDLC experience, particularly in solution architecture, system integration, and operationalizing data pipelines.
•    Expertise with Azure cloud-native tools, including Databricks, Delta Lake, Data Factory, and Synapse Analytics.
•    Experience leading data architecture and platform initiatives, including continuous improvement, support, systems integration, and creation of scalable data products.

Equivalencies: Equivalencies are considered:  

•    A related two-year diploma in related discipline from a recognized post-secondary institution and six (6) years of related experience; or
•    A related one-year certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution and seven (7) years of related experience.

Assets:

•    Complex Enterprise and Specialized System Integration (including ServiceNow)
•    Advanced Data Modeling & Information Architecture
•    Enterprise Data Governance & Metadata Management
•    Enterprise Security & Privacy-by-Design Experience
•    Performance Engineering & Cost Optimization at Scale
•    Legacy Platform Modernization or Cloud Migration
•    AI-Ready Data Architecture
•    Operating Model & Data Platform Enablement
•    Infrastructure as Code (IaC) & Platform Automation
•    Relevant Advanced Certifications or Architecture Credentials

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 

Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Term of Employment: Permanent full-time position.
Hours of Work: 36.25hrs/ week – Monday to Friday
Location: Greater Edmonton or Calgary area (Remote)

This position is eligible for remote work from within Greater Edmonton or Calgary area. You must reside in these areas to work remotely for this position. 

Final candidates will be required to undergo security screening.

This competition may be used to fill future vacancies, across the Government of Alberta, at the same or lower classification level. 

Applicants are advised to provide a cover letter summarizing information that clearly and concisely demonstrates how their qualifications meet the advertised requirements, including education, experience, and relevant examples of required competencies. 
 

Additional Information:
In your resume, please include dates (including months and years) associated with all education and work experience. As well, please indicate whether your work experience is casual, part-time, or full-time. For example, January 15, 2006 - June 25, 2009: Assistant (PT three 8 hrs. shifts/week).

Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA have to offer to prospective employees.

•    Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx.
•    Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca.
•    Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits.
•    Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive.
•    Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca.
•    Positive workplace culture and work-life balance.
•    Leadership and mentorship programs.