Data Architect

Job Description

Our diverse and inclusive workforce of more than 7,000 employees play a key role in the success of San José, the heart of the Silicon Valley. All City of San José employees work together as one team to make San José a vibrant, innovative, and desirable place to live and work. Visit here to learn more about our One Team Leadership Values and Expectations, including quality and excellent customer service and here to learn more about San José.

The City of San José is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The City of San José is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at 408-535-1285, 711 (TTY) , or via email at CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov .

About the Department

The City of San José innovates to provide exceptional civic services using advanced technologies to help our community thrive.

As one of the largest cities in the nation, the City manages a large set of services and assets and operates on a budget of $5.9 billion, with approximately 7,000 employees, serving about 1 million residents and 80,000 businesses in the heart of Silicon Valley.

The Information Technology Department’s (ITD) mission is to enrich the quality of life in San José through innovation, collaboration, and engagement. ITD enables that mission through business and infrastructure systems, cybersecurity, data management and analysis, responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), productivity and collaboration tools, the San José 311 resident experience platform, data equity and privacy programs, and strategic planning. San José is powered by truly great people, a robust technology environment, and a strong sense of purpose.

The IT department is a leader in innovation, embracing cutting-edge technologies and pioneering solutions to enhance efficiency and quality of life in San José. As part of this effort, the City leads a national initiative for AI through the GovAI Coalition, which was established to give local governments a voice in shaping the future of AI, ensuring it is developed responsibly and for the public good.

Promoting the City’s commitment to equity and inclusion, we believe that all members of the community, regardless of background, have access to the tools and resources needed to thrive in the digital age. San José is in the heart of Silicon Valley, which boasts a rich history in technology, education, and agriculture. Over half of San José residents speak a language other than English at home, highlighting the importance of language accessibility in all City services. By fostering inclusivity, promoting digital literacy, and building accessible platforms, we are advancing technology while creating a more equitable future for everyone.

At the City of San José, we promote work-life alignment and a focus on growth to bring out the best in our people. Come join us in making San José the most vibrant, equitable, sustainable, and innovative city in the nation! Visit the Information Technology Department’s website to learn about our culture, vision, leadership, and innovative initiatives.

Position Duties

NOTE - The first review of applications will be on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. Please submit your application by 11:59 p.m. (PST) on Monday, November 30, 2026, if you would like your application to be included in the first review. Candidates who pass the first application review round will be invited to interviews on the week of December 7, 2026. If you miss the first review, your application will not be reviewed until the previous round has been completed.

The Information Technology Department is seeking an experienced and collaborative Data Architect to lead the City's enterprise data infrastructure initiatives. This is a senior technical leadership role that combines deep expertise in data architecture with the ability to manage and develop a small team of technical professionals. This position will report directly to the Enterprise Data Governance Lead in the Information Technology Department (ITD).

We are seeking an individual with a willingness to adapt to an ever-changing business environment as well as an ever-changing technical environment. The ideal candidate combines hands-on technical skills with people management experience and can design sophisticated data solutions and explain their value clearly to technical and non-technical audiences. The ideal candidate must also influence strategic decisions and take full ownership of projects through completion. This includes staying current on industry trends and standards and integrating them with the organization’s existing IT best practices for operations and security. A team leader, team player, and positive attitude are essential to this position.

Key responsibilities include but not limited to the following:

• Lead the design, development, and implementation of enterprise data architecture including cloud-based data lakes, on-premises data warehouses, and analytics platforms across multiple departments and stakeholders.
• Provide technical guidance and hands-on support for the team’s on-premises SQL environment including database design, query optimization, performance tuning, and data modeling across both on-premises and cloud platforms.
• Develop and maintain enterprise ETL frameworks, data integration patterns, and reusable pipeline components that ensure consistency and scalability across projects.
• Provide technical direction to the team on Power BI and Tableau report and dashboard development including data modeling best practices, performance optimization, and visualization standards.
• Lead the expansion and governance of the City’s Data Catalog and provide technical direction on data governance, security, and access management practices across enterprise data environments.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that align with the City’s data modernization efforts and enterprise architecture standards.
• Collaborate with departments across the City, manage competing priorities and dependencies, and proactively communicate risks to ensure sustained stakeholder engagement and successful project delivery.
• Communicate technical concepts clearly to a broad range of audiences and represent the data and analytics team in cross-departmental working groups, governance forums, and citywide technology initiatives.
• Directly manage a team of technical staff providing day-to-day oversight, performance management, professional development guidance, and growth opportunities through delegation, cross-training, and mentoring.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team environment where all team members are engaged, valued, and contribute to their full potential.

