Senior Manager - Data Architect

EY; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm in Dubai seeks a Senior Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of enterprise data architectures. This role requires 10+ years of experience, strong knowledge of cloud-native platforms, and the ability to engage with senior stakeholders. You will mentor a team, champion data governance, and support diverse client needs across various industries. The position offers a competitive tax-free salary and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Competitive tax-free salary

Performance bonus

Collaboration on cutting-edge projects

Opportunities for leadership growth

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in data architecture or data engineering.
• Proven experience with cloud-native data platforms.
• Strong knowledge of security/privacy frameworks (e.g., GDPR).

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise and solution-level data architecture strategies.
• Collaborate with business units to understand their data needs.
• Guide design of scalable data pipelines and architecture delivery.

Skills

Cloud-native data platforms

Data governance tools

Data modeling

ETL/ELT tools

Big data and streaming technologies

Excellent communication skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Azure Synapse

Databricks

Snowflake

Informatica

Talend

Job description

Job Title: Senior Manager – Data Architect
Department: FaaS - Digital Finance - Data & AI
Reports To: Director / 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, 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

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or related field.
• 10+ 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/privacy frameworks (e.g., GDPR, NDMO).
• 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 learnin