Data & AI Platform Architect – Azure & Databricks

Pauwels Consulting; Melle; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pauwels Consulting in Belgium seeks an experienced Data Architect to guide the strategic development of its data and AI landscape, designing scalable, secure architectures that support data products, machine learning, and generative AI use cases within a complex enterprise environment.

You will lead the multi-year architectural roadmap, define patterns for data products and AI initiatives, and collaborate with security, governance, and business stakeholders to drive consensus on strategic

Qualifications

• 5+ years in enterprise data architecture.
• 3+ years in Data/AI Platform Architecture.
• Expertise in Delta Lake and Lakehouse patterns.
• Experience with Generative AI, LLMs, RAG architectures, and vector databases.
• Hands-on MLOps and event-driven architecture.
• Ability to translate data models into logical models.
• Hybrid on-premise and cloud experience.
• Knowledge of AI governance and Responsible AI frameworks.
• Analytical thinker and able to justify architectural choices to stakeholders.
• Native Dutch language.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the architectural vision and multi-year roadmap for the enterprise Data & AI platform.
• Define architecture patterns for data products, ML solutions, and generative AI initiatives.
• Lead innovation initiatives involving Azure OpenAI, RAG, and vector-based knowledge architectures.
• Architect integration patterns between SAP, Databricks, and event-streaming platforms like Confluent Kafka.
• Establish architectural principles, guardrails, and standards for platform governance and responsible AI usage.
• Collaborate with security, governance, and business stakeholders to facilitate consensus on strategic technology decisions.

Skills

Data Architecture

Enterprise Data

Lakehouse & Delta Lake

Generative AI & LLM

MLOps & Event-driven

APIs & Integration

Governance & Responsible AI

Hybrid Cloud & On-prem

Stakeholder Communication

Tools

Databricks

Confluent Kafka

SAP

LeanIX

Azure OpenAI

Job description

Our client, a major organization in the utility sector, is seeking an experienced professional to guide the strategic development of their data and AI landscape. The role focuses on designing scalable, secure, and future-proof architectures that support data products, machine learning, and generative AI use cases within a complex enterprise environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the architectural vision and multi-year roadmap for the enterprise Data & AI platform.
• Define architecture patterns for data products, machine learning solutions, and generative AI initiatives.
• Lead innovation initiatives involving Azure OpenAI, RAG, and vector-based knowledge architectures.
• Architect integration patterns between SAP, Databricks, and event-streaming platforms like Confluent Kafka.
• Establish architectural principles, guardrails, and standards for platform governance and responsible AI usage.
• Collaborate with security, governance, and business stakeholders to facilitate consensus on strategic technology decisions.

Requirements

• 5+ years experience as a Data Architect addressing complex enterprise data architecture challenges.
• 3+ years experience specialized in Data Platform or AI Platform Architecture.
• You possess expertise in Delta Lake and Lakehouse architecture patterns.
• You bring experience with Generative AI, LLM solutions, RAG architectures, and vector databases.
• You have hands-on experience with MLOps platforms and event-driven architecture.
• You possess the ability to translate conceptual information models into logical data models.
• You have experience working in hybrid environments involving both on-premise and cloud infrastructure.
• You bring professional knowledge of AI governance and Responsible AI frameworks.
• You're an analytical thinker with the ability to clearly substantiate architectural choices to stakeholders.
• You are native in Dutch.

Nice to Haves

• Experience with SAP BDC, Datasphere, BW, or S/4HANA data integration.
• Familiarity with LeanIX for enterprise architecture management.
• Certifications such as TOGAF, ArchiMate, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Databricks credentials.
• Willingness to obtain specific AI-related certifications.

Offer

• Start date: 17 November 2026.
• Duration: 12 months.
• Work regime: Full-time.
• Location: Melle.
• Working model: hybrid
• Contract: open to both permanent employees and freelancers.