Sr. Data Architect (Remote)

GovCIO is hiring a Data Engineer and Architect to support the healthcare data integration for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This role analyzes source database systems and develops database objects to support data ingestion into the Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW). The position requires strong database design and SQL skills, along with experience with healthcare data and source systems such as VistA and Oracle Health Millennium. This position is fully remote in the United States.

• Analyze source systems (VistA, Millennium, ADR, MVI, Geospatial, PIT, Exam Management) to define data structures, relationships, business rules, and PHI/PII classification.
• Design and maintain database objects (tables, views, stored procedures) supporting CDW data ingestion.
• Build conceptual, logical, and physical data models that enable scalable enterprise data integration.
• Perform source-to-target analysis and mapping, documenting transformations and integration requirements to ensure CDW consistency.
• Partner with data stewards, SMEs, DBAs, ETL developers, and source extraction teams across the data domain lifecycle, including maintenance outages and query optimization support.
• Create and deploy data models and metadata using the CDW Metadata Repository (MDR) Editor; contribute to tool enhancements that improve team workflows.
• Develop and maintain Data Domain Design Documents (DDDs) — including overviews, ERDs, source inventories, data lineage flows, business rules, and source-to-target mappings — along with supporting documentation for governance review.
• Ensure compliance with CDW standards, data governance policies, security requirements, and enterprise architecture guidelines.
• Investigate and resolve data quality issues (duplicates, invalid values/formats, orphaned references, inconsistencies) and respond to Helpdesk requests through root-cause analysis with technical and business teams.

Required Skills and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field with 14+ years of relevant experience; or a Master's degree with 10+ years of experience; or equivalent professional experience.
• Intermediate to advanced knowledge of healthcare data domains, with expertise analyzing clinical business operations and data interactions in Millennium.
• Ability to identify and handle PHI/PII across Millennium, VistA, ADR, MVI, GeoSpatial, PIT, Exam Management, and related systems.
• Advanced proficiency in T-SQL (queries, stored procedures, functions), indexing, partitioning, query optimization, and performance tuning.
• Experience with SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), and Power BI for data integration and visualization.
• Strong database design skills, including ERDs, data lineage flows, and conceptual/logical/physical data modeling.
• Expertise in scalable data architecture methodologies (Kimball, Inmon, Data Vault).
• Familiarity with database management tools such as Embarcadero or TOAD.
• Skilled in investigating and resolving data quality issues (e.g., duplicates, invalid formats, orphaned references) collaborating with extraction teams on resolution
• Familiarity with data governance processes, including data catalogs and CDW standards compliance.
• Strong collaboration skills working with SMEs, DBAs, ETL developers, and source extraction teams to maintain an integrated data environment.
• Experience supporting maintenance outages, query optimization, and data security compliance.
• Outstanding documentation skills, producing DDDs, ERDs, source-to-target mappings, and process documentation.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with large-scale healthcare relational databases (4,000+ objects).
• Knowledge of VA healthcare data security and cybersecurity architecture.
• Experience contributing to tool enhancements that improve team workflows.

Clearance required   

• Ability to obtain and maintain a suitability/Public Trust