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If you’ve Googled “Data Architect job description” you’ve probably noticed something:
Most articles give you the same recycled bullet points, lifeless jargon, and no real insight into how to actually attract a great Data Architect.
They usually read like a technical manual.
Duties. Skills. Requirements. Apply here.
The problem?
That kind of post might get applicants—but not the kind of applicants who can design, manage, and scale the data infrastructure your business depends on.
A Data Architect isn’t just “someone who builds databases.” They’re the person shaping how your organization stores, secures, and uses its most valuable asset—data. And top talent in this field is selective. If your job post feels generic, they’ll scroll past it.
In this guide, we’ll walk through:
- What a Data Architect actually does (in plain English)
- Two high-quality job description templates you can adapt instantly
- Why these templates attract top-tier candidates (and what generic ones get wrong)
- Bonus tips that make your job post stand out
- How to use AI the smart way to help write it
- And a quick copy-paste version for when you need a job post yesterday
📌 Before you start: If you haven’t yet read our full guide on how to write a job post that attracts top talent , Link https://workscreen.io/how-to-write-a-job-post/ , I highly recommend it. It breaks down exactly why most job descriptions fail to convert the right people, and how to fix them.
Don’t let bad hires slow you down.
WorkScreen helps you identify the right people—fast, easy, and stress-free.
What a Data Architect Actually Does - Their Roles
A Data Architect is the blueprint designer for your organization’s data systems.
They decide how your company’s data is stored, organized, secured, and accessed—making sure it’s reliable, scalable, and usable for the people who need it.
Think of them as the urban planner of your data “city.”
They’re not just building a single “house” (database); they’re designing the roads, utilities, and zoning so everything in your data ecosystem works together now and in the future.
In practice, a Data Architect might:
- Design data models that make it easier for teams to store and retrieve information.
- Work with stakeholders to understand how data is collected, processed, and used.
- Ensure compliance with data security regulations and best practices.
- Optimize systems for performance and scalability as the company grows.
- Collaborate with engineers, analysts, and leadership to align data strategy with business goals.
Why this role matters:
In a data-driven world, bad architecture leads to messy, siloed, and unreliable information—which means slower decisions, higher costs, and frustrated teams. A great Data Architect creates the foundation that keeps your data clean, connected, and actionable.
Two Great Data Architect Job Description Templates
We’ll provide two tailored job description options:
1.✅ Option 1: For employers looking to hire an experienced candidates with prior experience.
2.Option 2: For employers open to hiring entry-level candidates or those willing to train someone with potential.
✅ Option 1: Job Description For Experienced Data Architect — Culture-First Style
📌 Job Title: Data Architect at BrightPath Analytics — Own Our Next-Gen Data Platform
💼 Type: Full-Time | Location: Hybrid (NYC HQ; 3 days onsite)
💰 Salary: $130,000–$160,000 + annual bonus
🗓 Schedule: Mon–Fri | Flexible start times
🎥 A quick word from our hiring manager: (Loom/YouTube link here)
Who We Are — BrightPath Analytics
Founded in 2016, BrightPath Analytics is a 120-person data consultancy headquartered in New York with teams in Austin and Toronto. We design and implement analytics platforms for mid-market retailers, fintechs, and B2B SaaS companies. Our stack leans AWS (Redshift, S3, Glue), Snowflake, dbt, Kafka, and modern BI. We value curiosity, pragmatism, and ownership—and we ship solutions that actually get used.
