Data Architect

Job Title: Data Mesh Architect / Lead – Centralized Entity Registry & Federated GovernanceContract: 12 months ContractStart: ASAPOnsite: 2-3 days in BaselRole OverviewWe are seeking a visionary and technically adept Data Mesh Architect to lead the design and implementation of a federated data architecture. This role will focus on establishing a centralized entity registry (CDEs), enabling domain-level flexibility while enforcing cross-domain data contracts and governance. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in data mesh principles, cloud-native data platforms, and user-centric design—especially for scientific users like biologists.Key Responsibilities1. Centralized Entity Registry & CDEs· Architect and implement a centralized registry that acts as a metadata catalogue and semantic layer.· Define and enforce Core Data Entities (CDEs) that standardize identity and lineage across domains.· Enable domain-specific data products to register via CDE contracts while maintaining autonomy.2. Data Product Ownership & Federation· Collaborate with domain teams to identify initial data domains and guide them in creating compliant data products.· Promote federated ownership and stewardship models across scientific and technical domains.· Support transition from monolithic views to modular, domain-driven data products.3. Governance Framework· Establish federated governance policies for data quality, lineage tracking, access control, and compliance.· Facilitate steering committee discussions to align CDE definitions across multi-domain products.· Implement scalable governance workflows that support AI-readiness and research acceleration.4. Technical Integration· Integrate with existing platforms including AWS S3, Snowflake, and Palantir Foundry.· Design interoperability between centralized registry and domain-specific catalogues/systems.· Ensure compatibility with orchestration frameworks and metadata layers (e.g., AWS Glue, DataZone).5. Business Outcomes· Drive faster research cycles through scalable data governance and discoverability.· Enable AI-ready data environments that support analytics, modelling, and scientific workflows.· Improve cross-domain collaboration and data reuse through standardized metadata and lineage.6. User Experience & Adoption· Address user acceptance challenges, especially among biologists using GraphPad Prism.· Design workflows that allow seamless file-based access and integration with scientific tools.· Advocate for intuitive interfaces and minimal disruption to existing research practices.Required Skills & Experience· 8+ years in data architecture, data engineering, or data governance roles.· Proven experience with data mesh, metadata catalogues, and semantic modelling.· Hands-on expertise in AWS (S3, Glue, Athena), Snowflake, and Palantir Foundry.· Familiarity with FAIR principles, data lineage, and domain-driven design.· Experience working with scientific data modalities and tools like GraphPad Prism.· Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.Preferred Qualifications· Experience in pharma/biotech or scientific informatics domains.