Senior Data Architect

Boardroom Appointments · Johannesburg, Gauteng

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  • Are you an experienced Senior Data Architect with a passion for designing enterprise-scale data platforms and driving cloud-based data transformation initiatives?
  • Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Data Architect to lead the design, governance, and implementation of enterprise-scale data architecture initiatives.
  • This role will play a strategic role in defining data architecture standards, designing scalable cloud-based data platforms, and enabling business value through effective data management and analytics capabilities.
  • The successful candidate will possess deep expertise in Google Cloud Platform GCP and a strong background in modern data architectures, data integration, governance, and analytics solutions. Exposure to AWS will be advantageous.

Key Responsibilities

  • Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture strategy, standards, and best practices.
  • Design scalable, secure, and high-performing data architectures aligned to business and technology objectives.
  • Lead the architecture and implementation of cloud-based data platforms, primarily within Google Cloud Platform GCP.
  • Collaborate with business stakeholders, product owners, data engineers, analysts, and solution architects to understand requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
  • Develop data models, data flow diagrams, integration frameworks, and architecture blueprints.
  • Establish and enforce data governance, data quality, metadata management, and master data management standards.
  • Guide the design and implementation of data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouse architectures, and real-time data processing solutions.
  • Ensure compliance with security, privacy, regulatory, and risk management requirements.
  • Provide architectural leadership across data-focused projects and programmes.
  • Conduct architecture reviews and recommend technology improvements and optimisation opportunities.
  • Mentor and support data engineering and analytics teams on architecture best practices.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend innovative solutions that support organisational objectives.

Minimum Requirements Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, Engineering, or a related field.
  • Relevant cloud certifications preferred, including:
  • Google Professional Data Engineer.
  • Google Professional Cloud Architect.
  • AWS Certified Solutions Architect Advantageous.

Experience Essential

  • 8+ years of experience in Data Architecture, Data Engineering, or related data-focused roles.
  • Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions.
  • Strong hands-on experience with Google Cloud Platform GCP services and architecture.
  • Extensive experience handling, analysing, interpreting, and managing data within large-scale data projects.

Strong understanding of

  • Data Warehousing.
  • Data Lakes.
  • Lakehouse Architecture.
  • ETL/ELT Frameworks.
  • Data Modelling Conceptual, Logical, and Physical.
  • Data Governance.
  • Data Quality Management.
  • Metadata Management.
  • Master Data Management MDM.
  • Experience integrating data from multiple source systems and platforms.
  • Strong knowledge of SQL and modern data processing technologies.
  • Experience working with structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data.
  • Ability to engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
  • GCP Technologies Essential

Experience with several of the following

  • BigQuery.
  • Cloud Storage.
  • Dataflow.
  • Dataproc.
  • Pub/Sub.
  • Cloud Composer.
  • Looker.
  • Cloud Functions.
  • IAM and Security Frameworks.

Highly Advantageous

  • AWS architecture and data platform experience.
  • Experience with multi-cloud environments.
  • Exposure to AI/ML-enabled data platforms.
  • Financial services, telecommunications, retail, or large enterprise experience.
  • Relevant cloud certifications.

Key Competencies

  • Strategic Thinking
  • Stakeholder Management
  • Solution Design
  • Data Governance Leadership
  • Technical Architecture Expertise
  • Problem Solving
  • Communication & Presentation Skills
  • Leadership & Mentoring
  • Business Acumen
  • Continuous Improvement Mindset

What's on Offer

  • Initial 12-month contract with a strong possibility of extension based on project delivery and performance.
  • Hybrid work model subject to client requirements.
  • Opportunity to lead enterprise-wide cloud and data transformation initiatives.
  • Work with modern cloud-native data technologies within Google Cloud Platform GCP.
  • Collaborate with high-performing architecture, engineering, and analytics teams.
  • Immediate start available.
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