What You’ll Do
- Design and evolve canonical data models, warehouse/lakehouse schemas, and integration patterns
- Define governance, lineage, quality, and security baselines across projects
- Lead architectural reviews; translate business requirements into technical roadmaps
- Guide teams on data partitioning, orchestration, and cost/performance tradeoffs
- Partner with client execs to align data strategy with product and GTM goals
What We’re Looking For
- 5+ years in data architecture / platform engineering
- Deep SQL + one major cloud DW (Snowflake/Redshift/BigQuery)
- Strong ETL/ELT patterns (dbt/Airflow) and streaming familiarity (Kafka/Kinesis)
- Comfort presenting to both engineers and non-technical stakeholders
Nice to Have
- Experience with governance/MDM tooling, column-level lineage, or PII tokenization
- Familiarity with privacy regimes (GDPR/CCPA/HIPAA) and role-based access models
Why This Role Is a Great Fit
- You want real architectural ownership—not just “optimizing queries”
- You enjoy codifying standards and leveling up teams
- You like pragmatic tech choices over buzzword bingo
Perks & Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision (company covers 90% of premiums)
- 401(k) with 4% match
- 20 PTO days + 10 company holidays + winter shutdown
- $2,000 annual learning budget (certs, courses, conferences)
- Home office stipend + commuter benefits
- 12 weeks paid parental leave
Our Hiring Process
Every application is reviewed. You’ll hear from us within 10 business days.
- WorkScreen skills assessment (architecture scenario)
- Technical deep dive + systems design
- Culture/values interview
Offer decisions within one week of final interview.
📥 How to Apply
Apply via WorkScreen and complete our Data Architect evaluation: (insert WorkScreen link). We’ll keep you updated at every step.
✅ Option 2: Job Description For Junior / Willing-to-Train Data Architect — Potential-Based Hire
📌 Job Title: Junior Data Architect at BrightPath Analytics — Learn, Build, Grow
💼 Type: Full-Time | Location: Remote (US/Canada) or Hybrid (NYC)
💰 Salary: $70,000–$90,000 + learning stipend
🗓 Schedule: Mon–Fri | Flexible hours
🎥 A quick word from your future mentor: (Loom/YouTube link here)
Who We Are — BrightPath Analytics
We’re a 120-person data consultancy helping growth-stage companies turn raw data into reliable decisions. Our projects span data modeling, ELT pipelines, governance, and analytics enablement. We’re serious about mentorship: juniors ship meaningful work here—with guidance from senior architects and time earmarked for learning.
What You’ll Do
- Assist in designing dimensional and entity models; keep docs organized and current
- Implement transformations in dbt under guidance; review PRs and fix issues
- Help enforce data quality checks, lineage tracking, and access controls
- Support migrations and performance tuning; learn to profile/query large datasets
- Participate in design reviews and brown-bag learning sessions
What We’re Looking For
- Strong analytical thinking; basic SQL comfort (projects/classwork count)
- Familiarity with any database; eagerness to learn cloud data tooling
- Clear communication and attention to detail
Nice to Have
- Exposure to Python, dbt, or a cloud DW (Snowflake/Redshift/BigQuery)
- Portfolio, coursework, or internships related to data
Why This Role Is a Great Fit
- You want a mentorship-rich environment with real responsibilities
- You prefer structured learning paths over sink-or-swim
- You care about building clean, understandable systems
Perks & Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision coverage
- 401(k) with company match (where applicable)
- 18 PTO days + 10 holidays
- $1,500 learning stipend + paid certification time
- Remote work setup stipend
- Wellness reimbursement
Our Hiring Process
Transparent and supportive:
- WorkScreen aptitude assessment (short)
- Conversational interview with hiring manager
- Paid trial project (10–15 hours, flexible timing)
We respond to all applicants within 10 business days.
📥 How to Apply
Apply via WorkScreen and complete our Junior Data Architect evaluation: (insert WorkScreen link). We’ll guide you through each step.
Hiring doesn’t have to be hard.
If your hiring process is stressful, slow, or filled with second-guessing—WorkScreen fixes that. Workscreen helps you quickly identify top talent fast, eliminate low-quality applicants, and make better hires without the headaches.
Breakdown of Why These Data Architect Job Posts Work
1. Clear, Specific Titles
Instead of vague titles like “Data Architect” or “Junior Data Architect,” these posts specify:
- The company name (BrightPath Analytics)
- The role focus (ownership of next-gen data platform / learn, build, grow)
- The location or work arrangement (Hybrid in NYC, Remote in US/Canada)
This instantly signals relevance and purpose, helping the right candidates self-select.
