Lead data solution architect

The opportunity

At Manulife, we're on a mission to transform technology into a strategic asset that accelerates value.

The Lead Data Solution Architect will lead the architecture and strategic design of advanced data solutions within the Enterprise Data Lake (EDL) Ecosystem.

This is an individual contributor role. You will guide multifunctional teams consisting of business analysts, data engineers, DevOps engineers, and quality engineers, while collaborating with collaborators to deliver data, reporting, and analytics solutions for GWAM Data Office.

As the technical architect for data in EDL, this role will own the architectural roadmap and oversee the ingestion, curation, common data model, and consumption of data in the EDL. The EDL ecosystem is a Databricks Lakehouse demonstrating the use of Microsoft Azure PaaS, incorporating Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, ADLS, OpenAI, and AKS.

Responsibilities

• Architect and be responsible for the design of Data Products within the EDL ecosystem, encompassing end-to-end data pipelines, data storage, and data consumption layers.
• Define and lead architectural designs for new initiatives, analyzing business needs, mapping those needs to required data sources, integrating sources with the EDL, and developing data, reporting, and analytics solutions (including Generative AI) within the EDL ecosystem to meet business objectives.
• Develop and maintain the architectural roadmap, ensuring alignment with business goals and technological advancements.
• Engage with various teams (including Architecture, Cloud Engineering, Support, and Business partners) to ensure cohesive and coordinated design solutions.
• Conduct and facilitate design reviews, ensuring architectural integrity, scalability, and robustness of data solutions.
• Provide architectural mentorship and technical sign-off on solutions, ensuring alignment with established practices and standards.
• Implement standard methodologies for data pipeline design (ingestion/curation), data storage, and consumer-facing data structures, including scalable conformed dimensional data marts (technologies include Databricks SQL Warehouse).
• Ensure solutions adhere to GWAM and Global Data technology standards, including Application Performance Management (APM) standards, and compliance with Risk and Audit controls.
• Discover opportunities for continual improvement, making recommendations to improve the scalability and robustness of platforms and solutions.
• Perform quick Proof of Concepts (PoCs) to understand deeper requirements.

How will you create an impact?

We're looking for dedicated individuals who are ready to:

• Empower with Technology: Drive seamless customer and colleague experiences through innovative tech solutions.
• Innovate and Optimize: Enhance efficiency and security by streamlining processes and building a robust technical core.
• Cultivate Future-Ready Talent: Lead upskilling initiatives to prepare our team for tomorrow's challenges.

What motivates you?

• You obsess about customers, listen, engage and act for their benefit.
• You think big, with curiosity to discover ways to use your agile approach and enable business outcomes.
• You thrive in teams and enjoy getting things done together.
• You take ownership and build solutions, focusing on what matters.
• You do what is right, work with integrity and speak up.
• You share your humanity, helping us build a diverse and inclusive work environment for everyone.

What we are looking for

• Deep experience in enterprise data lake architecture design.
• Strong understanding of the Microsoft Azure stack, including expertise in Databricks and Power BI.
• Extensive experience in designing and developing data pipeline/ETL processes within the Azure/Databricks ecosystem.
• Proven experience in delivering Business Intelligence, Reporting, and Analytics solutions, including MLOps and PowerBI/Fabric.
• Strong understanding of data modelling concepts.
• Demonstrable knowledge in GenAI such as Prompt Engineering, RAG, Vectorization, and Similarity Search, supported by relevant certifications. (Azure AI Certifications, etc.)
• Deep knowledge of APIs and integration patterns, including experience with API tools such as Postman.
• Understanding of integration patterns between various cloud components and user interface design patterns.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with effective written and oral communication.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and implement tasks effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Self-reliant and adaptable to a rapidly changing environment.
• Experience with DevSecOps practices and CI/CD tools such as GitHub and Jenkins.

What can we offer you?

• A competitive salary and benefits packages.
• A growth trajectory that extends upward and outward, encouraging you to follow your passions and learn new skills.
• A focus on growing your career path with us.
• Flexible work policies and strong work-life balance.
• Professional development and leadership opportunities.

Our commitment to you

• Values-first culture.
• We lead with our Values every day and bring them to life together.
• Boundless opportunity.
• We create opportunities to learn and grow at every stage of your career.
• Continuous innovation.
• We invite you to help redefine the future of financial services.
• Delivering the promise of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
• We foster an inclusive workplace where everyone thrives.
• Championing Corporate Citizenship.
• We build a business that benefits all stakeholders and has a positive social and environmental impact.