Description
API & Data Architect

Note: This role can be fully remote , qualified applicants nationwide are encouraged to apply.

About This Role ...
The API & Data Architect will focus on data architecture for our AWS platform. This position requires a strong background in AWS technologies for data pipeline, data lake, and data warehousing as well as experience in REST API design and data modeling for relational and noSQL stores. This position will help design our data pipeline, data lake and reporting architecture, defining how data will be stored, consumed, integrated, and managed by different data consumers.
Responsibilities...
Data architecture and design for our platform's data pipeline

• Transform from classic data warehouse and ETL architecture to continuous stream-based analysis
• Enable customers to extend application and reporting needs with self-service APIs and Data Models
• Serve as a trusted technical advisor for business and technical departments by providing practical and relevant advice
• Create architecture artifacts (Logical Architecture Diagrams, Workflows, Data Flow Diagrams, etc.) to effectively communicate solutions to varied audiences
• Work with business stakeholders to understand business strategy and requirements and align solutions to business strategy
• Prototype, as needed, to engage with other technical minds and vet solutions
• Participate in making build vs. buy decisions based upon business capability model, resource capacity, and risk
• Partner with other architects and lead developers to form detailed designs on new projects

Provide organization and governance of all data storage strategies for NWEA applications

• Creating, defining, or choosing consistent data storage solutions for applications
• Provide continuity in all major application solution decisions
• Advise on the use of emerging technology for maximizing business benefits; research, prototype, and document the organization's best practices based on industry standards for new technology usage

Provide design guidance, standards, and governance of all data models

• Support platform consolidation efforts in migrating to common foundational data models
• Lead organization-wide effort to create artifacts which show NWEA's enterprise data model

Provide oversight over REST API design

• Bring forward API management, versioning, and technology that strengthens our API platform
• Cultivate organizational partnerships to ensure comprehensive capabilities are developed with proper input from subject matter experts.
• Partner with product management to ensure platform APIs and data is technically solid, consumable, consistent and best meets the needs of customers
• Grow knowledge on the Education domain from a data perspective

Support delivery teams

• Provide support to development teams for solving enterprise wide challenging technical problems through application of prototypes and knowledge of industry best practices
• Provide mentoring on software design, construction and development methodologies through one-on-one interaction, meetings, and brown bag sessions

Skills and Abilities...

• Depth in data modeling and database design for both relational and noSQL data stores
• Ability to design REST APIs, canonical data models, versioning and how to design for longevity/extensibility
• Ability to conceive and portray the big data picture: When the data architect initiates, evaluates, and influences projects he or she does so from
• the perspective of the entire organization.
• Able to articulate and advocate strategy and direction for technology and architecture throughout the organization
• Ability to communicate well with development teams, product managers, project managers, and partners
• Experience developing enterprise solutions for fast paced organization.

Competencies ...

• Instill trust: gain the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity
• Communicate effectively: develop and deliver multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences
• Customer focus: build strong customer relationships and deliver customer-centric solutions
• Drive results: consistently achieve results, even under tough circumstances

Education and Experience...

• 5+ years of experience as a software architect using AWS technologies (e.g., Kinesis, Redshift, Lambda) and knowledge of current AWS best practices in data storage and processing
• 4+ years of experience designing solutions that run highly concurrent workloads in production on modern data warehouses such as AWS Redshift and Snowflake
• 4+ years' experience designing REST APIs for multiple industries
• Experience with API management technologies
• Significant experience with modern data pipeline tools for batch and streaming.
• Experience with data pipeline orchestration and scheduling.
• Experience with modern tools for testing data pipelines.
• Strong experience in developing within a microservice architecture
• 10+ years of experience in developing software in a fast-paced company or technology consulting environment
• Minimum B.S. degree in computer science or a related field; Master's degree preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered in lieu of a degree

Who We Are...
NWEA® is a research-based, not-for-profit organization that supports students and educators worldwide by creating assessment solutions that precisely measure growth and proficiency-and provide timely data to help tailor instruction. For more than 40 years, NWEA has developed innovative pre-K-12 assessments, including our flagship interim assessment, MAP® Growth™; our progress monitoring and skills mastery tool, MAP® Skills™; and our reading fluency and comprehension assessment, MAP® Reading Fluency™. Educators trust our professional learning offerings to accelerate student learning and our research to support assessment validity and data interpretation. More than 11 million students in 146 countries use our solutions to support their learning and growth each year.

What We Can Offer You....

At NWEA we not only offer a competitive base salary, we offer a 15% contribution of eligible employees' base salary to a defined contribution 403(b) retirement savings plan; career development opportunities; an awesome work culture and environment; we also offer industry leading benefits and perks that are focused on supporting our employees' holistic wellbeing. To learn more about what we can offer more, click here.

NWEA strives to make diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) practices the center of our work. Our organization's mission, Partnering to Help All Kids Learn, is the foundation for our DEIA commitment as we work to reflect, value, and support the educators, students, colleagues, and communities we serve. We seek to empower and engage all stakeholders in the research, services, solutions and products we provide, our organizational culture, and the partnerships we establish with schools, districts, states, and countries.