2. Personal Video Element
Adding a Loom or YouTube video from the hiring manager or mentor humanizes the post.
For senior candidates, it conveys leadership vision. For juniors, it shows they’ll have real guidance.
In a market flooded with faceless job listings, this small touch builds trust and stands out.
3. Warm, Context-Driven “Who We Are”
The company description avoids generic mission statements.
Instead, it gives:
- Founding year, size, HQ location
- Industries and clients served
- Tech stack details relevant to the role
This makes the post feel real, not templated—and signals whether the environment matches the candidate’s background.
4. Impact-First Role Overview
The “Why This Role Matters” section shows how the role drives business outcomes (e.g., unifying data ecosystems, building habits that scale).
It positions the role as strategic, not just operational—which appeals to high-caliber candidates.
5. Transparent Salary & Perks
Including salary ranges builds trust and filters out mismatches early.
Separating Why This Role Is a Great Fit from Perks & Benefits gives candidates both the emotional reason to apply and the practical incentives.
6. Humanized Requirements
The “Nice to Have” section shows flexibility.
- For seniors, it signals openness to diverse experiences.
- For juniors, it removes the “you must have 10 years experience” barrier that scares off good potential hires.
7. Candidate-First Hiring Process
Both templates:
- Promise a response time (10 business days)
- Outline each step clearly
- Use WorkScreen for skills-based evaluation instead of résumé-only filtering
This sets realistic expectations and shows respect for candidates’ time.
8. Values-Driven Fit Section
“Why This Role Is a Great Fit” is a mini culture filter.
It helps candidates self-assess: “Yes, that sounds like me” or “No, this isn’t my environment.”
This saves both sides from mismatched expectations later.
9. Consistent Brand Voice
The tone is professional but conversational, mixing technical precision with approachable language.
This balance is key in attracting skilled candidates who also care about team culture.
Bad Data Architect Job Description Example (And Why It Fails)
📌 Job Title: Data Architect
💼 Type: Full-Time
📍 Location: Not specified
Job Summary
We are seeking a Data Architect to design and maintain our company’s data systems. The candidate will work with various teams to ensure that data is stored securely and used effectively.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain data architecture.
- Collaborate with different teams on data-related projects.
- Ensure data compliance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or related field.
- 5+ years of experience in data architecture.
- Knowledge of SQL and cloud platforms.
How to Apply
Please send your résumé and cover letter to careers@company.com. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
❌ Why This Job Post Falls Short
- Generic Title
“Data Architect” with no company name, scope, or location. It fails to stand out and gives no sense of the role’s purpose. - Cold, Impersonal Summary
Reads like a contract clause. There’s no “why” behind the role, no mission, and no personality—just bland statements. - No Salary or Perks
Omitting compensation and benefits makes the post feel outdated and discourages strong candidates from applying. - Vague Responsibilities
“Develop and maintain data architecture” tells the candidate nothing about the scale, complexity, or technology involved. - Minimal Requirements Detail
Lumping all requirements into a short list means no distinction between “must-haves” and “nice-to-haves.” This can alienate potentially great candidates who are just shy of the listed experience. - Unfriendly Hiring Process
“Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted” is dismissive. It signals a one-sided process with no transparency. - Zero Culture or Values Mention
There’s no insight into what the team is like, how they work, or what the company values. For a highly skilled, in-demand role, this is a dealbreaker.
Bonus Tips to Make Your Data Architect Job Post Stand Out
These small but powerful additions can turn a “good” job description into an exceptional one that resonates with top candidates.
1. Add a Privacy & Security Notice
Top technical candidates care deeply about how their personal data is handled—especially in a role dealing with sensitive company data.
Include a short statement like:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: We take the privacy and security of all applicants seriously. We will never ask for payment, bank details, or sensitive personal information at any stage of the hiring process.
This builds trust right away and shows you practice what you preach about data integrity.
2. Mention Leave Days and Flex Time
High-caliber talent values flexibility and work-life balance. Instead of just listing “PTO,” make it tangible:
“Enjoy 20 PTO days per year, 10 company holidays, plus a winter break shutdown—so you can recharge and return refreshed.”
