Senior Data Architect at The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA

Job description

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space. Aerospace is the trusted partner to the nation's space enterprise, solving the hardest problems with innovative solutions. We are at the forefront of advanced technology development, systems engineering, and research, providing trusted, objective technical expertise across the entire space enterprise. Within Aerospace’s Office of the CIO, the newly constructed Data and AI Services team provides advanced modeling, machine learning, and predictive analytics capabilities that inform enterprise services operations and facilitates strategic decision-making across the corporation. As our enterprise data and knowledge management needs continue to grow in scale and complexity, we are looking for a Senior Data Architect . This role will design, implement, and govern enterprise-scale data solutions that support operations—including the integration of identity management, ERP, digital libraries, and AI-powered knowledge management systems. This position sits at the intersection of data engineering, AI/ML, and enterprise architecture, giving the selected candidate the opportunity to shape how the corporation manages and leverages data. What You'll Be Doing Design enterprise data architecture frameworks that integrate identity management, ERP, digital libraries, and AI/ML applications Develop data models, schemas, and ontologies to enable semantic interoperability and knowledge graphs Architect data pipelines and semantic layers supporting Graph RAG and AI-driven knowledge management systems Lead integration architecture for enterprise systems, including the design of ETL/ELT pipelines, real-time synchronization, master data management (MDM), and data quality monitoring solutions Define and enforce governance policies for CUI, proprietary, and classified information, including classification frameworks (CUI, ITAR, export control) and role-based access control architectures Architect scalable solutions capable of supporting 90,000+ documents with ongoing growth, while optimizing cost-effectiveness across cloud, on-prem, and hybrid environments Partner with IT, cybersecurity, library services, and mission teams while providing technical leadership and mentorship, and communicating architecture decisions to diverse stakeholders (Engages with Impact, Fosters Innovation) What You Need to be Successful – Senior Data Architect IVs: Minimum Requirements Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, or a related field 8 - 10+ years of experience in data architecture or data engineering, including 5+ years designing enterprise-scale data solutions Proven experience with cloud architectures (AWS, Azure, or GCP), data modeling, data governance, and API design Hands-on experience with SQL/NoSQL databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Neo4j) and pipeline orchestration tools (e.g., Airflow, Prefect) Working knowledge of data formats and standards such as JSON, XML, Parquet, and RDF/OWL Experience addressing AI/ML data requirements, including vector databases and semantic search Familiarity with data security, encryption, and compliance frameworks This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance. In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Senior Data Architect V include: A minimum of 10 or more years data engineering, softwa