Data Architect

About the Role MetLife is seeking a Data Architect to support enterprise and data-domain architecture across the global portfolio. This role will define technology standards, guardrails and patterns related to data for use in solution architectures, and will emphasize security, resilience and performance. You will collaborate with teams across business and technology domains to build scalable, enterprise-wide data solutions. What You'll Do

• Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture vision and roadmap.
• Develop architecture principles, standards, patterns, and reference architectures.
• Ensure alignment between data strategy and business objectives.
• Govern enterprise-wide data architecture decisions and design reviews.
• Drive architectural consistency across regions, platforms, and programmes.
• Lead architecture for cloud-based data platforms including Data Warehousing, Data Lakes, Lakehouse, Real-time Data Processing, and AI/ML enablement.
• Design end-to-end data solutions from source systems to consumption layers and define integration patterns (APIs, event-driven, batch, streaming).
• Ensure solutions meet non-functional requirements: scalability, resilience, performance, security, operability.
• Partner with Data Governance to establish metadata management, data lineage, MDM, and data quality frameworks; ensure privacy and regulatory compliance.
• Define standards for sensitive data handling and protection.
• Define architecture patterns supporting AI and advanced analytics; enable self-service analytics and trusted data consumption. What We're Looking For
• Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline (CS, EE, ME, Math or equivalent).
• 5+ years’ experience in Software Engineering or Architecture with hands-on experience building enterprise-scale data solutions.
• 3+ years’ experience with Data Engineering or Architecture on cloud data platforms.
• Exposure to AI concepts such as generative AI and machine learning.
• Strong analytical skills with ability to translate analysis into actionable insights.
• Demonstrated expertise in security, operational, and resiliency architecture principles.
• Demonstrated ability to lead technical initiatives with cross-organizational collaboration.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with attention to detail and professional time/task management.