Welcome to Whataburger Careers!
Our Flavor — Why Whataburger
Whataburger isn’t just a fast-food burger chain it is where bold leadership starts — and where potential doesn’t just grow, it heats up. Whether you're leading the line or working behind the scenes, this is the place where opportunities stack up, and every day gives you a chance to Make a Difference.
Since 1950, we’ve invested in people who lead with integrity, Serve with Heart, and bring their best flavor to the team. We believe in working together, speaking up, having a little fun, and Winning as One — because great burgers (and great teams) start with the right ingredients. If you're ready — to learn, grow, impact, and Move Forward Boldly — we’ve got your back and your path cooked to perfection.
Your Recipe for Impact — What You’ll Do
As a Sr. Data Architect, you will shape and scale the data foundation that fuels smarter decisions, powerful analytics, and next‑generation AI capabilities across Whataburger. Your work directly supports our purpose and values. Make a Difference by designing enterprise data architectures that turn complex data into trusted insights that power business outcomes. Serve with Heart by championing data quality, governance, and clarity—ensuring teams can rely on data to do their best work. Win as One by partnering closely with engineering, analytics, and business leaders to align data strategy with real operational needs. Move Forward Boldly by modernizing platforms, enabling AI and advanced analytics, and leading data innovation at scale.
Day-to-Day Ingredients — Responsibilities
As a Sr. Data Architect, you will:
Define and evolve enterprise data architecture standards and best practices
Design scalable data models and analytics structures across domains
Architect data integration patterns (ETL/ELT, APIs, streaming, orchestration)
Establish and support data governance, lineage, cataloging, and quality frameworks
Design and maintain Master Data Management (MDM) architectures
Enable AI and advanced analytics through strong data foundations
Provide architectural leadership and guidance to data and engineering teams
Partner cross‑functionally to align data solutions with business strategy
Evaluate, modernize, and optimize enterprise data platforms and technologies
The Sauce — Pay & Perks
As a Sr. Data Architect, you will receive:
Competitive Weekly Pay
Bonus Program that scales up to 2.5X payout potential based on company results
5 weeks PTO
Flex Weeks
Paid Corporate Holidays
Paid Parental Leave*
401(k) match $1/$1 up to 4%
Competitive Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits*
Short-term and Long-term Disability Benefits*
Opportunities for Career Development and Growth
Whataburger Family Foundation - Scholarship Program (dependents eligible) and Hardship Grant Assistance
Discounted Meals for You and a Guest
Wireless Service Discounts
Computer & Software Discounts
Fitness / Gym Discounts
Awards and recognition for all you do
Retirement Celebration Program
What You Bring to the Table — Required Experience
As a Sr. Data Architect, you must have:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience
7+ years in data architecture, senior data engineering, or related roles
Hands‑on experience with data integration patterns and tools
Demonstrated experience building enterprise‑scale data solutions
Proven ability to lead through influence and collaborate across team
Excellent communication and technical documentation skills
Extra Toppings — Desired Experience
As a Sr. Data Architect, we prefer you to have:
Experience with Informatica IDMC and MDM solutions
Strong background in data governance tools (catalog, lineage, quality)
Experience designing a semantic or analytics abstraction layer
Deep expertise in data modeling
Strong experience with modern cloud data platforms
Familiarity with BI and analytics platforms (Power BI, Tableau, MicroStrategy)
Hands‑on DevOps experience for data (CI/CD, infrastructure‑as‑code)
Exposure to Gen‑AI, AI engineering frameworks, or AI coding assistants
Relevant certifications (Snowflake, Azure Data Engineer, Informatica, CDMP, Data Governance)
Where & How You’ll Work
This role is based at the San Antonio Home Office, working on‑site Monday through Thursday with remote flexibility on Fridays. In this role, you’ll have strong collaboration with leadership, across cross-functional teams, and with external partners to align capabilities with restaurant realities. The work environment is fast‑paced and requires sound judgment, strategic thinking, and strong collaboration skills. Full‑time availability is required, with occasional extended hours based on business needs, along with occasional travel to properties, project sites, and external meetings. Candidates must reside within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office.
Whataburger is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, age, or other condition or status protected by law. Whataburger participates in the federal E-Verify Program. For more information go to www.dhs.gov/E-Verify. E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
*Eligibility rules may apply
300 Concord Plaza Dr San Antonio TX 78216-6903Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience
- 7+ years of experience in data architecture, senior data engineering, or related roles
- Hands-on experience with data integration patterns and tools
- Experience building enterprise-scale data solutions
- Ability to lead through influence and collaborate across teams
- Excellent communication and technical documentation skills
- Experience with Informatica IDMC and MDM solutions
- Experience with data governance tools, including catalog, lineage, and quality tools
- Experience designing a semantic or analytics abstraction layer
- Deep expertise in data modeling
- Experience with modern cloud data platforms
- Familiarity with Power BI, Tableau, or MicroStrategy
- Hands-on DevOps experience for data, including CI/CD and infrastructure as code
- Exposure to generative AI, AI engineering frameworks, or AI coding assistants
- Relevant certifications such as Snowflake, Azure Data Engineer, Informatica, CDMP, or Data Governance
- Residence within commuting distance of the San Antonio Home Office
Whataburger Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Whataburger and has not been reviewed or approved by Whataburger.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is positioned as robust, with multiple medical options, dental and vision, telehealth access, and added mental-health and chronic-condition programs. The package also includes disability options and an Employee Assistance Program with counseling support.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes access to a 401(k) with an employer match and potential profit-sharing, with eligibility tied to service requirements. This creates a tangible long-term savings component beyond hourly wages.
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Career-Linked Recognition & Rewards — Career upside is emphasized through performance incentives and a management track that can reach materially higher total compensation, including six-figure potential at the Operating Partner level. Scholarships, education assistance, and prize-based programs add non-wage recognition tied to participation and development.
Whataburger Insights
What We Do
On Aug. 8, 1950, an adventurous and determined entrepreneur named Harmon Dobson opened up the world’s first Whataburger on Ayers Street in Corpus Christi, Texas. He had a simple goal: to serve a burger so big it took two hands to hold and so good that after one bite customers would say, “What a burger!” He succeeded on both counts and turned that one little burger stand into a legend loved throughout Texas and the South. Today, each and every Whataburger is made to order, right when it’s ordered. And they’re still made with 100 percent pure, never-frozen beef and served on a big toasted five-inch bun with all “the extras” to suit your taste. Grilled jalapeños, extra bacon, three slices of cheese, no tomatoes, extra pickles? No problem. Your Whataburger will be made just like you like it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Whataburger’s following has grown exponentially in its more than 75-year history, thanks to a number of features, including its famous burgers and growing list of menu items, its iconic orange-and-white-striped restaurants and its famous Fancy Ketchup. Whataburger is more than a burger chain. It’s a place that feels like home to more than 51,000 employees, called Family Members, and millions of customers. It’s a brand built on pride, care and love. It’s a place people count on in their communities. It’s a place where goodness lives. So now with more than 1,100 Whataburger restaurants across 16 states stretching from Las Vegas to the Carolinas, road-trippers and hometown folks alike continue gathering under the big orange-and-white roofs for fresh, made-to-order burgers and friendly service.
