Data Architecture
Data Architecture is an individual-contributor Data + AI career progressing from guided delivery to enterprise expertise without requiring people management.
- Function
- Data & Analytics
- Archetype
- Architecture
- Highest level
- L7 · Distinguished Data Architect
Why it exists
Defines enterprise data architecture, models, integration patterns, platform boundaries and governance principles for scalable trusted data products.
Typical responsibilities
Deliver data architecture outcomes; apply data/AI standards; manage quality, reliability and risk; collaborate across product, engineering, security, legal and business teams; at senior levels shape enterprise standards and strategy.
Where the work happens
Technology companies, data/cloud platforms, financial services, consulting, shared services, product engineering and regulated enterprises adopting Data + AI.
How the career progresses
Associate Data Architect → Data Architect → Senior Data Architect → Staff Data Architect → Principal Data Architect → Senior Principal Data Architect → Distinguished Data Architect
Levels in this career
Six standard stages. The seventh exists only where the career provides for it.
- L1Associate Data Architect
- L2Data Architect
- L3Senior Data Architect
- L4Staff Data Architect
- L5Principal Data Architect
- L6Senior Principal Data Architect
- L7Distinguished Data Architect
Optional distinguished level. Not every career reaches it.
What is expected at L7 · Distinguished Data Architect
Apply data architecture capability at operates as a rare distinguished authority with enterprise or industry influence.
The five dimensions that change
- Autonomy
- Industry/frontier authority
- Scope
- Operates as a rare distinguished authority with enterprise or industry influence.
- Complexity
- Frontier
- Influence
- Enterprise / industry
- Business impact
- Enterprise / industry
- Ambiguity
- High
What good looks like
Produces trustworthy data architecture outcomes, makes sound trade-offs, communicates evidence and risks, and demonstrates the autonomy and impact expected at L7.
Typical evidence
Completed data architecture work products or production outcomes; documented decisions; measurable improvements in quality, reliability, risk, speed, cost or business outcomes; peer/stakeholder evidence of L7 scope.
Skills expected at L7
Grouped as human, professional and technical. Target proficiency uses the P1–P7 scale, and each row says what that level means for that particular skill.
Human10
| Human | P | Supporting |
|---|---|---|
| Clear verbal communicationCommunication & Language | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Clear verbal communication and creates new practices or standards. |
| Clear written communicationCommunication & Language | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Clear written communication and creates new practices or standards. |
| CollaborationCollaboration & Relationships | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Collaboration and creates new practices or standards. |
| Critical thinkingThinking & Problem Solving | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Critical thinking and creates new practices or standards. |
| Cross-functional collaborationCollaboration & Relationships | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Cross-functional collaboration and creates new practices or standards. |
| Learning agilityExecution & Self-Management | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Learning agility and creates new practices or standards. |
| MentoringCollaboration & Relationships | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Mentoring and creates new practices or standards. |
| Stakeholder alignmentInfluence & Leadership Without Authority | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Stakeholder alignment and creates new practices or standards. |
| Strategic thinkingThinking & Problem Solving | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Strategic thinking and creates new practices or standards. |
| Structured problem solvingThinking & Problem Solving | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Structured problem solving and creates new practices or standards. |
Professional8
| Professional | P | Supporting |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture governanceIT Service Management & Governance | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Architecture governance and creates new practices or standards. |
| Data contracts governanceData & Analytics Practice | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Data contracts governance and creates new practices or standards. |
| Data governanceCybersecurity, Privacy & Data Governance Standards | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Acts as an industry-level authority in Data governance and creates new practices or standards. |
| Data mesh operating modelData & Analytics Practice | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Data mesh operating model and creates new practices or standards. |
| Data product managementData & Analytics Practice | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Acts as an industry-level authority in Data product management and creates new practices or standards. |
| Data quality managementCybersecurity, Privacy & Data Governance Standards | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Acts as an industry-level authority in Data quality management and creates new practices or standards. |
| Data stewardshipCybersecurity, Privacy & Data Governance Standards | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Acts as an industry-level authority in Data stewardship and creates new practices or standards. |
| Technology governanceIT Service Management & Governance | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Acts as an industry-level authority in Technology governance and creates new practices or standards. |
Technical13
| Technical | P | Supporting |
|---|---|---|
| Apache KafkaDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Apache Kafka and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Apache SparkDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Apache Spark and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data catalog platformsDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Data catalog platforms and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data contract implementationDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Data contract implementation and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data lake / lakehouse engineeringDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Advances the state of practice for Data lake / lakehouse engineering and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data lineage toolingDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Data lineage tooling and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data mesh architectureDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Advances the state of practice for Data mesh architecture and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data modelingDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Advances the state of practice for Data modeling and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Data warehouse engineeringDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Advances the state of practice for Data warehouse engineering and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| DatabricksDatabases & Data Platforms | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Databricks and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| ER modelingArchitecture & Modeling Tools | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Advances the state of practice for ER modeling and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Semantic layer engineeringAnalytics, BI & Data Visualization | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthorityCore | Advances the state of practice for Semantic layer engineering and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
| Solution architecture diagramsArchitecture & Modeling Tools | P7Enterprise / Industry AuthoritySupporting | Advances the state of practice for Solution architecture diagrams and influences the profession beyond the organization. |
This is the highest level in this career.
Adjacent careers
Computed from shared skills. It is a signal for exploring, not a hiring or eligibility guarantee.
- Analytics EngineeringData & Analytics21 shared skills
- AI Platform & MLOps EngineeringData & Analytics14 shared skills
- Data EngineeringData & Analytics15 shared skills
- AI Governance & Responsible AIData & Analytics12 shared skills
- Data AnalyticsData & Analytics15 shared skills
- Business IntelligenceData & Analytics15 shared skills
Career framework v21, active since August 17, 2026.