Enterprise Data Architect at University of California, Riverside – Riverside, California
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About This Position
Overview
Job ID 36748073
Category Information Technology
Organization Info Technology Solutions
Department Reporting and Analytics Dept
Location Remote/Hybrid
Salary $114,300 - $220,900
Date Posted April 16, 2026
Application Deadline Open Until Filled
Schedule 8AM - 5PM
Full/Part Time Full-time(100%)
Level of Supervision Direction
Personnel Program Code Management & Sr Professional
Other Information Qualifies for Employee Referral Bonus: No
UC Internal Job: No
Position Information
The Data Architect provides high-level technical leadership and strategic design for the University’s enterprise data ecosystem. This role is responsible for the creation of comprehensive logical and physical data models that serve as the authoritative blueprints for the University’s Information Technology Services (ITS) division, mainly for analytical and AI purposes. Operating at the intersection of transactional software development and analytical systems, the Data Architect ensures that all data structures are designed for maximum interoperability, integrity, and scalability. This position is central to the University's transition toward a cloud-native data architecture, with our data warehouse being built cloud-native and a current initiative to move all on-premise applications to the cloud. The role functions as a critical consultant to both Software Development and Data Engineering teams, establishing the standards that govern the lifecycle of data across the institution. A primary objective of this position is to ensure AI-readiness by architecting clean, well-governed, and highly structured datasets that can support advanced machine learning and large language model (LLM) implementations. The Data Architect is expected to proactively integrate into development workflows to provide architectural oversight, ensuring that new applications and enhancements align with the University’s long-term data strategy. Our ITS team operates in an "Agent First" mindset. This position will be involved in thought-leadership on how agents can support architecture decisions and ensure standards are met. This position does not focus on hardware or technology procurement but rather on the structural logic and semantic consistency required to maintain a unified institutional "Source of Truth."This position is classified as predominantly remote with occasional visits to campus as needed. Working hours will be based on Pacific Standard Time (PST). The full salary range for the Data Architect is $114,300 - $220,900 annually. However, the pay scale for this position is up to $160,000 annually. We base salary offers on a variety of considerations, such as education, licensure and certifications, experience, and other business and organizational needs.Applicants must have current work authorization when accepting a UCR staff position. Currently, UCR is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa for staff.As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.
Requirements
Educational Requirements
| Degree | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training. | Required |
| Experience | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 6 - 10 years of related experience. | Required |
| Minimum of 6 years of experience with data design and information architecture, including data modeling. | Required |
| Special Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Must pass a background check. | Required |
| Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development. | Required |
| Exercise the utmost discretion in managing sensitive information learned in the course of performing their duties. Sensitive information includes but is not limited to employee and student records, health and patient records, financial data, strategic plans, proprietary information, and any other sensitive or non-public information learned during the course and scope of employment. Understands that sensitive information should be shared on a limited basis and actively takes steps to limit access to sensitive information to individuals who have legitimate business need to know. Ensure that sensitive information is properly safeguarded. Follow all organizational policies and laws on data protection and privacy. This includes secure handling of physical and digital records and proper usage of IT systems to prevent data leaks. The unauthorized or improper disclosure of confidential work-related information obtained from any source on any work-related matter is a violation of these expectations. | Required |
| Travel Outside of Normal Business Hours | Required |
| Knowledge of software, database, infrastructure or other IT function. Knowledge relating to the design and development of software across the organization. |
| Knowledge of other related areas of IT. Ability to apply department processes and procedures to work. |
| Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical personnel at various levels in the organization. |
| Ability to understand business needs and how business systems can support those needs. |
| Demonstrated ability to work with others from diverse backgrounds. |
| Self-motivated and works independently and as part of a team. Demonstrates problem solving skills. Able to learn effectively and meet deadlines. |
| Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into long-term architecture solutions. Expertise relating to the design and development of software across the organization. |
| Advanced knowledge of data storage, processing, and analysis and how they are used in administrative, medical and/or academic endeavors. |
| Understanding of and experience with key modeling and description languages used to map complex business processes to architectural components, develop common data resource architectures, and create reference frameworks. |
| Experience with the integration of complex, diverse, internally and externally developed implementations of business functions to build scalable systems. |
| Mastery of both Relational Modeling (3rd Normal Form) for transactional systems and Dimensional Modeling (Star/Snowflake schemas) and denormalized for data warehousing. |
| Ability to create high-level Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs) and data flow diagrams that serve as the authoritative blueprint for development teams. Ability to explain complex architectural concepts to both "downstream" Data Engineers and "upstream" Software Developers. |
| Knowledge of Master Data Management (MDM) and the ability to define and maintain a centralized data dictionary/business glossary. |
| Proven ability to establish, document, and evangelize enterprise data standards that cross-functional teams (Software Dev and Data Engineering) are motivated to follow. |
| May require skills in web software, web software language and object oriented software concepts. May require knowledge of network protocols and how they are used on a large (campus/medical center/OP-wide, institution-wide or beyond) network. May require advanced knowledge of data storage, processing analysis and visualization technologies and how they are used in administrative and/or academic endeavors at a large, top-tier research university or medical center. |
| Advanced ability to translate vague business requests from University stakeholders into granular technical specifications and data requirements. Familiarity with common University data domains (e.g., Student Information Systems (SIS), Financials, CRM, and Research Administration). |
| Expert-level SQL skills to query complex datasets, validate models, and perform deep-dive data profiling across disparate systems. |
| Ability to serve as a "Lead by Example" figure, providing clear, actionable blueprints and documentation that reduce friction for implementation teams rather than creating bureaucratic hurdles. Advanced interpersonal skills with the ability to navigate complex institutional silos. Must be able to "sell" the long-term value of structured architecture to stakeholders who may be focused on short-term delivery speed. |
| Experience with automated data cataloging or lineage tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation, or open-source equivalents). |
| Knowledge of the use of AI agents in day-to-day work and how to support other teams through agents to guide their architecture work. |
Additional Information
In the Heart of Inland Southern California, UC Riverside is located on nearly 1,200 acres near Box Springs Mountain in Southern California; the park-like campus provides convenient access to the vibrant and growing Inland region. The campus is a living laboratory for the exploration of issues critical to growing communities' air, water, energy, transportation, politics, the arts, history, and culture. UCR gives every student, faculty and staff member the resources to explore, engage, imagine and excel.
UC Riverside is recognized as one of the most ethnically diverse research universities in the country boasting several key rankings of which we are extremely proud.
- UC Riverside is proud to be ranked No. 12 among all U.S. universities, according to Money Magazine's 2020 rankings, and among the top 1 percent of universities worldwide, according to the 2019-20 Center for World University rankings.
- UC Riverside is the top university in the United States for social mobility. - U.S. News 2020
- UCR is a member of the University Innovation Alliance, the leading national coalition of public research universities committed to improving student success for low-income, first-generation, and students of color.
- Among top-tier universities, UC Riverside ranks No. 2 in financial aid. - Business Insider 2019
- Ranked No. 2 in the world for research, UCR's Department of Entomology maintains one of the largest collections of insect specimens the nation. - Center for World University Rankings
- UCR's distinguished faculty boasts 2 Nobel Laureates, and 13 members of the National Academies of Science and Medicine.
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories under state or federal law. It is the policy of the University of California to undertake affirmative action and anti-discrimination efforts, consistent with its obligations as a Federal and State contractor.
For information about our generous employee benefits package, visit: Employee Benefits Overview