Lead Data Architect (ML+Cloud) Independent Contractor

Data Architecture

• Design the end-to-end evergreen SQL data model including schema relationships indexing and storage strategy and update logic
• Architect ingestion transformation patterns data validation and update pipelines for research and external industry datasets.
• Create data governance rules and a lightweight MDM structure (taxonomy data lineage naming conventions data quality rules Canadian AI IP).

Machine Learning Enablement

• Design ML-ready data structures including feature stores and training datasets.
• Define algorithm selection considerations for the three ML-based tools.
• Architect the ML lifecycle: ingestion prep training deployment monitoring.

Cloud Architecture (Azure Preferred)

• Design the high-level cloud architecture for ReCovers public-facing web application.
• Recommend Azure services (SQL DB Blob Storage Data Factory App Services Functions Key Vault etc.).
• Define API and integration patterns across tools and databases.

Integration & Interfaces

• Design APIs or microservices for the 3 ML tools.
• Establish Git-based workflow for ML pipelines data engineering and cloud infrastructure code.
• Ensure seamless integration with internal systems and third-party data sources.

Security & Compliance

• Design authentication authorization and role-based access control.
• Establish data privacy standards and secure storage patterns.
• Develop a secure access model authentication strategy and best practices for privacy and compliance.

Documentation & Handoff

• Produce comprehensive architecture documentation diagrams and developer-ready design specifications.
• Create a long-term maintenance and support plan for internal adoption.
• Lead knowledge transfer with the internal DBA and development team.

• 7 years in data engineering data architecture and/or ML architecture.
• Experience with cloud-based data platforms (Azure strongly preferred).
• Strong SQL/relational data modelling.
• Strong documentation / diagramming capabilities
• API design fundamentals
• Experience designing ETL/ELT pipelines (feature engineering model lifecycle).
• Experience in architecting public-facing cloud applications.
• Proven ability to lead or support requirements discovery with non-technical users translating business and user needs into clear architectural patterns data structures and technical constraints.
• Strong Git/GitHub version control skills including branching strategies code reviews and collaborative repo management.
• Experience in small/startup environments (bonus).

Deliverables

• Evergreen SQL database architecture schema
• Data ingestion update pipeline design
• ML architecture feature store design for 3 tools
• Cloud application architecture (public-facing)
• Security access and governance model
• Integration/API design
• Long-term support & maintenance plan
• Full documentation diagrams handoff

The ReCover Initiative was founded in 2020 with a mission to develop deep retrofit solutions that respond to the climate crisis at speed and scale. We achieve our mission through research and development programs and services to building owners and capacity-building activities for industry.

As the deep retrofit accelerator for Atlantic Canada we are creating alliances to transform the building sector in Atlantic Canada.

We are funded by NRCAN the Trottier Family Foundation the Echo Foundation the McConnell Foundation and the Halifax Climate Investment Innovation and Impact (HCi3) Fund.

Our headquarters is in Nova Scotia. We acknowledge that we are in Mikmaki the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mikmaq People.

Were looking to hire an independent contractor to complete this work. We expect this person to start working with us by March 2026 and continue for 6 months with the possibility for an extension.

Ideally this person will be located in Atlantic Canada but we are open to someone situated across Canada who has the flexibility to meet during core AST working hours.