Senior Databricks / Snowflake Data Architect – BestX
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We are seeking an experienced Senior Databricks / Snowflake Data Architect to join the BestX engineering team. In this role, you will lead the design and evolution of BestX's next-generation cloud-native data platform, leveraging Databricks, Snowflake, and modern data engineering technologies to support multi-asset Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), analytics, and reporting capabilities.
The ideal candidate combines strong data architecture expertise with a hands-on engineering mindset and a passion for evaluating emerging technologies. You will help shape the strategic direction of our data platform through rapid prototyping, proof-of-concepts, and scalable production implementations
Key Responsibilities
Design and develop the architecture for BestX's next-generation multi-asset TCA and analytics platform
Lead technology evaluations, proof-of-concepts, and rapid prototyping initiatives across modern data platforms and cloud-native technologies
Architect and implement scalable data Lakehouse solutions using Databricks, Snowflake, and cloud-native services
Design high-performance data models, ingestion frameworks, and transformation pipelines supporting both real-time and batch processing workloads
Establish best practices for data governance, lineage, security, metadata management, and platform observability
Build and optimise analytical platforms capable of processing large-scale market, transaction, and reference datasets
Work closely with quantitative researchers, product teams, and engineering teams to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions
Define architectural standards and technology roadmaps for data warehousing, Lakehouse, streaming, and AI/ML workloads
Drive adoption of modern Agile, DevOps, CI/CD, Infrastructure-as-Code, and DataOps practices
Develop a strong understanding of Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), best execution workflows, and relevant regulatory requirements including MiFID II and MiFIR
Mentor engineering teams and provide technical leadership across strategic platform initiatives
Take ownership of architecture decisions from concept through production delivery
Core Skills and Experience
Experience in designing and implementing enterprise-scale data platforms.
Strong hands-on experience with Databricks, including Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Spark, Structured Streaming, and Lakehouse architecture
Strong hands-on experience with Snowflake, including data modelling, performance optimisation, Snowpark, data sharing, and governance capabilities
Expertise in Apache Spark, Python, SQL, and modern ELT/ETL frameworks
Proven ability to rapidly evaluate, prototype, and compare emerging technologies and architectural patterns
Experience designing large-scale analytical platforms supporting high-volume and high-velocity datasets
Strong understanding of data architecture principles including dimensional modelling, Data Vault, Lakehouse methodologies, and distributed computing
Experience with cloud platforms, preferably AWS, including services such as S3, EMR, Glue, ECS/EKS, Lambda, and related analytics services
Experience building streaming architectures using technologies such as Kafka, Spark Streaming, Event Bridge, or equivalent
Deep understanding of data governance, security, lineage, and regulatory controls in financial services environments
Strong software engineering and DevOps mindset, including CI/CD and Infrastructure-as-Code
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, capable of influencing architecture decisions across multiple teams
Preferred Skills
Experience building analytics platforms for capital markets, including FX, Fixed Income, Equities, or Derivatives
Knowledge of Transaction Cost Analysis (TCA), execution analytics, and market microstructure
Experience with AI/ML platforms, feature stores, and MLOps frameworks
Experience evaluating alternative analytical databases such as DuckDB, ClickHouse, Redshift, BigQuery, KDB+, or Apache Iceberg-based architectures
Experience with data catalogue and governance platforms
Exposure to modern visualisation and BI tools such as Power BI, Tableau, Sigma, or ThoughtSpot
Experience leading cloud migration or platform modernisation initiatives
Experience operating in highly regulated financial services environments
Across the globe, institutional investors rely on us to help them manage risk, respond to challenges, and drive performance and profitability. We keep our clients at the heart of everything we do, and smart, engaged employees are essential to our continued success.
We are committed to fostering an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to reach their full potential. As an essential partner in our shared success, you’ll benefit from inclusive development opportunities, flexible work-life support, paid volunteer days, and vibrant employee networks that keep you connected to what matters most. Join us in shaping the future.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we consider all qualified applicants for all positions without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, marital status, domestic partnership or civil union status, familial status, military and veteran status, and other characteristics protected by applicable law.
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How we rate this
Senior Databricks / Snowflake Data Architect – BestX at State Street rates 16 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Open the description and count.
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Skills and AI tools this role asks for
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- List these exact terms on your resume: ML Ops and Databricks. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them — a tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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