AHCCCS

Address:  150 N 18th Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Must Reside in Arizona.

Salary: $90,000 - $105,000 

Grade: 29

FLSA Status: Exempt

Closing Date: Open Until Filled

This position may offer the ability to work remotely, within Arizona, based upon the agency’s business needs and continual meeting of expected performance measures.

A career in public service awaits you. COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

A great benefit of working for the State of Arizona is a fantastic work/life balance. State employees enjoy challenging work, popular remote work options, comprehensive health and wellness benefits, and career growth opportunities. The State of Arizona ranks #30 in Healthiest 100 Workplaces in America! This recognition honors organizations that champion employee wellbeing through innovative health programs, inclusive wellness initiatives, and a culture rooted in care.

The Enterprise Data & AI Platform Architect at the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) provides advanced technical and architectural expertise in designing, modernizing, and operating AHCCCS’s enterprise data and AI platform. Reporting to the Data Warehouse Manager, this pivotal role steers the transformation of legacy systems into a secure, scalable, Microsoft-based ecosystem centered on Microsoft Fabric, Azure data services, and enterprise governance frameworks.

The position is responsible for defining and implementing enterprise data architecture standards that enable advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning capabilities. The Architect ensures platform reliability, performance optimization, regulatory compliance, DevOps maturity, and AI enablement architecture aligned with the Chief Data Officer’s strategic vision, while guiding and mentoring technical teams supporting the platform.

This role provides enterprise-wide architectural leadership across systems, platforms, and data domains supporting Arizona’s Medicaid program. The Architect designs, develops, and maintains enterprise-level data solutions that support claims processing, eligibility systems, provider networks, member services, regulatory reporting, and population health initiatives. The position is instrumental in modernizing AHCCCS’s data infrastructure using Microsoft’s cloud and analytics platform while maintaining integration with existing enterprise systems and ensuring HIPAA compliance, data governance, and long-term scalability.

The Architect partners closely with the Chief Data Officer, business stakeholders, and IT leadership to align enterprise data strategy with AHCCCS mission objectives, while overseeing architectural standards and best practices across the enterprise data platform.

Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• Data Architecture & Design: Design and implement scalable enterprise data architecture solutions using Microsoft Fabric as the primary analytics platform. Develop comprehensive data models, data flow diagrams, and architectural blueprints aligned with AHCCCS business objectives. Design end-to-end data solutions including ingestion, transformation, storage, semantic modeling, and consumption layers. Ensure architecture supports real-time analytics, reporting, operational workflows, and AI enablement. Create and maintain enterprise data standards, policies, and architectural governance documentation.
• Platform Implementation & Integration: Lead implementation of Microsoft Fabric components including Data Factory, Synapse Analytics, Power BI, and Data Activator. Design and optimize Azure data services including Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, Cosmos DB, and Azure Databricks. Integrate legacy systems including Informatica PowerCenter/IICS for ETL processes and IBM Cognos for enterprise reporting. Develop integration strategies between on-premises and cloud environment. Implement data governance frameworks using Microsoft Purview.
• Healthcare Data Management & Compliance: Design HIPAA-compliant data architectures ensuring privacy, security, and regulatory compliance. Work with healthcare data standards including HL7, FHIR, X12 EDI, and CMS data specifications. Architect solutions supporting claims data, eligibility systems, provider networks, and member information. Support population health analytics, quality measure reporting, and actuarial analysis requirements.
• Leadership, Oversight & Collaboration: Guide and mentor data engineers and technical staff supporting the enterprise data platform. Oversee and review technical work to ensure alignment with established architectural standards and best practices. Collaborate with business stakeholders, analysts, security, and compliance teams to translate requirements into technical solutions. Lead proof-of-concept initiatives and evaluate emerging technologies. Document architectural decisions, design patterns, and best practices.
• AI Enablement Architecture: Design AI-ready data architectures supporting machine learning, predictive analytics, and advanced AI workloads. Establish data patterns to support model development, feature engineering, and AI lifecycle integration. Ensure lineage, transparency, governance, and compliance frameworks for responsible AI usage. Enable integration of Fabric, Azure AI services, Power Platform, and advanced analytics tools.
• Performance, Optimization & Operational Oversight: Optimize data pipelines for performance, cost-efficiency, scalability, and reliability. Implement data quality frameworks and monitoring solutions. Design disaster recovery and business continuity strategies. Establish performance benchmarks and SLAs for enterprise data systems.