For remote or hybrid roles, note any flexible hours:
“We trust you to manage your time—start between 8–10 AM and set your schedule for peak productivity.”
3. Highlight Training & Growth Opportunities
Data architecture evolves fast. Candidates want to know you’ll invest in their skills:
“We provide an annual $2,000 learning budget for certifications, conferences, and courses—plus paid time to use it.”
4. Add a Loom or YouTube Video
A short 1–2 minute clip from the hiring manager or CTO describing the role and team can boost response rates dramatically. For example:
- Senior hire: Talk about upcoming projects, data challenges, and why their expertise will shape the company’s future.
- Junior hire: Share your mentorship approach and how they’ll be supported.
Here is an example that we used in our master guide on how to write a great job post description , you can check it out here https://www.loom.com/share/ba401b65b7f943b68a91fc6b04a62ad4
5. Showcase Real Employee Voices
Include a short testimonial from a current team member or link to Glassdoor reviews. Example:
“I joined BrightPath two years ago as a junior engineer and was promoted to data architect last year. The mentorship and trust here are unmatched.” — Alex, Data Architect
6. Make the Call to Action Warm & Specific
Instead of “Apply here,” try:
“Click below to start your WorkScreen evaluation—it’s quick, fair, and helps us see your skills in action. We’ll keep you updated at every step.”
Should You Use AI to Write a Data Architect Job Description?
It’s tempting to open ChatGPT or another AI tool, type “Write me a Data Architect job description”, and hit copy-paste.
The problem? You’ll get something that looks like every other post online—vague, impersonal, and completely forgettable.
Why Blind AI Usage Hurts Your Hiring
If you rely on AI without giving it detailed input, you’ll end up with:
- Generic, lifeless text — no insight into your company’s mission or culture.
- No differentiation — your post will blend in with dozens of others.
- Attracting the wrong candidates — people who mass-apply to anything, not the ones who care about your
- A weak first impression — top talent will spot generic posts instantly and scroll past them.
Remember: A job post is your first handshake with a candidate.
Make it warm, confident, and specific to your business.
The Smart Way to Use AI for This Role
AI is great at polishing, organizing, and saving time—if you give it the right raw materials.
Here’s how to do it right:
- Write the core facts yourself:
- What your company does
- Why the role exists now
- Your culture and values
- Your must-have and nice-to-have skills
- Salary range, perks, benefits
- Your hiring process
- What your company does
- Feed AI a structured prompt like:
“Help me write a Data Architect job description for BrightPath Analytics, a 120-person data consultancy based in NYC.
We’re hiring to unify and scale multiple client data ecosystems. Our stack includes AWS, Snowflake, dbt, Kafka, and modern BI tools.
Our culture values curiosity, pragmatism, and ownership.
Must-have skills: 5+ years in data architecture, SQL mastery, cloud data warehouse experience.
Nice-to-have skills: streaming data tools, governance/MDM familiarity.
Salary range: $130k–$160k + bonus.
Perks: 20 PTO days, $2k learning budget, winter shutdown, remote flexibility.
Here’s our hiring process: [outline steps].
Make it clear, engaging, and culture-first. Here are a few notes I’ve written to get you started: [paste your notes] ”
- Use AI for refinement, not generation:
- Ask it to improve clarity, add flow, or make it more conversational.
- Keep your unique company voice intact.
- Ask it to improve clarity, add flow, or make it more conversational.
💡 Pro Tip:
You can even paste one of the good templates from earlier in this guide into AI and tell it, “Make me a version of this tailored to [your company] and [this role’s specifics].”
Build a winning team—without the hiring headache.
WorkScreen helps you hire fast, confidently, and without second-guessing.
Need a Quick Copy-Paste Data Architect Job Description?
We get it—sometimes you just need something fast.
Maybe you’ve read this guide and understand what makes a great job post. But you also want a solid starting point you can copy, paste, and tailor to your company in minutes.
That’s what this is.
