DATA ARCHITECT 1
Career Family: DATA ARCHITECT
To land Data Architect 1 in New Jersey you go through the competitive route: you sit an announced exam and the score puts you on the eligible list agencies hire from.
A master's degree is the listed credential, and extra years on the job can be traded for it. The FY2026 range lands between $80,756 and $118,678.
How to get hired
- Watch for an open-competitive announcement for Data Architect 1 on the NJ Civil Service Commission jobs portal. Announcements run for a fixed filing window.
- Apply during that window and sit the examination. Depending on the title, that can be a written test, a rating of your training and experience, or a mix of the two.
- Passing scores go onto a ranked eligible list. Veterans get preference points added on top of their score.
- When an agency has a vacancy it must appoint from the top of that list under the "Rule of Three." Many competitive jobs are first filled provisionally while the list is being built.
Read the official specification at NJ Civil Service Commission.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator.
Definition
Under limited supervision of a Data Architect 2 or supervisory officer within an Information Technology unit of a State Department or Agency, is responsible for logical data modeling, analysis, design, development, and implementation of Data Modeling, Data Integration, or Data Warehousing solutions using Data Management technologies; may administer technologies related to Data Modeling, Data Integration, and Data Warehousing; may coordinate Data Modeling, Data Integration, and Data Warehousing projects; may work independently on data modeling projects; does other related duties as required.
Examples of work
May participate in Joint Application Development (JAD) meetings or business requirements gathering sessions with all levels of Information Technology and/or Information Management staff, business management, and business users, to enable the development of fully-attributed logical business and data models in support of Data Management solutions. Creates logical models as entity-relationship diagrams to document the entities, attributes, relationships, and business rules of a business domain or subject area. Produces physical data models from the logical data and business models adding metadata, system attributes, de-normalized columns, and physical-only tables as required. Generates data description language (DDL) from physical data models for database administrators to use in creating the physical database. Maintains data models, metadata documents, and data processing document files that are essential for project design and implementation for all Data Management solutions. Creates business rules and requirements for data integration processes, provides guidance and support to data integration developers by documenting rules and procedures required to transform, process, and load data from multiple source systems; creates and maintains the data dictionary and source-to-target data mapping documentation as necessary. Provides technical guidance for the integration of data from multiple independent, heterogeneous data sources; documents the integration and matching of information from different sources; serves as a subject matter expert in the resolution of data quality conflicts. Works on Data Modeling, Data Integration or Data Warehousing projects independently or as a member of a team; coordinates work efforts by acting as liaison between Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and Data Management Developers to ensure successful design and implementation of data processing components for data warehouses; identifies work efforts involved inside and outside of the scope of a particular project. May participate in the presentation of recommendations and reports to higher levels of staff, including management; prepares project status documentation as needed; develops and monitors project schedule and deliverables. Analyzes data integration errors and works with data integration teams to provide solutions and improve data quality. Analyzes reporting requirements and assists Business Intelligence developers in the design and implementation of data warehouse reporting environments. Creates, reviews, and maintains Data Management naming standards and best practices; periodically reviews the State's Common Information Architecture document for efficiency and effectiveness and recommends revisions as necessary; assists in designing new policies and standards as required. May participate in Logical and Physical Architecture Review (LSAR and PSAR) meetings to guide logical and physical development of Data Management solutions. Prepares clear, accurate, and informative statistical and narrative reports containing findings, analysis, conclusions, and recommendations; maintains or supervises the maintenance of essential records and files; prepares correspondence in the course of official duties. Maintains current knowledge of Data Management technologies and the latest trends by attending seminars and webinars in order to support information system needs. Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
Knowledge of the differences between logical (conceptual) data modeling and physical database design, and the purpose and proper application of logical data modeling in an enterprise. Knowledge of the rules of data normalization, the various normal forms of data, and the purpose of generalization and sub-typing in logical data modeling. Knowledge of information technology and familiarity with information design patterns, technology practices, policies, and procedures. Knowledge of and ability to use various Data Modeling, Data Management, and general productivity tools and technologies. Knowledge of techniques used to evaluate and analyze the capabilities of existing and proposed Data Management solutions. Knowledge of multiple modeling techniques, such as Entity-Relationship, Object-Relational, and Dimensional modeling, and different modeling perspectives such as Conceptual, Logical and Physical. Ability to analyze operational business processes and determine critical data needs, translate these needs into the logical normalized data model, and determine/resolve the data/process gaps necessary to ensure both system process and data flow. Ability to produce fully normalized and fully attributed logical business and data models independent of a physical database design or technology, and to capture all known business rules, including relationships and domain constraints. Ability to coordinate activities with other information technology staff in the development of complex Data Management solutions. Ability to communicate effectively between subject matter experts and developers to ensure accurate translation of business needs to implementation initiatives. Ability to identify and communicate risks to project timetables, deliverables, or scope. Ability to analyze problem conditions affecting data quality or the performance of Data Management solutions, and then arrive at realistic solutions. Ability to prepare clear, sound, and accurate documentation of business rules and source-to-target mapping necessary to share with developers and business units for Data Management initiatives. Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and informative reports and documentation on Data Modeling and Data Management matters. Ability to maintain records and files. Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication. Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed. Applicants must meet one of the following or a combination of both experience and education. Thirty (30) semester hour credits are equal to one (1) year of relevant experience. Seven (7) years of professional experience in systems analysis and design, data modeling, and/or data warehousing solutions delivery, one (1) year of which shall have been primarily in logical data modeling. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; and three (3) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been primarily in logical data modeling. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree in computer science or computer/information technology; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been primarily in logical data modeling. OR Possession of a master's degree in computer science or computer/information technology; and two (2) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been primarily in logical data modeling. OR Possession of a bachelor's degree in computer or computer/information technology plus a master's degree in computer science or computer/information technology; and one (1) year of professional experience which shall have been primarily in logical data modeling. OR Possession of an associate's degree in computer science or computer/information technology; and five (5) years of the above-mentioned professional experience, one (1) year of which shall have been primarily in logical data modeling. "Professional experience" refers to work that is creative, analytical, evaluative, and interpretive; requires a range and depth of specialized knowledge of the profession's principles, concepts, theories, and practices; and is performed with the authority to act according to one's own judgment and make accurate and informed decisions.