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Reference Data Jobs in Boston, MA (NOW HIRING)

Data Governance Architect

Cambridge, MA · On-site

$69.75 - $89.50/hr

Create reference architectures, solution blueprints, implementation patterns, data governance standards, and technical design documents. Advise on integration between Collibra and Databricks for ...

NEW Data Entry Clerk

Boston, MA · On-site

$18 - $21/hr

Verify and cross-reference data for accuracy and completeness * Perform regular audits to ensure data integrity * File and organize physical and digital documents * Collaborate with other departments ...

Looking for a Sr. candidate with strong financial background, should have experience with Reference Data and Data Modeling (MDM experience will be huge) , and should have experience with CRM ( any CR ...

Snowflake Data Architect

Boston, MA · On-site

$69.25 - $89/hr

Data Management experience including Data Governance, Master Data Management, Reference Data Management, and Metadata Management. * Customer-facing experience in a consulting or delivery capacity.

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Reference Data information

See Boston, MA salary details

$25.2K

$103.4K

$225.3K

How much do reference data jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 28, 2026, the average yearly pay for reference data in Boston, MA is $103,397.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $53,525.00 and $144,517.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Reference Data position, and why are they important?

To thrive in a Reference Data role, you need strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in managing large datasets, typically supported by a degree in finance, business, or information management. Familiarity with data management software such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or proprietary databases, and knowledge of SQL or data governance tools, are often required. Excellent communication, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork are key soft skills that help you collaborate effectively and resolve data discrepancies. These competencies ensure accurate, consistent, and reliable data that supports essential business operations and decision-making across the organization.

What are the typical daily responsibilities for someone in a Reference Data position?

Professionals in Reference Data are responsible for managing and maintaining key business datasets, such as client, product, or security master information. Daily tasks often include data entry, validation, remediation of discrepancies, and ensuring data integrity across multiple systems. You’ll work closely with operations, compliance, and IT teams to resolve issues quickly and respond to data requests. Given the importance of accurate reference data to financial transactions and reporting, attention to detail and proactive troubleshooting are essential. This role offers opportunities to develop expertise in data governance and may lead to advancement in data management, analytics, or operations leadership.

What is a Reference Data job?

A Reference Data job involves managing and maintaining critical data sets that support business operations, typically in financial services, healthcare, or enterprise systems. Responsibilities include data governance, validation, enrichment, and ensuring consistency across systems. Professionals in this role work with various stakeholders to standardize data definitions, improve data quality, and support regulatory compliance. They may also use tools and databases to streamline data management and reporting.

What cities near Boston, MA are hiring for Reference Data jobs? Cities near Boston, MA with the most Reference Data job openings:
Infographic showing various Reference Data job openings in Boston, MA as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 67% Full Time, and 33% Contract. Highlights an 67% In-person, and 33% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $103,397 per year, or $49.7 per hour.
Data Governance Architect

Data Governance Architect

Curate Partners

Cambridge, MA • On-site

$69.75 - $89.50/hr

Other

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Job Summary

We are seeking a Data Governance Architect to design and implement enterprise data governance capabilities across modern pharma data platforms. The ideal candidate has deep experience in pharmaceutical or life sciences data environments, strong knowledge of Databricks Lakehouse and Medallion Architecture, and hands-on experience with Collibra and Unity catalog for metadata management, business glossary, data cataloging, stewardship workflows, lineage, and governance operating models.

This role will define the technical and information architecture required to govern data across R&D, clinical, regulatory, manufacturing, quality, commercial, and enterprise data domains.


*Must be onsite 3 days a week in Cambridge, MA


Key Responsibilities

Design and implement enterprise data governance architecture across pharma data platforms, including Databricks, Collibra, cloud storage, BI, and downstream analytics systems.

Define governance patterns for Databricks Lakehouse, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold layers, data ownership, metadata standards, lineage capture, access control, data quality, retention, and certification.

Partner with data engineering teams to embed governance controls into Medallion Architecture pipelines, including ingestion standards, transformation rules, validation checkpoints, and curated data product governance.

Lead Collibra architecture and configuration for data catalog, business glossary, data domains, assets, policies, stewardship workflows, lineage, and data quality integration.

Define metadata models connecting business terms, data products, datasets, reports, pipelines, data owners, data stewards, and regulatory classifications.

Architect governance solutions using Databricks Unity Catalog, Collibra, cloud IAM, privacy tools, security controls, and data quality frameworks.

Establish architecture standards for sensitive and regulated pharma data, including GxP, HIPAA, GDPR, clinical trial data, patient data, manufacturing quality data, and proprietary R&D data.

Create reference architectures, solution blueprints, implementation patterns, data governance standards, and technical design documents.

Advise on integration between Collibra and Databricks for metadata harvesting, lineage, catalog synchronization, stewardship workflows, and governance policy enforcement.

Support enterprise data product strategy, including data mesh, domain ownership, certified datasets, data marketplaces, and reusable governed data assets.

Collaborate with enterprise architecture, data platform, security, privacy, compliance, quality, and business data domain teams.

Required Qualifications

8+ years of experience in data architecture, data governance architecture, information architecture, data management, or enterprise data platforms.

Experience working in pharma, biotech, life sciences, healthcare, or another regulated industry.

Strong understanding of Databricks Lakehouse Platform, Unity Catalog, Delta Lake, access controls, lineage, workspace patterns, and data platform governance.

Hands-on experience with Medallion Architecture, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold data layers.

Hands-on experience with Collibra, including operating model design, data catalog, glossary, workflows, stewardship, lineage, policies, and asset model configuration.

Strong knowledge of data governance capabilities, including metadata management, lineage, data quality, master/reference data, access management, privacy classification, data lifecycle, and policy management.

Experience designing governance frameworks for regulated data, including GxP, 21 CFR Part 11, HIPAA, GDPR, patient data, clinical data, and quality data.

Ability to translate business, regulatory, compliance, and privacy requirements into scalable technical architecture.

Experience with cloud data platforms, preferably AWS, Azure, or GCP.

Excellent documentation, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience integrating Collibra with Databricks, Unity Catalog, cloud platforms, BI tools, ETL tools, or data quality tools.

Experience with data quality platforms such as Great Expectations, Deequ, Informatica DQ, Collibra DQ, Soda, or Monte Carlo.

Experience with data marketplace, data mesh, domain-driven data ownership, and governed data product models.

Experience with pharma data domains such as clinical trials, genomics, regulatory submissions, pharmacovigilance, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, medical affairs, or commercial analytics.

Knowledge of semantic layers, ontology, master data management, reference data management, and knowledge graphs.

Certifications in Databricks, Collibra, CDMP, cloud architecture, or enterprise architecture are a plus.