Knowledge:
• Enterprise data and AI platform architecture principles
• Microsoft Fabric architecture and components
• Azure services including Data Factory, Synapse Analytics, Azure SQL, Data Lake Storage, Cosmos DB, and Azure Databricks
• Advanced data modeling methodologies (dimensional modeling, data vault, lakehouse patterns)
• Data governance, metadata management, and Microsoft Purview
• Healthcare data standards including HL7, FHIR, X12, and CMS specifications
• HIPAA and regulatory compliance requirements
• DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and Infrastructure as Code
• Integration patterns between on-premises and cloud systems

Skills:
• Designing enterprise-scale data and AI platform solutions
• Providing technical leadership in platform modernization initiatives
• Influencing and mentoring technical teams in implementing architectural standards and best practices
• Performance tuning and cost optimization in cloud environments
• Translating business objectives into architectural solutions
• Communicating complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Implementing DevOps and automated deployment pipelines

Abilities:
• Develop and execute long-term enterprise data architecture roadmaps
• Balance operational stability with modernization efforts
• Lead cross-functional collaboration across organizational boundaries
• Analyze complex business problems and design scalable data solutions
• Maintain meticulous attention to data quality and documentation
• Adapt to evolving technologies and priorities
• Build strong internal and external stakeholder relationships

Minimum:
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or related field and Seven (7) or more years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or related roles to include hands-on experience with Microsoft Azure cloud services, hands-on experience with Power BI, hands-on experience with Microsoft Fabric, and Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions (or equivalent experience).

Preferred:
• Master’s degree in related field. Experience with Microsoft Fabric, Synapse Analytics and Power BI, experience in healthcare, government, Medicaid/Medicare programs,or insurance or public sector data environments, Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate. Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert. Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate, Microsoft Certified: Fabric Data Engineer Engineer Associate, Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate, familiarity with Informatica PowerCenter/IICS, familiarity with IBM Cognos Analytics, Python or PySpark experience, Databricks experience, TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture certification.

• Successfully pass fingerprint background check, prior employment verifications and reference checks; employment is contingent upon completion of the above-mentioned process and the agency’s ability to reasonably accommodate any restrictions.
• Travel may be required for State business. Employees who drive on state business must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

Among the many benefits of a career with the State of Arizona, there are:
• 10 paid holidays per year
• Paid Vacation and Sick time off (13 and 12 days per year respectively) - start earning it your 1st day (prorated for part-time employees)
• Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child. Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here.
• Other Leaves - Bereavement, civic duty, and military.
• A top-ranked retirement program with lifetime pension benefits
• A robust and affordable insurance plan, including medical, dental, life, and disability insurance
• Participation eligibility in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (must meet qualifications)
• RideShare and Public Transit Subsidy
• A variety of learning and career development opportunities

By providing the option of a full-time or part-time remote work schedule, employees enjoy improved work/life balance, report higher job satisfaction, and are more productive. Remote work is a management option and not an employee entitlement or right. An agency may terminate a remote work agreement at its discretion.

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Lifetime Pension Benefit Program
• Administered through the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
• Defined benefit plan that provides for life-long income upon retirement.
• Required participation for Long-Term Disability (LTD) and ASRS Retirement plan.
• Pre-taxed payroll contributions begin after a 27-week waiting period (prior contributions may waive the waiting period).

Deferred Retirement Compensation Program
• Voluntary participation.
• Program administered through Nationwide.
• Tax-deferred retirement investments through payroll deductions.

Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing careers@azahcccs.gov.
Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer.