The Short Version

A data architect designs how data flows through your organization. Not just the technical plumbing - the decisions about what gets captured, where it lives, who owns it, and how different systems talk to each other. If you’re wondering what data architecture is before diving into the role, start there.

Data engineers build the bricks. A data architect owns the blueprint.

Without that blueprint, each team builds what works for them. Marketing’s database doesn’t talk to Sales’ database. Finance pulls data manually. Everything works alone but breaks when you try to connect it.

Here’s what that looks like in practice: Your sales team wants a dashboard showing customer lifetime value. Marketing needs the same data for campaign targeting. Finance needs it for forecasting. Without an architect, you end up with three different calculations of “customer lifetime value,” each built by different people, using different formulas, giving different answers. That’s not a dashboard problem - it’s an architecture problem.

How It Differs From Other Data Roles

Data Engineer - Builds and maintains pipelines, writes transformations, keeps data flowing. Focuses on “how do we move this data from A to B?”

Data Analyst - Explores data, builds reports, answers business questions. Focuses on “what does this data tell us?”

Database Administrator (DBA) - Manages database performance, security, backups. Focuses on “is this database healthy?”

Data Scientist - Builds models, runs experiments, extracts insights from data. Focuses on “what patterns can we find and predict?”

ML Engineer - Deploys and maintains machine learning models in production. Focuses on “how do we make this model work reliably at scale?”

The architect connects these roles. They ask the cross-team questions: What breaks when requirements change? Who owns this output? Are we building the right thing, or just building something fast?

What a Data Architect Actually Does

Day to day, the work looks like:

  • System design - Deciding how data flows across the organization, which tools belong in the stack (and which don’t), and how different parts of the company share data
  • Standards and governance - Setting patterns so teams don’t reinvent the wheel or create incompatible silos
  • Trade-off decisions - Making cost, complexity, and capability trade-offs visible before they become expensive
  • Technical leadership - Reviewing designs, mentoring engineers, and sometimes saying no to quick fixes that will cost more to undo later
  • Cross-team alignment - Translating between business needs and technical implementation, often across multiple teams with competing priorities

In other words: if it affects multiple teams or lasts longer than one project, the architect owns it.

When You Need One

You probably don’t need a data architect if:

  • Your data fits in a single database
  • One or two engineers handle everything
  • Requirements are stable and well-understood

You probably do need one if:

  • Pipelines keep breaking at the worst times
  • Cloud costs are rising faster than revenue
  • Stakeholders don’t fully trust the numbers
  • Customer data lives in dozens of disconnected places
  • You’re preparing for a funding round and realize your data isn’t investor-ready
  • Everyone is busy, but nothing gets structurally better

Most companies hire a data architect after the chaos starts, not before. Fixing problems baked into your foundation costs more than preventing them - think ripping out plumbing after the house is built.

Full-Time vs. Fractional vs. Consultant

Large enterprises hire full-time data architects. For startups, scaleups, and SMEs, that often doesn’t make sense - you need experienced architecture guidance, but not someone full-time.

Fractional data architect: Works with 2-4 companies at a time, typically 2-3 days per week each. You get senior architecture leadership without a full-time salary or long hiring process.

Data architect consultant: Shorter-term engagement for specific projects like platform reviews, architecture audits, or major decisions. Brings outside perspective without ongoing commitment.

Most companies bring in fractional architecture help when they realize their current approach won’t scale, or hire a data architect consultant for one-time assessments and major platform decisions.

Not Sure If You Need Architecture Help?

Ask yourself:

  • Do you have someone who owns decisions that affect multiple teams?
  • When was the last time someone said “no” to a quick fix that would create problems later?
  • Could your current data platform support 3x your current load?
  • Do your stakeholders trust the numbers in your dashboards?

If you answered “no” to most of these, you might benefit from architecture help. If you answered “yes” to all of them, you probably don’t need one yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a data architect do?
A data architect designs how data flows through an organization. They make decisions about data storage, integration patterns, governance standards, and how different systems communicate. They own the blueprint that data engineers implement.
When should a company hire a data architect?
You likely need a data architect when pipelines break frequently, cloud costs rise faster than revenue, stakeholders don’t trust the numbers, or customer data lives in dozens of disconnected places. Most companies hire after chaos starts - but fixing foundational problems costs more than preventing them.
What is the difference between a data architect and a data engineer?
Data engineers build and maintain pipelines - they focus on moving data from A to B. Data architects own the blueprint - they make cross-team decisions about standards, governance, and system design. Engineers build the bricks; architects design the building.
What is a fractional data architect?
A fractional data architect works with 2-4 companies simultaneously, typically 2-3 days per week each. This model gives startups and scaleups access to senior architecture leadership without a full-time salary or lengthy hiring process.
How much does a data architect cost?
Full-time senior data architects cost €150-250K+ annually in total compensation. Fractional data architects charge daily rates, making them cost-effective for companies that need senior guidance but not full-time coverage. The investment prevents much larger costs from technical debt and failed projects.

Need Architecture Help?

If you’re evaluating whether to bring in a data architect, I offer a free 30-minute call to discuss your situation. No pitch - just an honest assessment of whether architecture help makes sense for your stage.

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Last updated: 3 February 2026