Enterprise Data Architect

We are seeking a highly skilled and collaborative Data Architect to join our Enterprise Architecture team. This role is pivotal in shaping how data is organized, governed, and utilized across the entire organization.  The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of enterprise data ecosystems and be passionate about enabling data-driven decision-making through well-architected solutions.  As an enterprise architect, you will play a crucial role in designing and optimizing systems and processes that directly contribute to business value.

The primary responsibility of the architect is to work within the A&F (Abercrombie & Fitch) Digital and Technology organization and business community to ensure systems are architected utilizing industry best practices and within the guidelines set forth by A&F.

Drive designs and patterns on multiple projects including our underlying data platforms and other projects that will meet enterprise requirements for scale and reliability while transforming the architecture to a modern footprint. Facilitate design sessions with architects and tech leaders to design solutions which meet enterprise standards.

Additionally, the architect will be responsible for understanding emerging technology architectures for data, cloud, AI, microservices, integration patterns, and DevOps pipelines to make recommendations for incorporating appropriate emerging architectures into future A&F roadmaps

What Will You Be Doing? 

• Enterprise Data Strategy & Roadmapping
  • In partnership with Data Strategy teams, determine the business and technical capabilities needed to align strategies with execution.
  • Own and author data capability maps aligned with business functions.
  • Translate business needs into domain-aligned data models
  • Act as a Strategic Though Partner and Enabler of AI/ML initiatives
  • Advise business and technology leaders on AI-readiness of systems and platforms, bridging gaps between operational data systems, cloud platforms, and AI/ML deployment environments. 
  • Identify opportunities for data reuse, integration, and optimization to drive necessary change.
  • Champion the development of data products that bridge the gap between engineering and business teams.
  • Define data architecture and analytics capabilities to enable real-time visibility, predictive modeling, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Leverage data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for process improvement and innovation.
  • Serve as subject matter expert and a leader inside our AICoE and CCoE
  • Adopt and Adapt a Federated, Product-Centric Model to our ways of working 
  • Participate in our architecture review process by presenting data centric topics for review and discussion.
  • Model the Enterprise Data Architecture, its components and connections, references
  • Deliver AI/data ready solutions from trusted data sources and high-quality at scale 
  • Identify and inventory enterprise data sources, lakes, and warehouses.
  • Enable and architect the data flows/structures that support performant reporting and dashboarding via PowerBi and other reporting tools.
  • Evaluate new technologies and frameworks that improve data agility and insight generation.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Champion the vision and priorities of Data teams across the enterprise.
  • Become a trusted partner within our data teams, tech services, and business units to understand data needs, and recommend strategic efforts to drive the teams forward.
  • Collaborate with senior executives, business stakeholders, and cross-functional teams to understand business objectives, goals, and requirements. Translate business strategies into technology solutions and create roadmaps for implementing architectural changes and improvements.
  • Collaborate deeply with data teams, product owners, marketing, supply chain, and digital commerce leaders to co-create AI use cases that drive tangible business value.
  • Collaborate with analytics, AI/ML, and business intelligence teams to ensure data is usable and trusted.
  • Act as a bridge between enterprise architecture and data & analytics teams advocating for data standards during designs.
  • Collaborate with technology teams and external partners to ensure seamless integration with systems/processes.
  • Identify opportunities for data sharing, interoperability, and real-time visibility, including suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and retail stores. 
  • Research and assess emerging technologies, solutions, and tools that can enhance business goals. Evaluate vendor offerings and make recommendations for technology adoption, considering factors such as scalability, interoperability, security, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Advise on steps to achieve modernization goals and ensure adherence to A&F architectural standards.
  • Provide architectural guidance and oversight throughout the project lifecycle, from requirements gathering and design to implementation and post-deployment support. 
• Data Governance & Compliance
  • Implement AI-First Governance and Security Frameworks
  • Define and help implement data classification, lineage, and stewardship practices directly with Data & Analytics teams to ensure effective data management and governance.
  • Proactively support the use of observability tools for data (SLAs, freshness, quality) to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
  • Facilitate alignment on data standards, classifications, and consumption models.
  • Partner with information security teams on best practices ensuring that data is safe and secure.
  • Work to continually improve real time metadata management and dynamic lineage via tools and practices
  • Champion data governance, privacy, and compliance (GDPR, CCPA, PCI), ensuring alignment with internal policies and external regulations. 
• Platform & Integration Guidance
  • Provide architectural guidance (via standards) on how and where to consume data from enterprise platforms.
  • Create reusable patterns for integrating core systems and their data.
  • Ensure scalability, performance, and security of data solutions.
• Documentation & Enablement
  • Create and maintain architectural artifacts, including data flow diagrams, reference architectures, and standards.
  • Educate stakeholders on data architecture principles and best practices.
  • Develop, train, and mentor other architects both through project work and/or POC (Proof of Concept) work. This includes regular technical updates to the team, informal and formal training sessions, and 1-1 coaching.
  • Serve as an advanced technical leader and as such, a role model both technically and behaviorally 
  • Document architectural standards and design patterns for reference in decision-making, development and build practices. Ensure leverage and use of the architectural practices and other standards are built into future and existing projects.

