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Improve your building's efficiency and value in Atlantic Canada with The ReCover Initiative. We offer deep retrofit planning, execution, and financial analysis to cut emissions, boost resilience, and create proven financial gains.

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ReCover Initiative is a brand dedicated to making a positive impact on the environment. Our goal is to promote sustainability and reduce waste by offering innovative solutions. Our range of products and services is designed to help individuals and businesses make eco-friendly choices in their daily lives. At ReCover Initiative, we believe that small changes can lead to big results. We are committed to providing practical and effective solutions that make sustainable living accessible to everyone. Whether you're looking for reusable products, recycling programs, or educational resources, we have you covered. Our team is passionate about creating a greener future, and we work closely with our partners to develop and implement sustainable practices. We take pride in our achievements and are constantly striving for better results. Contact us today to book a presentation and discover how the ReCover Initiative can help you make a difference. Together, we can create a more sustainable world.

The ReCover Initiative

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## The ReCover Initiative

The ReCover Initiative (ReCover) is Atlantic Canada's deep retrofit accelerator, advancing scalable, whole-building transformation solutions. Our ecosystem-building approach integrates applied research, advocacy for systemic change, workforce capacity building, and direct support for building owners. Our flagship Building Transformation Program guides building owners from early concepts to implementation, delivering tailored, investment-ready business cases grounded in technical and financial feasibility. We focus on ensuring that the economic, environmental, and social benefits of deep retrofits are broadly shared.

Our headquarters is in Nova Scotia. We acknowledge that we are in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People.

ReCover is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, experiences, and identities, including women, Indigenous Peoples, racialized persons, members of the LGBTQ2S+ community, people with disabilities, and others who bring diverse perspectives and lived experiences.

We believe that diversity strengthens our organization and enhances our ability to support the individuals and communities we work with. We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive recruitment process and workplace. If you require accommodation at any stage of the hiring process, please let us know, and we will work with you to meet your needs.

## The Opportunity

Halifax, NS | Moncton, NB | Charlottetown, PE | St. John's, NL | Toronto, ON | Vancouver, BC | Calgary, AB

Information Technology | Experienced | Contract

ReCover is building an evergreen SQL database containing critical industry datasets, research outputs, and continually updated archetype information to support the development of three ML-enabled tools. We require a Lead Data Architect (ML + Cloud) to design the complete data architecture, ML data pipelines, cloud application architecture, and long-term maintenance plan for our public-facing solution.

This role is responsible for ensuring the platform is scalable, secure, future-proof, and easily maintainable by internal staff once the contract concludes.

The Lead Data Architect will design the complete data, ML, and cloud application architecture that underpins ReCover's product ecosystem. Working closely with our Research Director (Product Owner), guiding internal DBA, and developers, you will create a scalable and future-proof system that can be maintained internally after handoff.

This is a hands-on, architecture-focused role where you will design, document, and guide the build, but will not be required to code full production systems.

## Responsibilities

**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 ReCover's 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.

## Qualifications

- 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

## Work With Us

We're 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.


	Lead Data Architect (ML+Cloud) - Independent Contractor at The ReCover Initiative | Careerbeacon.com  

Data Architect

Data Governance

Data Pipelines

Cloud Architecture

The ReCover Initiative has a grand vision.  

Develop a deep energy retrofit solution that responds to the climate crisis at the speed and scale necessary to meet our greenhouse gas targets.

The ReCover Initiative is reimagining what energy efficient buildings look like in Canada. 

ReCover is building an evergreen SQL database containing critical industry datasets, research outputs, and continually updated archetype information to support the development of three ML-enabled tools. We require a Lead Data Architect (ML + Cloud) to design the complete data architecture, ML data pipelines, cloud application architecture, and long-term maintenance plan for our public-facing solution.
  
  
This role is responsible for ensuring the platform is scalable, secure, future-proof, and easily maintainable by internal staff once the contract concludes. The Research Director will act as Product Owner, with support from our DBA and developers.
  
  
The Lead Data Architect will design the complete data, ML, and cloud application architecture that underpins ReCover's product ecosystem. Working closely with our Research Director (Product Owner), guiding internal DBA, and developers, you will create a scalable and future-proof system that can be maintained internally after handoff.
  
  
This is a hands-on, architecture-focused role where you will design, document, and guide the build, but will not be required to code full production systems.
  
  
**Responsibilities**
**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 ReCover's 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.

**Qualifications**

- 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

**About The ReCover Initiative**
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 Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People.
  
  
**Are you interested?**
We're 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.

Lead Data Architect (ML+Cloud) - Independent Contractor

The ReCover Initiative is seeking a Lead Data Architect to design data architecture, ML data pipelines, and cloud application architecture for their public-facing solution. This is a contract role focused on creating a scalable, secure, and maintainable platform.

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