Director Digital FAAS Data & AI Dubai

EY US; Dubai; On-site; AED 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm based in Dubai seeks a Director to lead data architecture initiatives. The role involves designing enterprise-wide data solutions and collaborating with C-suite clients. Candidates must have over 12 years of experience in data architecture and a strong background in cloud platforms. The position offers a competitive tax-free salary, leadership growth opportunities, and involvement in diverse projects.

Benefits

Competitive tax-free salary

Performance bonus

Exposure to cutting-edge projects

Opportunities for leadership growth

Qualifications

• 12 years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or information management.
• Proven experience with cloud-native data platforms.
• Strong knowledge of GDPR and NIST frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Lead data architecture strategy and define architecture strategies.
• Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into solutions.
• Guide design of scalable data pipelines and oversee modernization.

Skills

Cloud-native data platforms

Data governance

Data modeling

API management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science

Tools

Azure Synapse

Databricks

Snowflake

Kafka

Informatica

Job description

Overview

Job Title: Director

Department: FaaS - Digital Finance - Data & AI

Reports To: Partner Data & AI Practice

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of enterprise-wide data architectures driving our clients' digital and AI transformation initiatives. Based in Dubai you will work with C-suite leaders and technical teams to architect scalable, secure, and business-aligned data ecosystems across industries including government, financial services, energy and retail.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead Data Architecture Strategy
  • Define enterprise and solution-level data architecture strategies.
  • Design modern data platforms (data lakes, data warehouses, lakehouses) on cloud (Azure, AWS, GCP).
  • Champion data mesh, data fabric, or other advanced architectural patterns.
• Engage with Business & Technology Stakeholders
  • Collaborate with business units to understand their data needs and translate them into technical solutions.
  • Support data governance, security, lineage, and catalog initiatives in partnership with Data Officers and CDOs.
• Architecture Delivery & Oversight
  • Guide design of scalable data pipelines (batch/real-time), master data management, and analytics layers.
  • Oversee data platform modernization and cloud migration programs.
  • Provide architectural governance and quality assurance throughout project lifecycle.
• Team Leadership & Capability Building
  • Mentor and manage a team of data engineers and solution architects.
  • Contribute to internal knowledge assets accelerators and reusable frameworks.
• Client Engagement & Business Development
  • Support pre-sales and proposal activities by shaping data architecture solutions.
  • Build trusted relationships with client executives and technology teams.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or related field.
• 12 years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or information management.
• Proven experience with:
• Cloud-native data platforms (e.g., Azure Synapse, Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery)
• ETL/ELT tools (e.g., Informatica, Talend, dbt)
• Data governance tools (e.g., Collibra, Alation, Purview)
• Big data and streaming technologies (e.g., Kafka, Spark)
• Strong knowledge of data modeling, API management, security, and privacy frameworks (e.g., GDPR, NIST).
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams in complex consulting or enterprise environments.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to engage senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications in cloud (Azure, AWS or GCP) architecture or data engineering.
• Experience working in the GCC region with clients in public sector, banking, or oil & gas.
• Familiarity with AI/ML lifecycle and integration of data platforms with analytics/ML pipelines.

What We Offer

• Competitive tax-free salary and performance bonus
• Exposure to cutting-edge data transformation projects in the region
• Fast-paced, collaborative, and diverse working environment
• Opportunities for leadership growth and continuous learning