Databricks Data Manager - Customer Data Platform

VML South Africa; Dubai; Hybrid; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

VML South Africa is seeking a Databricks Data Lead in Dubai to spearhead the development of a Customer Data Platform for a leading GCC bank. This role involves designing scalable data solutions and collaborating with various teams to meet precise customer data requirements, ensuring innovation at the forefront of banking technology.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in data modeling and architecture.
• 6+ years in data integration and optimization.
• Strong experience with semantic layers.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement a Customer Data Platform.
• Develop data models ensuring performance.
• Establish data governance standards.

Skills

Python

SQL

Data Modeling

Performance Tuning

Education

Bachelor's in Computer Science

Master's (preferred)

Tools

Databricks

Snowflake

Unity Catalogue

Job description

VML

Last Updated: 6/16/2025

Requisition ID: 10707

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Leading GCC Bank | VML | Dubai/Abu Dhabi

Are you ready to architect the future of customer data for one of the GCC's most prestigious financial institutions?

VML, a global leader in marketing technology and customer experience, is seeking an exceptional Databricks Data Lead to spearhead the development of a cutting-edge Customer Data Platform for one of the region's largest banks.

The Opportunity

Join our dynamic team to design and build a revolutionary Customer Data Platform that will transform how our client understands and engages with their customers. You'll be at the forefront of modern data architecture, working with the latest Databricks technologies to create scalable, secure, and business-aligned data solutions.

What You'll Do

Lead CDP Architecture: Design and implement a comprehensive Customer Data Platform tailored to Marketing team requirements

Data Modeling Excellence: Develop sophisticated data models in Databricks Gold Layer, ensuring optimal performance and accessibility

Governance Champion: Establish and maintain data governance standards using Unity Catalogue for consistent business definitions

Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with Customer Analytics, Marketing, and Product teams to define precise data requirements

Innovation Driver: Build semantic layers enabling MS Co-Pilot and journey generation features on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Insights

Your Technical Arsenal

Core Technologies:

• Python & SQL mastery
• Databricks & Unity Catalogue expertise
• Data Warehousing (Snowflake, Databricks)
• Dataflow & PySpark

Specialized Skills:

• Performance tuning & debugging
• Advanced data modeling & architecture

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's in Computer Science or related field (Master's preferred)
• 5+ years in data modeling and architecture
• 6+ years in data integration, quality, and optimization
• Strong experience establishing semantic layers

The Ideal Candidate:

• Thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments
• Passionate about translating business needs into technical solutions
• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities
• Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration

Why Choose This Role?

Impact: Shape the data strategy for millions of banking customers across the GCC

Innovation: Work with cutting-edge technologies and methodologies

Growth: Advance your career with VML's global network and expertise

Partnership: Collaborate with industry-leading professionals and prestigious clients

Ready to lead the data revolution in GCC banking?

Join VML and help build the Customer Data Platform that will define the future of personalized banking experiences.

VML is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, welcoming applications from all qualified candidates.

Apply now to be part of something extraordinary.

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through ourRecruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read ourCalifornia Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

First Name *

Last Name *

Preferred First Name *

Email *

Phone

Location (City) *

Resume/CV

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Enter manually

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

What is your desired salary? *

If applicable, what is your notice period? *

Question 1: Databricks Unity Catalogue ImplementationYou're implementing data governance for a Customer Data Platform using Databricks Unity Catalogue. What are the most critical considerations for Gold layer security and lineage? *

A) Setting up table-level permissions and enabling automatic data classification with Delta Lake time travel features

B) Implementing column-level security with data lineage tracking and establishing proper catalog/schema hierarchies

C) Configuring row-level security filters and setting up automated data quality monitoring with Great Expectations

D) Creating shared clusters with Unity Catalogue metastore integration and implementing data masking policies

Question 2: Customer Data Platform Architecture DesignWhen designing a CDP for marketing teams, which architectural components are essential for effective customer identity resolution and real-time segmentation? *

A) Implementing a Master Data Management (MDM) hub with probabilistic matching algorithms and real-time streaming via Kafka

B) Using batch ETL processes with nightly customer profile updates and storing segments in relational databases

C) Creating a unified customer profile store with event streaming architecture and maintaining both real-time and batch processing layers (Lambda architecture)

D) Setting up data lakes with periodic customer data synchronization and using SQL-based segmentation queries

Question 3: Semantic Layer for AI IntegrationTo enable Microsoft Co-Pilot integration and customer journey orchestration, which semantic layer approaches are most effective? *

A) Building REST APIs over database views with OpenAPI specifications for AI model consumption

B) Implementing a metrics layer using tools like dbt with standardized business definitions and creating knowledge graphs for relationship mapping

C) Creating data marts with pre-aggregated tables and implementing GraphQL endpoints for flexible querying

D) Establishing a universal semantic model with consistent business logic and implementing vector embeddings for AI-powered content generation

Question 4: Data Pipeline TroubleshootingCustomer segments show inconsistent counts between your Databricks CDP and the marketing campaign platform. What are the most likely root causes to investigate first? *

A) Data deduplication logic differences and timestamp/timezone handling discrepancies between systems

B) Network latency issues between Databricks and the campaign platform affecting data transfer

C) Different customer matching criteria and data freshness/synchronization timing issues

D) Insufficient compute resources in Databricks clusters causing processing delays

Question 5: Stakeholder Management & Technical ConflictsMarketing teams want real-time customer attributes that would require expensive streaming infrastructure, while IT prefers batch processing for cost control. How should you approach this conflict? *

A) Implement the marketing team's requirements immediately since they are the primary business users

B) Conduct a cost-benefit analysis and propose a hybrid approach with critical attributes in real-time and others in near-real-time batches

C) Refuse the real-time requirements and explain the technical limitations to the marketing team

D) Design a tiered data architecture where high-priority use cases get real-time processing and standard use cases use batch processing

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.