Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant level (Hybrid/Onsite) - job 5 of 20

As a Systems Architect at Visa, your key responsibilities include performing logical and physical data modeling in a distributed environment, assisting operation and engineering teams with persistent layer designs, and enhancing data architecture standards. You will also collaborate with fellow architects and product teams to ensure effective end-to-end data flow design through various ETL and near-real-time solutions. Additionally, you will research and develop proof of concepts for new technologies to advance capabilities within the persistent layer.

To qualify for the Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant position at Visa, candidates should have extensive experience in logical and physical RDBMS data modeling, particularly within distributed and active-active environments. Familiarity with Postgres and/or MySQL and experience with data access layer replication tools like Golden Gate or pglogical are essential. A solid understanding of NoSQL databases and the Hadoop ecosystem is highly beneficial. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate complex concepts effectively are also crucial.

The primary focus of Visa's Platform Product & Technology architecture team is to develop a robust enterprise architecture that supports Visa's continued growth and success. This involves building a cohesive data strategy, enhancing data governance guidelines, and establishing best practices across the organization to ensure a scalable and resilient architecture that can handle the demands of a high-volume transactional environment.

At Visa, a Systems Architect will work on diverse and impactful projects involving the design and implementation of scalable data ecosystems. This includes collaboration with engineering and operations teams on persistent layer design, addressing database replication challenges, and contributing to cutting-edge technologies through proof-of-concept initiatives. Your role will be integral in shaping the data architecture standards and promoting organizational best practices.

Yes, the Systems Architect position at Visa is hybrid, allowing for a flexible work environment. Employees are expected to split their time between remote work and office presence, typically 2-3 days in the office each week. This arrangement maximizes collaboration while providing the convenience of remote work.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you've applied logical and physical data modeling to create robust solutions in a distributed setting. Discuss the tools you've utilized, such as ERWin, and emphasize your understanding of challenges like data consistency and availability in active-active environments.

Discuss specific methodologies you’ve implemented to maintain data quality, such as applying data governance principles, utilizing automation in testing, or establishing best practices for data entry and management. Providing concrete examples can help illustrate your approach.

to effectively answer, outline the performance issues you've encountered and the steps you took to address them. Mention techniques like database partitioning, indexing strategies, and query optimization, and be ready to provide specific instances where these techniques led to improved performance.

Clearly state any projects where you've utilized replication tools, detailing how you leveraged them to ensure data consistency and availability across systems. Discuss any challenges faced and how you overcame them to maintain an efficient data environment.

When addressing scalability, discuss aspects such as load balancing, horizontal scaling options, system architecture patterns, and strategies for managing large volumes of transactions. Highlight any past experiences where you successfully implemented these considerations.

Emphasize your interpersonal skills and give examples of how you've fostered collaboration in past roles. Discuss tools and methodologies you've used to facilitate communication, like regular meetings or collaborative platforms, which help unify efforts across teams.

Provide a specific example where you've successfully advocated for data architecture standards within an organization. Discuss the methods used, such as workshops or training sessions, and include tangible outcomes of your efforts on improving data quality and workflow efficiency.

Discuss the challenges related to data consistency, integration difficulties, and query compatibility when combining NoSQL with traditional RDBMS. Highlight any strategies you've employed to mitigate these challenges in past experiences.

To answer this question, mention various methods such as attending webinars, participating in professional groups, reading industry publications, or following key thought leaders. Convey your commitment to continuous learning and how it benefits your role at Visa.

Describe your structured approach to conducting a POC, which may include identifying the problem, setting clear objectives, selecting relevant technologies, and analyzing outcomes. Share a successful POC experience to demonstrate your methodology and its impact.