Cooley LLP

Senior Data Architect, MDM & Data Modeling

Cooley LLP • $130K — $180K *
Los Angeles, CA 90011In-Person
Legal & Accounting
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of data architecture experience in enterprise-scale MDM, RDM, and/or 3NF implementations
  • Extensive expertise in Master Data Management architecture and cloud data platforms
  • Strong Reference Data Management architecture capability with a focus on framework design and dependency management
  • Strong 3NF relational modeling experience for operational systems
  • Hands-on experience in production MDM platforms, such as Informatica MDM or Semarchy xDM
  • Experience with Databricks, Delta Lake, and medallion architecture
  • Advanced SQL skills and proficiency in data model optimization

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement enterprise MDM framework including canonical master data model
  • Define entity resolution patterns and golden record architecture for master data domains
  • Architect MDM technical implementation in Informatica MDM or equivalent
  • Establish MDM governance standards and stewardship workflows
  • Design the enterprise reference data framework for legal classification structures
  • Collaborate on Data Vault 2.0 Silver Layer design to ensure MDM integration
  • Partner with Data Engineering to ensure architectural designs fit Databricks environment

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge cloud data technologies
  • Collaborative work environment with cross-functional teams
  • Professional growth and development in a leading legal firm
  • Access to advanced tools and platforms for data modeling
  • Diverse projects across the legal sector, enhancing domain knowledge
Full Job Description
Senior Data Architect, MDM & Data Modeling
Position summary: The Senior Data Architect, Master Data Management (MDM) & Data Modeling is a senior individual contributor within the Platform Governance & Quality function, bringing strong methodological expertise across Master Data Management, Reference Data Management, and third normal form (3NF) relational modeling to build the canonical data foundations the Northstar Lakehouse is dependent on. This role brings specialist implementation depth to the most technically demanding architectural work on the platform. The primary focus is establishing the MDM framework and canonical master data model in collaboration with the Principal Data Architect on the Data Vault model including 3NF modeling for the firm's 3E legal billing and matter management system follows as the platform matures. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:

Master Data Management Architecture:
  • Design and implement the firm's enterprise MDM framework from the ground up, including canonical master data model design for key legal sector entities - clients, contacts, timekeepers, matters, funds, and vehicles
  • Define survivorship rules, matching logic, golden record architecture, and entity resolution patterns for each master data domain in partnership with the Director, Platform Governance & Quality and the Principal Data Architect
  • Architect the MDM technical implementation in Informatica MDM or comparable platform, establishing matching configuration, workflow design, exception handling, and source system integration framework
  • Design data contracts between the MDM layer and consuming systems, ensuring canonical master data is published reliably to the Data Lake, Databricks platform, and downstream AI models
  • Establish MDM governance standards including stewardship workflows, change control processes, and quality thresholds for golden record acceptance
  • Partner with the Principal Data Architect to ensure canonical MDM entity definitions align with the Raw Vault hub design and broader platform canonical data model standards - entity definitions that drive MDM matching and golden record design must be consistent with the hub entities the Principal defines in the Data Vault Silver Layer
  • Working closely with the MDM Engineer, oversee the implementation and maintenance matching rules, golden record processes, and source system integrations against the architectural framework


Reference Data Management Architecture:
  • Design the firm's enterprise reference data framework, including the canonical reference data model for legal sector classification structures - matter type codes, practice group taxonomy, jurisdiction codes, client classification hierarchies, industry classifications for league tables, and office codes
  • Define the reference data architecture for Informatica Ref360, establishing code set design, hierarchy structures, versioning standards, publication workflows, and downstream dependency management patterns
  • Establish reference data governance standards in partnership with the Director, Platform Governance & Quality. Change approval workflows, impact assessment processes, and the relationship between reference data structures and MDM canonical entity definitions
  • Design the integration between the Ref360 reference data layer and the broader platform, ensuring reference data code sets are accessible to the Raw Vault, gold layer semantic definitions, and AI consumption layers consistently
  • Partner with the Reference Data Engineer in implementing and maintaining reference data pipelines, Ref360 configuration, and publication workflows against the architectural framework
  • Ensure reference data structures support league table construction, CI analytics, and legal market intelligence products while working with the Intelligence & Client Services function to understand the classification hierarchies those products depend on


3NF Relational Modeling (3E & Operational Systems):
  • Design third normal form (3NF) relational data models for operational system implementations, with specific application to the firm's 3E legal billing and matter management system
  • Conduct source system profiling and data landscape assessments for operational systems, identifying normalization opportunities, referential integrity gaps, and integration requirements
  • Define physical data model optimizations including indexing strategies, partitioning patterns, and query performance considerations for operational data workloads
  • Establish source-to-target mapping documentation for 3NF implementations, providing a complete data lineage record from operational source to platform consumption layer
  • Collaborate with practice engineering and operational system owners to translate business data requirements into normalized relational models that balance operational integrity with analytical accessibility
  • Partner with the Principal Data Architect to ensure 3E 3NF source model designs align with canonical entity definitions in the Raw Vault. Ensure the operational system model and the Data Vault hub design reflect the same canonical understanding of matters, timekeepers, and clients


