Manager, Platform Architecture

Job Description Job Title: Manager, Platform Architecture Req Id: 3010 Work Model: Hybrid Company: Altria Client Services State/Province: Virginia Job Description: Design and govern an enterprise-scale data platform on Microsoft Azure and Databricks for a fortune 500 company with some of the most iconic brands! Have a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems or a related field? Have five years in data engineering, data platform engineering, or cloud data architecture with architecture ownership at scale, including 3+ years architecting solutions on Azure Databricks? If so, we want to speak with you! We are actively recruiting a Manager, Platform Architecture , to join our team in Richmond, VA. This role will own the architectural blueprint for a unified Lakehouse ingestion, transformation, governance, and serving, that powers analytics, data engineering, and AI/ML across the organization. The architect sets technical standards, leads architecture decisions across initiatives, partners across IT and with external delivery partners, and connects platform investments to business value, while balancing performance, security, scalability, and cost. This is a strategic architecture and leadership role rather than a hands-on engineering position. Platform Architecture: Own the reference architecture for the Azure + Databricks Lakehouse — medallion design, Delta Lake standards, and Unity Catalog and multi-workspace topology. Cross-Functional IT Partnership: Partner with enterprise IT — cloud infrastructure, network engineering, and security teams — to co-design landing zones, connectivity, and platform guardrails aligned to enterprise standards and shared services. Vendor & Managed Service Oversight: Provide architectural direction and quality governance to managed service providers and system integrators; define standards and acceptance criteria, review deliverables, set and monitor SLAs, and hold partners accountable to the reference architecture and security controls. CI/CD & Automation: Establish Infrastructure-as-Code and CI/CD standards (Azure DevOps / GitHub Actions, Terraform, Databricks Asset Bundles) for repeatable, governed delivery across environments. Performance & Cost Optimization (FinOps): Drive tuning and cost-efficiency across compute, pipelines, and SQL workloads; embed FinOps discipline, tagging, and chargeback. Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Run proofs-of-concept, pilot emerging Azure/Databricks capabilities (including Microsoft Fabric), and evolve architecture patterns to improve performance, cost, and capability. Standards & Leadership: Define and enforce architecture governance and best practices; lead design and architecture reviews; and shape the platform’s multi-year roadmap. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field. 5+ years in data engineering, data platform engineering, or cloud data architecture with architecture ownership at scale, including 3+ years architecting solutions on Azure Databricks. Strong expertise in Apache Spark / PySpark, Delta Lake, and Databricks Lakehouse architecture, including Unity Catalog governance and Databricks administration (provisioning, RBAC, cluster policies, security controls). Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and technical leadership skills Databricks certifications (e.g., Certified Data Engineer Professional/Associate) and/or Microsoft Azure certifications (Azure Data Engineer, Azure Solutions Architect Expert),preferred. The starting salary is based on but not limited to experience, knowledge, and qualifications in determining compensation decisions. The Salary Range for this position is: $137,500.00 - $199,450.00. Why You’ll Love Building Your Career at Altria At Altria, we believe a great career starts with feeling supported — both at work and in life. Here’s what you’ll find here: Work where life works for you — with flexible and remote options that fit your world, not the other way around. Own your time — start with 15 days of paid time off, 13 paid holidays, 2 floating holiday days, and a 37.5-hour workweek so you can recharge and live fully A place where you belong — where your ideas are welcomed, your growth is encouraged, and your impact is real Get recognized for your work – annual merit increases and performance bonus A future you can count on — 401(k) matching from day one; plus Deferred Profit Sharing, an annual company contribution in an amount equal to 13%-17% of your base salary Help with your goals — get help with student loan repayment assistance, attend a conference, or gain a new certification with professional development stipends Support for what matters most — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family Celebrating your milestones — paid parental and bonding leave for life’s biggest moments. Wellness that goes beyond work — programs that care for your whole well-being at whatever stage you are in your life A culture that gives back — paid volunteer days and a shared commitment to making a difference At Altria, we offer more than benefits — we offer a career that fits your life, rewards your ambition, and celebrates your impact. This position is not eligible for sponsorship. Altria is a Fortune 500 company that has a leading portfolio of products for U.S. adult tobacco and nicotine consumers 21+. For decades we’ve been leaders in the tobacco industry, but the industry is evolving - and so are we. Our Vision is Moving Beyond Smoking™. At Altria, we celebrate the power of diverse teams working together to shape our future. Each Altria company is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing individuals with criminal records, including formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals with conviction records, a fair chance at employment. Join us as we work together to shape a better future for adult tobacco consumers, our employees, and our shareholders. Altria is the parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, Helix Innovations, and NJOY. Altria complements its tobacco portfolio with equity investments in Anheuser-Busch InBev and Cronos Group. Learn more about Altria at www.altria.com and follow us on LinkedIn .