✏️ Important Reminder:
Don’t copy this word-for-word and expect magic.
This is a foundation, not a final draft.
Add a Loom video, inject your team culture, and edit the details to reflect your actual company.
In this section, you’ll find two ready-to-use job description templates for quick copy-paste use — but please remember, like we mentioned above, don’t just copy them word-for-word and expect results.
Think of these as starting points, not final drafts.
- Option 1: A more conversational, culture-first job description that highlights personality and team fit.
- Option 2: A more structured format, including a Job Brief, Responsibilities, and Requirements for a traditional approach.
✅ Option 1: Job Description For Conversational (Culture-First) Style
Job Title: Data Architect at [Company Name] — [One-Line Purpose/Impact]
💼 Type: [Job Type] | Location: [Location / Work Arrangement]
💰 Salary: [Salary Range] + [Bonus/Equity if applicable]
🎥 A quick word from our hiring manager: [Loom/YouTube link]
Who We Are — [Company Name]
[Company Name] is a [team size, e.g., 80-person] [industry/domain, e.g., fintech / retail / B2B SaaS] company headquartered in [HQ City] with [remote/hybrid] teams across [regions]. We build [what you build—analytics platforms, data products, etc.] that help [your customers/users] turn data into decisions. Our typical stack includes [Stack: e.g., Snowflake/Redshift/BigQuery, dbt, Airflow, Kafka/Kinesis, Python]. We value [values: e.g., pragmatism, curiosity, ownership] and ship solutions that actually get used.
What You’ll Do
- Design and evolve scalable, secure data architectures (warehouse/lake/lakehouse).
- Set modeling, governance, lineage, and quality
- Translate business needs into technical roadmaps; lead architectural reviews.
- Guide teams on ELT/ETL, orchestration, partitioning, and cost/perf tradeoffs.
- Collaborate with engineering, analytics, and product to align data with goals.
What We’re Looking For
- [X]+ years in data architecture / platform engineering.
- Mastery of SQL and one major cloud DW ([Snowflake/Redshift/BigQuery]).
- Hands-on with ELT/ETL ([dbt/Airflow/Fivetran]) and batch/streaming
- Excellent communicator—comfortable with technical and non-technical
Nice to Have
- Experience with governance/MDM, column-level lineage, PII tokenization.
- Familiarity with privacy regimes (GDPR/CCPA/HIPAA) and RBAC/ABAC.
Why This Role Is a Great Fit
- You want true architectural ownership, not just query tuning.
- You like codifying standards and leveling up
- You prefer pragmatic tech choices over buzzwords.
Perks & Benefits
- [Health/Dental/Vision details] with [employer coverage %]
- [Retirement/401(k)/pension] with [match %]
- [#] PTO days + [#] holidays + [any shutdowns/flex days]
- [Learning stipend amount] + paid time for certifications/courses
- [Remote stipend / commuter benefits / wellness stipend]
- [Parental leave policy]
Our Hiring Process
We review every application and respond within [timeline, e.g., 10 business days].
- WorkScreen skills assessment ([short description])
- Technical deep dive / systems design
- Culture/values interview
Offer within [timeline] of the final interview.
📥 How to Apply
Apply via [WorkScreen link] and complete the Data Architect evaluation. We’ll keep you updated at every step.
✅ Option 2: Structured “Job Brief + Responsibilities + Requirements” Style
Job Title: Data Architect at [Company Name] — [One-Line Purpose/Impact]
💼 Type: [Job Type] | Location: [Location / Work Arrangement]
💰 Salary: [Salary Range] + [Bonus/Equity if applicable]
Job Brief
[Company Name] is seeking a Data Architect to [core mandate: e.g., design and optimize our data platform, modernize our warehouse, enable analytics at scale]. You’ll set architecture standards, ensure security/compliance, and partner with stakeholders to align data strategy with business outcomes.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain scalable data models, warehouse/lakehouse
- Define governance, security, compliance, and quality
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on data roadmaps and delivery.
- Optimize for performance, reliability, and cost efficiency.
- Mentor engineers/analysts on modeling and best practices.
