Overview
As the Enterprise Data Architect at ampliFI, you will play a critical role in defining the overall data architecture and ensuring ampliFI’s data systems are designed for scalability, performance, and security. You’ll serve as the primary architectural authority for data modeling, warehousing, and analytics platforms, helping guide the modernization of ampliFI’s loyalty, rewards, and payments data solutions.
This position combines strategic leadership with deep technical expertise, ensuring ampliFI’s technology investments align with enterprise goals and deliver measurable business impact.
Responsibilities
- Define and maintain ampliFI’s data architecture strategy, ensuring alignment between business goals and technical data execution.
- Serve as the principal architect for ampliFI’s data platforms, with a strong focus on AWS data services, ETL processes, and distributed data design.
- Partner closely with engineering and product teams to architect scalable data warehouses and performant database systems that power ampliFI’s loyalty solutions.
- Establish standards for data modeling, metadata management, and data exchange, ensuring consistency across relational and NoSQL databases.
- Drive data modernization initiatives, including migration from legacy data structures to AWS-native architectures leveraging RDS, DynamoDB, Athena, and S3.
- Collaborate with DevOps teams to strengthen data pipeline automation and observability using Terraform and modern data integration tools.
- Provide architectural guidance for high-volume transactional data systems that support loyalty point accruals and merchant-funded offers.
- Partner with Security teams to ensure data privacy compliance, encryption, and data resiliency best practices across the technology stack.
- Lead data design reviews, provide mentorship to data engineers, and champion modern data engineering practices across teams.
- Support the CIO in defining data roadmaps, evaluating emerging analytics tools, and ensuring ampliFI’s data architecture evolves with business needs.
Essential Skills and Experience
- 10+ years of progressive experience in data architecture, with proven experience designing large-scale, cloud-based data systems.
- Deep expertise in AWS data architecture — including DynamoDB, RDS, Athena, S3, Iceberg, Snowflake, and Glue.
- Extensive experience in data modeling (ERD, Dimensional Modeling) and ETL/ELT pipeline design.
- Hands-on knowledge of Python, SQL, or Java for data processing in modern distributed environments.
- Strong understanding of NoSQL and RDBMS management using MySQL, PostgreSQL, and DynamoDB.
- Solid understanding of data quality automation and performance tuning for high-volume databases.
- Experience in loyalty, rewards, payments, or financial services ecosystems strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical and communication skills with the ability to bridge business and technical priorities.
- Proven ability to think strategically while remaining hands-on in execution.
- Experience designing and maintaining data warehouses and data lakes.
- Experience with EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) file processing.
- Experience with data reporting and visualization tools, specifically Tableau or similar platforms.
- Cloud: AWS (ECS, Lambda, Athena, S3, DynamoDB, RDS, CloudWatch)
- Languages: Java / Spring, Clojure, Python, Typescript / React
- Data: MySQL, PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, Athena, Tableau
- Integration: REST APIs, JSON, JWT, SSO
- DevOps & CI/CD: Git, GitHub/BitBucket Pipelines, Jenkins, Terraform, Automox, JumpCloud
- QA / Automation: Selenium, Postman, JMeter
- Project Management: Jira, Confluence
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Experience leading data governance or data standards across multiple product teams.
- Exposure to big data frameworks, real-time streaming, and messaging frameworks (e.g., Kafka).
- Familiarity with data security and compliance frameworks such as PCI-DSS or GDPR.
- Understanding of large-scale data pipelines and real-time analytics.
- Ability to mentor technical teams and communicate architectural decisions clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Key Competencies and Attributes
- Ability to define and implement scalable, cloud-based data architectures that align with business objectives.
- Deep knowledge of AWS data services, data modeling, ETL/ELT pipelines, databases, and modern data engineering practices.
- Proven ability to lead architecture initiatives, mentor technical teams, and establish data standards and best practices.
- Strong communication and partnership skills to work effectively with engineering, product, DevOps, security, and business stakeholders.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on experience solving complex data challenges, optimizing performance, and driving data modernization initiatives.
Work Arrangement
- Based at ampliFI’s Naperville, IL Corporate office, this hybrid role requires onsite reporting Tuesday-Thursday weekly.
- National remote opportunities require residency in one of the following states AZ, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, MA, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SC, TX, UT, VA, or WI.
Physical Requirements
This role involves sitting or standing for extended periods, using computers, phones, and other office equipment. Visual acuity and manual dexterity are needed for reading documents and handling materials. Occasional lifting of items up to 20 lbs. and frequent phone communication is required.
Other Duties
Duties, responsibilities, and activities are not all encompassing and may change at any time with or without notice. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily carry out each essential duty. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions
The compensation range listed below represents the potential salary for this role at the time of posting. However, the final salary may be higher or lower than the stated range, and this range may be adjusted in the future. An employee’s placement within the salary range will depend on various factors, including but not limited to relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, shift, travel requirements, sales or revenue-based metrics, any applicable collective bargaining agreements, and the needs of the business or organization. The salary range for this role is $160,000 to $180,000 per year.
About ampliFI
At ampliFI Integrity guides every decision, Curiosity drives innovation, and Advocacy ensures we always put our clients and teammates first. We foster a supportive, fun workplace where your contributions are valued, and your growth is encouraged.
ampliFI provides fully outsourced, customized credit and debit card loyalty programs exclusively focused on banks and credit unions nationwide. For nearly two decades, we have delivered compelling rewards programs, unique earn and burn opportunities and card-linked programs to leverage merchant funded offers. Here at ampliFI, we are always looking for more great people to be a part of the relentless pursuit of excellence in everything we do.
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive pay plus 401(k) with employer match
- Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
- Voluntary café plans, including voluntary life, accident, hospital, critical care, and parking/transit options
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Paid time off, company holidays, and parental leave
- Employee Assistance Program
- Hybrid work environment with flexible hours
- Onsite perks including gym access and snacks
- Employee recognition programs celebrating milestones and achievements
- Growth opportunities within a supportive, team-oriented environment
ampliFI Loyalty Solutions embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills because we believe that the more inclusive we are, the greater impact we can make together.