Data Vault Collaboration & Standards Support:
  • Collaborate with the Principal Data Architect on Data Vault 2.0 Silver Layer design, contributing MDM and canonical entity expertise to Raw Vault hub and link design decisions, ensuring hub entity definitions reflect accurate MDM canonical model understanding
  • Apply working knowledge of Data Vault 2.0 concepts (hub, link, and satellite structures, hash key principles, and satellite historization) to review and validate that DV implementations correctly reflect the MDM canonical entity definitions this role owns
  • Support the Principal Data Architect in developing DV implementation standards by contributing the MDM and 3NF perspective, ensuring Data Vault modeling decisions account for the master data relationships and operational system patterns
  • Participate in architecture review processes alongside the Principal Data Architect, providing MDM, RDM, and 3NF methodological input on data modeling decisions that affect the canonical data model, master data integrity, or operational system design
  • Contribute to the firm's data architecture decision record documenting MDM, RDM, and 3NF architectural decisions, the context behind them, and the implications for platform evolution


Cross-Functional Architecture Collaboration:
  • Partner with the Data Engineering function to ensure MDM, RDM, and 3NF architectural designs are implementable within the Databricks and Delta Lake environment, providing hands-on guidance during pipeline build phases
  • Collaborate with the Data Products function to ensure MDM canonical entities, reference data structures, and 3NF operational models are designed for downstream analytical and AI consumption from the outset
  • Work with the Platform Governance & Quality function to ensure MDM matching rules, reference data governance standards, and 3NF source model documentation meet the quality, lineage, and auditability standards required for ISO audit readiness
  • Engage with the Data Products Technical Data Analysts to understand what canonical entity and reference data coverage is needed for each EPIC using EPIC analysis outputs to identify MDM and RDM gaps before they become pipeline dependencies
  • Document all architectural decisions, modeling patterns, and implementation standards in a maintained architecture knowledge base that supports ongoing platform capability development
  • All other duties as assigned or required


Required:
  • After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage, and other firm applications
  • Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
  • Ability to travel, as required
  • 5+ years of data architecture experience with demonstrated delivery of enterprise-scale MDM, RDM, and/or 3NF implementations in production cloud data platform environments
  • Extensive expertise in Master Data Management architecture including canonical data modeling, entity resolution, survivorship rules, golden record design, and MDM platform implementation in a cloud data environment
  • Strong Reference Data Management architecture capability including reference data framework design, code set and hierarchy modeling, versioning standards, publication workflows, and downstream dependency management
  • Strong 3NF relational modeling capability for operational and ERP systems
  • Hands-on experience with an enterprise MDM platform in a production implementation context, such as Informatica MDM, Semarchy xDM, Ataccama ONE MDM, Profisee
  • Experience with an enterprise RDM platform in a production context such as Informatica Ref360, Ataccama Reference Data Management, Semarchy
  • Experience with Databricks, Delta Lake, or cloud lakehouse platforms and an understanding of medallion architecture (bronze/silver/gold) and how MDM and RDM integrate across each layer
  • Advanced SQL skills and the ability to design, review, and optimize complex data models, transformation logic, and integration queries
  • Experience with dbt for transformation layer implementation including modeling patterns, testing frameworks, and documentation standards
  • Demonstrated ability to operate in a greenfield or startup environment, designing architectural foundations from scratch without inheriting existing frameworks
  • Strong technical documentation capability across architecture decision records, data model documentation, naming convention standards, and implementation guides
  • Proficiency using GitHub for version control and demonstrated Agile delivery fluency


Preferred:
  • Working knowledge of Data Vault 2.0 concepts - hub, link, and satellite design, Raw Vault structure, and how canonical MDM entity definitions inform Raw Vault hub design; experience collaborating with a DV architect to ensure MDM and Data Vault designs are aligned
  • Experience with 3E Elite Enterprise or comparable legal billing and matter management system - understanding of how operational legal system data structures relate to canonical entity and MDM design
  • Financial services, professional services, legal sector, or other highly regulated industry experience - understanding of complex operational data environments where MDM, RDM, and 3NF intersect
  • Familiarity with AI-ready data product design - feature store integration, LLM data contract patterns, embedding pipeline data preparation, and how MDM canonical entities are consumed by AI models
  • Knowledge of Data Vault 2.0 automation tooling - WhereScape, Vaultspeed, or comparable Data Vault generation frameworks that interact with MDM canonical entity definitions
  • Familiarity with ERWIN, ER/Studio, PowerDesigner, or comparable enterprise data modeling tools
  • DAMA-DMBOK, CDMP, or comparable data management certification
  • Experience with Delta Share or intercompany data sharing patterns and how canonical MDM entity definitions govern cross-organizational data sharing
  • AI-assisted development fluency - Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, or comparable tools used to accelerate architectural documentation, data model development, and standards enforcement workflows


Competencies:
  • Innovative mindset with the ability to operate effectively in a lean, fast-moving environment
  • Excellent attention to detail
  • Governance oriented
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (both technical and non-technical) with ability to facilitate and solve problems
  • Ability to organize, prioritize and coordinate multiple activities often under tight timelines
  • Ability to drive projects to completion and achieve goals
  • Strong judgment
  • Team-player with collaborative spirit
  • Unwavering ability to handle and maintain confidentiality regarding firm information, projects, client data
  • High level of professionalism at all times
  • Proactive, analytical mindset
  • Effective presentation skills

About Cooley LLP

Cooley LLP is an American international law firm, headquartered in Palo Alto, California with offices worldwide. The firm's practice areas include corporate, litigation, intellectual property, fund formation, public markets, employment, life sciences, clean tech, real estate, and tax. Cooley's clients include private and public companies, financial institutions, venture capital firms, and nonprofit organizations. Cooley has been recognized as one of the top law firms for technology and life sciences companies. The firm has also been recognized for its diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Learn more about Cooley LLP
Size
1,200 employees
Industry
Legal & Accounting
Founded
1920
* Ladders Estimates

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