Principal Data & Solution Architect

Job Description

The Principal Data / Solution Architect is the senior hands-on architect responsible for designing the reusable data and solution architectures that power the enterprise’s data and digital products through MVP. Reporting to the Senior Director, Data & Digital Product Solution Architecture, this role translates architectural direction into concrete, buildable designs on the centralized, enterprise-agnostic medallion architecture models.

This is a deep-expertise individual contributor role — the technical authority on data modeling, solution design, and the medallion architecture (Bronze/Silver/Gold). The Principal Architect works shoulder-to-shoulder with Data Engineering, Data Analysis & Products, Digital Product, and Analytics teams to design reusable assets, refactor bespoke work governed sources, and apply AI and automation to compress modeling time.

This role is a critical execution counterpart to the engineering teams, ensuring that architectural intent is realized in production-ready, reusable designs rather than-off builds. The Principal Architect sets the technical standard others build against and mentors engineers and analysts on architecture and modeling best practices.

Key Responsibilities

Data & Solution Architecture

Design the reusable, scalable, enterprise-agnostic data models and solution architectures that underpin the enterprise medallion architecture.

Produce concrete architecture artifacts — data models, solution blueprints, reference patterns, and design specifications — that engineering and product teams build against.

Translate the Senior Director’s architectural direction into buildable, production-ready designs aligned to enterprise standards.

Modeling & Silver-Layer Design

Own the design of the medallion architecture, ensuring data is structured for reuse across multiple use cases rather than bespoke consumption.

Define transformation logic, data relationships, semantics, and readiness criteria needed by Data Engineering and Analysis teams.

Refactor raw, bespoke solutions the centralized, agnostic Silver model so value is captured and reused many times.

AI-Accelerated Design & Automation

Apply AI and automation to accelerate modeling, design, and documentation — compressing the modeling cycle that has historically slowed the path to production.

Build and reuse accelerators, templates, and design patterns that turn learning-stage work into durable, production-ready assets.

Embed human-in-the-loop checkpoints so acceleration never bypasses governance, security, or quality expectations.

Hands-On Delivery & Integration

Partner directly with Data Engineering to ensure designs are implemented faithfully and promoted to production through governed CI/CD pipelines.

Integrate data and digital product solutions shared, reusable sources, ensuring alignment with the enterprise medallion model.

Validate that engineered datasets, data products, and integrated solutions reflect the architectural design and support reuse.

Technical Standards & Mentorship

Serve as the technical authority on data and solution architecture, setting patterns and standards others build against.

Mentor and guide engineers and analysts on modeling, architecture, and reusable design best practices.

Contribute to the centralized library of reusable models, patterns, and components so every asset compounds the value of the next.

Required Experience & Capabilities

Deep, hands-on experience as a data architect and/or solution architect in a complex enterprise data environment.

Expert knowledge of medallion architecture (Bronze/Silver/Gold), reusable data modeling, and enterprise-agnostic data design.

Proven ability to translate architectural direction into concrete, buildable data models and solution designs.

Strong hands-on experience refactoring bespoke solutions into reusable, production-ready assets.

Working knowledge of CI/CD pipelines, automated code evaluation, and controlled promotion to production.

Demonstrated ability to apply AI and automation to accelerate modeling and design while preserving quality and governance.

Strong technical communication and mentorship skills; experience in complex, regulated enterprises preferred.

Measures of Success

Architecture and design artifacts are reusable, scalable, and consistently adopted across use cases.

Bespoke and raw solutions are consistently refactored reusable, agnostic Silver sources.

Modeling and design cycle time is measurably reduced through AI and automation.

Designs are implemented faithfully and reach production through governed, automated pipelines.

Engineers and analysts adopt the architectural patterns and standards the role establishes.

Acceleration is achieved without compromising governance, quality, or security controls.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 151,600 - 252,600 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus and long term incentive plan.

At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental, and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year, paid holidays, and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs, https://jobs.thecignagroup.com/us/en/benefits click here.

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

_If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process, please email _mailto:[email protected] _

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__ for assistance.  Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes._

_The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment

• These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State._

_Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances. _