What Do You Need To Bring? 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field; advanced degree preferred, or combination of relevant skills and experience
• 10+ years of experience in technical leadership within large-scale organizations (retail experience preferred).
• Proven expertise in enterprise data architecture, ideally in cross-functional or federated environments.
• Strong understanding of data modeling, metadata management, and data integration.
• Experience with modern data platforms (Snowflake, Databricks), cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), and streaming technologies (Kafka, Spark).
• Practical experience designing production-ready cloud platforms and implementing AI/ML models at scale
• Demonstrable experience with data governance tools, semantic models and frameworks.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and change leadership skills.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into actionable business value.
• Experience with integration technologies and standards (API, EDI, Streaming).
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices, containerization, and agile/DevOps methodologies.
• Strong knowledge of retail industry trends, challenges, and best practices.
• Familiarity with Generative and Agentic AI components and protocols: SML, LLM, MCP, A2B, ACP

Preferred Skills

• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF, Zachman).
• Proficiency with architecture software tools supporting data architecture across the organization.
• Background in business intelligence, analytics, or data science.
• Exposure to data mesh, data fabric, and modern metadata management

Our Company  

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is a global, digitally led omnichannel specialty retailer of apparel and accessories catering to kids through millennials with assortments curated for their specific lifestyle needs. 

The company operates a family of brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch, YPB, abercrombie kids, Hollister and Gilly Hicks, each sharing a commitment to offer products of enduring quality and exceptional comfort that support global customers on their journey to being and becoming who they are. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. operates over 750 stores under these brands across North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the e-commerce sites , , and  

At Abercrombie & Fitch Co., we lead with purpose and always put our people first. We're proud to offer equitable compensation and benefits, including flexibility and competitive Paid Time Off, as well as education and engagement events, including various Associate Resource Groups, volunteer opportunities and additional time off to give back to our global communities.  

Benefits & Perks  

As an Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (A&F Co.) associate, you'll be eligible to participate in a variety of benefit programs designed to fit you and your lifestyle. A&F Co. is committed to providing competitive and comprehensive benefits that align with our company's culture and values, but most importantly – with you We also provide competitive incentives to reward the commitment our associates have for moving our global business forward:  

• Incentive bonus program
• 401(K) savings plan with company match
• Annual companywide review process 
• Flexible spending accounts 
• Medical, dental and vision insurance 
• Life and disability insurance 
• Associate assistance program 
• Paid parental and adoption leave 
• Access to fertility and adoption benefits through Carrot 
• Access to mental health and wellness app, Headspace
• Paid Caregiver Leave
• Mobile Stipend
• Paid time off and one paid volunteer day per year, allowing you to give back to your community 
• Work from anywhere (Mondays and Fridays are "work from anywhere" days for most roles and six work from anywhere weeks per year) 
• Seven associate wellness half days per year 
• Merchandise discount on all of our brands 
• Opportunities for career advancement, we believe in promoting from within 
• Access to multiple Associate Resource Groups 
• Global team of people who will celebrate you for being YOU 

ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

This role allows for remote work across the U.S.. Therefore, in states and cities that require the hourly or salary compensation or pay range to be included in a job posting, the recruiting pay range for this position is $167,000 - $184,000. Factors that may be used to determine your actual salary may include your specific skills, your years of experience, your work location, comparison to other employees in similar or related roles, or market demands. The range may be modified in the future.