Data Architect

Data Architect Job Family

The Data Architect job family is focused on designing and governing the enterprise-wide data analytics architecture that enables efficient data movement, storage, processing, and consumption across GitLab’s Data Platform. This role combines strategic architectural thinking with deep technical expertise to establish and maintain data architecture standards, patterns, and practices that support business objectives while ensuring data quality, security, compliance and scalability.

Data Architect

Job Grade

The Data Architect is a grade 6 and reports to the Director, Data Platform.

Responsibilities

• Design and document data architectures across enterprise systems including Snowflake, dbt, Airflow, and various data sources
• Architect data pipeline patterns for different source systems (using technology like Stitch, Fivetran, custom Python pipelines, Snowpipe)
• Create and maintain data flow architectures between source systems, the data platform and downstream systems
• Define architectural standards for data extraction patterns (full refresh, incremental loads)
• Design schema structures and warehouse organization following GitLab’s multi-layer approach
• Work with Data Engineers on implementing efficient ELT patterns
• Support the development of data quality frameworks and testing strategies
• Contribute to data warehouse compute resource optimization
• Collaborate with Business Systems Owners and various other business partners to translate requirements into data architecture solutions
• Advise on data governance implementation from an architectural perspective
• Design and document security patterns for data access and masking
• Create and maintain architecture documentation in GitLab

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science, or related field; or equivalent experience
• 2+ years data architecture experience
• Strong understanding of data warehouse architecture and Snowflake
• Knowledge of data modeling principles and dimensional modeling
• Experience with data pipeline architectures and ETL/ELT processes
• Understanding of data quality and testing frameworks
• Experience with cloud data platforms and services
• Knowledge of data security principles
• Experience with GitLab and open source software
• Share our values and work in accordance with those values
• Aptitude to thrive in a fully remote organization

Senior Data Architect

Job Grade

The Senior Data Architect is a grade 7 and reports to the Director, Data Platform.

Responsibilities

Extends the Data Architect responsibilities:

• Lead data initiatives from an architectural perspective
• Design scalable data pipeline architectures for high-volume data sources
• Establish architectural standards for data quality and testing within the Trusted Data Framework
• Create architectural patterns for data deduplication and data quality management
• Design role-based access control patterns for secure data access
• Architect complex data integration patterns between enterprise systems
• Define standards for warehouse configuration and resource allocation
• Create architecture recommendations and implement them
• Perform technical job interviews
• Guide implementation of data quality testing frameworks
• Ship large architectural initiatives independently
• Contribute to data platform roadmap development

Requirements

• 5+ years of data architecture experience
• Deep expertise in data modeling and warehouse architecture
• Strong knowledge of data governance frameworks
• Expertise in Snowflake architecture and best practices
• Experience designing ELT pipelines with dbt
• Knowledge of data orchestration with Airflow
• Understanding of regulatory compliance
• Experience with streaming data architectures
• Strong technical leadership and mentorship skills

Staff Data Architect

Job Grade

The Staff Data Architect is a grade 8 and reports to the Director, Data Platform.

Responsibilities

Extends the Senior Data Architect responsibilities:

• Drive strategic data architecture decisions
• Contribute to the data strategy aligned with business objectives
• Lead data initiatives
• Establish standards for data platform components including:
  • Pipeline orchestration patterns
  • Warehouse organization and optimization
  • Data modeling approaches
  • Testing frameworks
  • Security controls
• Design architectural patterns for the Trusted Data Framework
• Create standards for data quality monitoring and alerting
• Mentor and develop data architecture team
• Solve complex technical problems around data scalability and performance
• Define long-range architectural goals
• Drive innovation in data architecture practices
• Guide cross-functional initiatives
• Review our the Data Platform effectiveness in meeting the business needs and suggesting on new capabilities to leverage.
• Supports in driving technology investments and decisions around it

Requirements

• 5-8 years of data architecture experience
• Deep expertise in modern data architectures
• Strong understanding of business value of data
• Experience architecting large-scale data platforms
• Proven track record of implementing architectural standards
• Strong communication and leadership skills

Principal Data Architect

Job Grade

The Principal Data Architect is a grade 9 and reports to the Director, Data Platform.

Responsibilities

Extends the Staff Data Architect responsibilities:

• Translate GitLab vision into strategic data architecture
• Lead data platform transformation initiatives
• Establish data standards framework incorporating:
  • Data ingestion patterns
  • Processing frameworks
  • Storage optimization
  • Access controls
  • Quality management
• Guide cross-functional data initiatives
• Influence executive decisions on data strategy
• Keep up with next-generation data platform capabilities
• Address complex technical challenges
• Lead architecture design processes
• Blend technical and product strategy
• Work with data governance team to establish architectural guardrails
• Drive technology investments and decisions around it

Requirements

• 8-12 years of data architecture experience
• Proven leadership in data initiatives
• Track record of successful platform transformations
• Deep expertise in modern data patterns
• Strong influence and leadership skills
• Experience leading large-scale architectural transformations

Distinguished Data Architect

Job Grade

The Distinguished Data Architect is a grade 10 and reports to the Director, Data Platform.

Responsibilities

Extends the Principal Data Architect responsibilities:

• Drive organizational data strategy
• Lead data transformation initiatives
• Provide architectural guidance on technology decisions, platform investments, and infrastructure choices to leadership
• Guide long-term data architecture vision
• Establish architecture best practices
• Drive innovation in data platform capabilities
• Lead data architecture thought leadership
• Mentor and develop data profesionals
• Represent GitLab in industry forums

Requirements

• 12+ years of data architecture experience
• Recognized industry thought leader
• Track record of transformative initiatives
• Deep expertise across data domains
• Strong executive presence
• History of leading industry-defining architectural initiatives

 

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