Senior Data Architect

Manulife John Hancock; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Manulife John Hancock seeks a Senior Data Architect to define and lead our data architecture strategy for scalable, secure, AI-ready data platforms across the organization. You will partner with stakeholders to establish data requirements, patterns, and governance while contributing hands-on in solution design and data engineering.

The role focuses on data lakehouse architectures, cloud-native platforms, and governance, with leadership across strategic data initiatives and reviews.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience architecting large-scale data solutions.
• Hands-on with modern data platforms (e.g., Azure Synapse, Databricks).
• Strong SQL/NoSQL knowledge and Python or Scala exposure.
• Expertise in data governance, lineage, security, and privacy compliance.
• Experience leading cloud data platform implementations and modernization.

Responsibilities

• Define and evolve segment data architecture vision and roadmap.
• Design scalable Data Lake, DW, and Lakehouse architectures.
• Lead data modernization, migration, and cloud transformation.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership for data pipelines and platforms.
• Ensure data security, governance, and regulatory compliance.
• Architect AI-ready data architectures for ML and Generative AI.

Skills

Data architecture

Data modeling

Data governance

Cloud computing

Azure Synapse

Databricks

SQL

Python

Security & compliance

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or related

Tools

Microsoft Fabric

Azure Data Factory

Azure Synapse Analytics

Databricks

Spark

Job description

The Senior Data Architect is responsible for defining and leading the segment data architecture strategy that enables trusted, scalable, secure, and AI-ready data capabilities across the organization. This role provides architectural leadership for architecture, design, governance, modernization, and implementation of data solutions and platforms that support analytics, reporting, machine learning, and AI-driven solutions, while remaining actively engaged in hands-on solution design, data platform engineering, and implementation activities where deep technical expertise is required. Partner with business and technology stakeholders, architects and engineers to define data requirements, data domains, data consumption patterns, and architect scalable and secure data solutions that support business outcomes.

Office location: Toronto - Canada (primary) or Boston - USA

Work arrangement: Hybrid - 3 days in office, 2 days from Home; Remote working option is not available.

Position Responsibilities

• Define and evolve the segment data architecture vision, standards, principles, and roadmap.
• Design scalable Data Lake, Data Warehouse, and Lakehouse architectures supporting analytics, operational, and AI workloads.
• Establish architecture patterns and standards for data integration, metadata management, data governance, data quality, and data products.
• Lead data modernization, migration, and cloud transformation initiatives.
• Lead and contribute to the design and implementation of data pipelines, integration frameworks, and cloud-native data platforms.
• Provide hands-on technical leadership for complex data engineering initiatives, including data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and performance optimization.
• Design and implement scalable batch, streaming, and near real-time data processing solutions.
• Ensure data is secure, governed, and compliant with regulatory and privacy requirements.
• Partner with governance, risk, and security teams to promote trusted and responsible use of data.
• Design AI-ready data architectures supporting machine learning, advanced analytics, and Generative AI solutions.
• Provide technical leadership and architecture governance across strategic data initiatives.
• Lead data architecture reviews, technology evaluations, and key design decisions.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience architecting, designing, and delivering large-scale data solutions.
• Hands-on experience with one or more modern data platforms, such as Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Databricks, Spark, or comparable technologies.
• Working knowledge of SQL and NoSQL databases and proficiency in SQL plus at least one relevant programming or scripting language, such as Python, PySpark, Java, or Scala.
• Strong knowledge of enterprise data architecture, data modeling, data integration, and Data Lake, Data Warehouse, and Lakehouse patterns.
• Experience designing batch, streaming, and event-driven data solutions for analytical, operational, machine learning, and generative AI workloads.
• Strong understanding of Master Data Management (MDM), Reference Data Management, Data Governance, Data Lineage, and Data Quality
• Proven experience leading cloud-based data platform implementations and modernization initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead architecture strategy while contributing to the implementation of data solutions.
• Strong understanding of data security, privacy, regulatory compliance, access control, and responsible data use.
• Ability to evaluate data technologies, document architecture decisions, lead architecture reviews, and communicate complex trade-offs to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing governed data products, domain-oriented data architectures, or data mesh concepts in a large enterprise environment.
• Experience working in a large, complex, highly regulated organization, preferably in financial services, insurance, banking, wealth management, retirement, or another regulated industry.
• Familiarity with Machine Learning, MLOps and data architectures supporting generative AI solutions.
• Working knowledge of DataOps, CI/CD, automation, performance optimization, monitoring, and operational resilience for data platforms.

Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.

When You Join Our Team

We'll empower you to learn and grow the career you want.

We'll recognize and support you in a flexible environment where well-being and inclusion are more than just words.

As part of our global team, we'll support you in shaping the future you want to see.

The role being advertised is an existing vacancy.

About Manulife and John Hancock

Manulife Financial Corporation is a leading international financial services provider, helping people make their decisions easier and lives better. To learn more about us, visit https://www.manulife.com/en/about/