Please note that the Data Architect position is eligible for a hybrid telework schedule, which is subject to change. The City is currently on a 32-hour onsite workweek.

Salary Information: The final candidate’s qualifications and experience shall determine the actual salary. In addition to the starting salary, employees in the Enterprise Principal Technology Analyst classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay.

• Salary Range (including the 5% NPWI): $167,927.76-$204,487.92.

The EPTA classification is represented by the City Association of Management Personnel (CAMP) bargaining unit.

This position requires a disclosure of outside investments, real property interest, income, and business positions. You must complete and file an “Assuming Office Form 700” with the City Clerk’s Office within the first 30 days of employment with the office.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: A Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in a relevant field AND five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional/ level experience in computer applications, systems, networks, or telecommunications work, of which at least two (2) years include responsibility in the development, implementation, and maintenance of electronic business systems/solutions, or application development and/or support.

Acceptable Substitution:

• Additional years of increasingly responsible directly related work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis up to two (2) years.
• Completion of a Master's Degree in a relevant field from an accredited college or university may be substituted for one year of the required two (2) year of experience in the development, implementation, and maintenance of electronic business systems/solutions, or application development and/or support.

Competencies:

The ideal candidates will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history.

Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.

Problem Solving - Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome

Conflict Management - Uses appropriate interpersonal styles and methods to reduce tension or conflict between two or more people, by presenting the facts, analysis, and conclusions or solutions that show command of content and perspectives and interests of the audience.

Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements agency goals and strategic objectives.

Analytical Thinking - Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.

Supervision - Sets effective long and short-term goals based on a good understanding of management practices; establishes realistic priorities within available resources; provides motivational support; empowers others; assigns decision-making and work functions to others in an appropriate manner to maximize organizational and individual effectiveness

Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.

Other Qualifications

Selection Process:

The selection process will consist of an evaluation of the applicant's training and experience based on the application and responses to all the job specific questions. Only those candidates whose backgrounds best match the position will be invited to proceed in the selection process. Additional phases of the selection process will consist of one or more interviews.

If you have questions about the duties of these positions, the selection or hiring processes, please contact Felipa Perez at Felipa.perez@sanjoseca.gov.

Additional Information:

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

You must answer all job-specific questions to be considered for this vacancy or your application will be deemed incomplete and withheld from further consideration. Applicants are expected to write their own essays/responses.

Please note that applications are currently not accepted through CalOpps or any other third party job board application system.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple positions in this, or other divisions or departments. If you are interested in employment in this classification, you should apply to ensure you are considered for additional opportunities that may utilize the applicants from this recruitment.

Please allow adequate time to complete the application and submit before the deadline or the system may not save your application. If your online application was successfully submitted, you will receive an automatic confirmation email to the email address you provided. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE CONFIRMATION, please email CityCareers@sanjoseca.gov and we will research the status of your application.

AI and the Hiring Process

We recognize that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming part of daily life and can be a valuable tool for learning, research, and professional growth. We encourage candidates to use AI responsibly as a support in preparing application materials, live assessments, and interviews. However, we value authenticity, accuracy and truthfulness. Application responses and interview answers must reflect your own knowledge, skills, and experiences. While AI can supplement preparation, it cannot replace the originality and judgment we look for in our employees. This ensures fairness, transparency, and equity for all applicants in the hiring process.

The City of San Jose offers a wide range of core health benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Disability, and Savings Plans. Please visit the City's benefits pagefor detailed information on coverage, cost, and dependent coverage.

For information on the City’s Retirement Plan(pension for full-time employees), please visit the Office of Retirement Services website. You will be able to view information based on different Sworn/Federated job classification.

In additional to the benefits above, there is an additional perks siteto explore further benefits of working for the City of San Jose like paid leave, educational reimbursements, and holiday pay are specific to the job classification and union membership.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous