Doug Heitkamp

About Doug Heitkamp

Senior Advanced Solutions Architect with deep experience designing and governing enterprise‑scale data, cloud, and integration architectures. I focus on defining future‑state architectures, guiding large‑scale modernization initiatives, and helping teams navigate complex dependencies across platforms and domains.My work centers on enterprise data platforms and cloud transformation, with a strong emphasis on Databricks‑based architectures, data integration patterns, and lakehouse design. I regularly lead and contribute to architecture reviews, helping teams evolve from current‑state implementations to scalable, secure, and governable solutions aligned to enterprise standards.I’m a hands‑on, broad‑spectrum architect who spans design and delivery, contributing directly through coding, CI/CD pipeline development, product roadmap collaboration, and high‑quality technical design documentation. My work bridges academic rigor with decades of practical experience to deliver cost‑effective, production‑ready software solutions across multiple cloud platforms.I’m heavily involved in architecture governance and enablement—developing and sharing reference architectures, standards, and patterns, and serving as a trusted advisor to delivery teams, platform owners, and leadership. I partner closely with engineering, data, and product teams to clarify domain ownership, reduce architectural friction, and ensure solutions are practical as well as strategic.In addition to hands‑on architecture work, I enjoy mentoring and knowledge sharing. I frequently present on data architecture topics such as Databricks, Delta Lake, and lakehouse concepts, and help teams understand how to apply architecture principles effectively in real‑world delivery.

Experience

1. Senior Advanced Solutions Architect

   Kroger Technology & Digital

   Apr 2023 — Present · Cincinnati, OH, US

   Served as a senior architect providing enterprise‑level data, cloud, and integration architecture leadership, with a primary focus on Databricks‑based lakehouse platforms and large‑scale data transformations. Led and participated in architecture reviews for platform migrations and integrations, including current‑state analysis, target‑state design, security and connectivity models, orchestration considerations, and enterprise readiness assessments. Played a key role in architecture governance, contributing to reference architectures, standards, and best practices for data ingestion, transformation, schema design, and orchestration, and helping teams align solutions with enterprise platforms and governance expectations.Provided architectural oversight and guidance for ETL and integration modernization efforts, including dependency management, orchestration strategies, and migration planning through recurring steering and architecture forums. Acted as a hands‑on architect, contributing directly through software development, CI/CD pipeline creation, and the production of clear, actionable technical and architectural designs to support delivery teams.Supported cloud architecture governance and enablement, guiding teams to approved patterns, templates, and governance artifacts, and helping them navigate architectural tradeoffs within enterprise constraints. Delivered technical enablement and knowledge sharing, presenting on topics such as Databricks, Delta Lake, lakehouse architecture, and distributed compute, and mentoring teams on practical application of enterprise architecture principles.Collaborated closely with engineering, platform, and product stakeholders to clarify domain ownership, map system dependencies, and reduce architectural friction across complex enterprise initiatives.

Education

• University of Cincinnati

  BS, Computer Engineering

  1995 — 2000

Skills

• Service-Oriented Architecture (Soa)
• Software Project Management
• Marklogic
• Integration
• Java Enterprise Edition
• Enterprise Architecture
• Soa
• Requirements Analysis
• Software Development
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Xml
• Rest
• Unix
• Soap
• Xquery
• Java
• Software Design
• Big Data
• Agile Methodologies
• Web Services
• Technical Leadership