Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant level (Hybrid/Onsite) - job 14 of 20

As a Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant at Visa, your primary responsibilities include performing logical and physical data modeling using ERWin in a distributed active-active environment, collaborating with operations and engineering teams to address persistent layer design and replication issues, and working closely with other architects and product teams to ensure seamless end-to-end data flow design with various ETL or near real-time solutions. You will also be involved in promoting data architecture standards and researching new technologies to enhance our persistent layer capabilities.

To succeed as a Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant at Visa, candidates should have substantial experience with logical and physical RDBMS data modeling, particularly in a distributed and active-active environment. Additionally, familiarity with Postgres or MySQL is essential. Experience with data access layers, replication tools like Golden Gate, and understanding NoSQL databases and the Hadoop ecosystem will significantly enhance your candidacy. Strong communication skills are also crucial for effective collaboration.

In the role of Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant at Visa, you will work with various technologies, including logical and physical RDBMS databases, Postgres, and MySQL architectures. The role also involves using data access layer tools, replication tools like Golden Gate and pglogical, and exploring NoSQL databases and the Hadoop ecosystem. Your expertise in these technologies will drive the development of Visa’s robust data ecosystem.

As a Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant at Visa, you will be part of a hybrid work model that allows you to alternate between remote work and in-office days. Employees in these roles are typically expected to be in the office for 2-3 days a week, as determined by leadership and site-specific needs, allowing a level of flexibility while ensuring team collaboration and project success.

Essential skills for a Systems Architect - Sr. Consultant at Visa include strong analytical abilities for complex problem-solving, excellent communication skills for articulating and influencing ideas, and a solid foundation in data architecture principles, especially concerning enterprise architecture. Proficiency in database management, experience with RDBMS modeling, and understanding of distributed systems are also critical for success in this role.

When responding to this question, share specific experiences where you have successfully applied logical and physical RDBMS data modeling principles. Discuss the tools you used, such as ERWin, and detail an example of a project where your modeling helped improve data integrity and accessibility in a distributed environment.

To effectively answer this, provide a concrete example of a challenge you faced in a distributed system. Explain the problem, your analytical approach to addressing it, and the solution you implemented. Highlight the skills and techniques you used to balance agility with data quality.

In your answer, detail your familiarity with database replication tools, focusing specifically on Golden Gate if applicable. Discuss how you have used these tools in past projects, the challenges you encountered, and how you ensured high availability and data consistency.

For this question, narrate a specific instance where you successfully communicated complex ideas to stakeholders, emphasizing your interpersonal skills and how your influence helped drive the project towards its goals. Highlight your approach and the positive outcome that ensued.

Discuss your strategy for keeping your skills up-to-date, whether through online courses, industry conferences, or collaborative learning with peers. Mention any recent technologies you’ve learned about and how you plan to incorporate them into your work as a Systems Architect at Visa.

Explain your methodologies for maintaining data quality, such as implementing testing protocols, using data validation techniques, and establishing governance standards. Offering examples of how these practices have led to successful project outcomes will provide depth to your answer.

Share a description of a specific OLTP application you were involved with, focusing on your role and the strategies you implemented. Address any particular challenges such as performance tuning and how you resolved them.

Discuss strategies you’ve employed to maintain this balance, such as involving stakeholders in the governance process or using agile methodologies that prioritize flexibility while ensuring compliance with data standards. Include real-world examples to substantiate your approach.

When discussing replication approaches, touch on the benefits and drawbacks of synchronous versus asynchronous replication. Share experiences you've had with project outcomes based on your replication choices and how these decisions affected system performance.

If applicable, describe any projects that utilized the Hadoop ecosystem. Talk about your role, the technologies involved, and how using Hadoop contributed to the project's overall success in managing big data.