Requirements
- [Degree or equivalent experience] in [field].
- [X]+ years in data architecture / data engineering.
- Expertise in SQL and [Snowflake/Redshift/BigQuery].
- Experience with ELT/ETL and orchestration ([dbt/Airflow/etc.]).
- Strong communication and stakeholder management
Nice to Have
- Streaming experience ([Kafka/Kinesis/Pub/Sub]).
- MDM/governance tooling and data lineage
Perks & Benefits
- [Salary range] + [bonus/equity]
- **[#] PTO days + [#] holidays + [flex/winter break if applicable]
- [Learning stipend amount] + paid time for certs/courses
- [Health/Dental/Vision] + [Retirement/401(k) match]
- [Remote/hybrid perks, stipends, wellness benefits]
Our Hiring Process
- Apply via [WorkScreen link] and complete the [short evaluation]
- Technical interview focused on architecture/scenarios
- Team/culture conversation
We keep all candidates informed within [timeline].
📥 How to Apply
Submit your application via [WorkScreen link] and complete the evaluation to showcase your skills.
Let WorkScreen Handle the Next Step of Hiring
Once your Data Architect job post is live, the hard part isn’t just getting applicants—it’s figuring out who’s actually qualified without drowning in résumés.
That’s where WorkScreen.io comes in.
With WorkScreen, you can:
- Quickly identify your most promising candidates
WorkScreen automatically evaluates, scores, and ranks applicants on a performance-based leaderboard—making it easy to spot top talent, save time, and make smarter, data-driven hiring decisions.
- Easily administer one-click skill tests
With WorkScreen, you can administer one-click skill tests to assess candidates based on real-world ability—not just credentials like résumés and past experience. This helps you hire more confidently and holistically.
- Eliminate low-effort applicants
WorkScreen automatically eliminates low-effort applicants who use AI Tools to apply, copy-paste answers, or rely on “one-click apply.” This way, you focus only on genuine, committed, and high-quality candidates—helping you avoid costly hiring mistakes.
📥 Get started today
Whether you’re hiring one Data Architect or building an entire data team, WorkScreen gives you the tools to hire right, fast, and with confidence.
and create your evaluation link in minutes.
FAQ - Criminal Investigator Job Description
Beyond investigative experience, high-performing criminal investigators often share these essential soft and hard skills:
- Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving: Ability to evaluate evidence and anticipate suspect moves
- Active Listening & Verbal Communication: Crucial for building trust during witness or suspect interviews
- Detail-Orientation & Reporting: Must prepare thorough, error-free case files and documents
- Knowledge of Law & Procedure: Familiarity with legal codes, court requirements, and evidence handling standards
- Emotional Intelligence & Empathy: Especially important when interacting with victims or stressed witnesses
- Physical & Tactical Readiness: Depending on the agency, investigators may need to conduct field surveillance or manage offensive/interrogation scenarios
Salary ranges widely depending on experience, agency type, and location. Here are current benchmarks:
- S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2023): Median annual salary is approximately $91,100, placing investigators among the highest-paid roles in law enforcement
- ZipRecruiter (National average): Around $84,905/year, with the 25th percentile at $53K and 75th at $116.5K
- Glassdoor Average: Approximately $82,760/year, with typical pay between $63,464 (25th) and $108,707 (75th)
- Entry-Level Range: ZipRecruiter reports around $84,905/year or $40.82/hour, though entry-level roles can still range as low as $47K to as high as $118K depending on location and agency type
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4% growth in criminal investigator and detective positions from 2023 to 2033—on par with the national job growth average
- For private detectives/investigators, median pay was $52,370/year (May 2024), with a 5% projected growth rate over the next decade
While both require strong investigation fundamentals, there are some key differences:
- Federal investigators (e.g., IRS-CI, DEA) typically have structured training pipelines, including agency-specific academies and specialized certification requirements
- Agencies such as DOI or CBP may require familiarity with particular regulations or investigative mandates—like wildlife crime, border security, or protection of federal lands—on top of general investigative skills
