Principal Data Architect - Upington

Placements24; Riverton (UT); On-site; USD 61,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical aid

Retirement annuities

Career development

Job summary

Placements24 in Upington, Northern Cape, seeks a Principal Data Architect to design robust data architectures, data governance, and data management solutions enabling advanced analytics and BI across the business.

You will lead data modeling, data warehousing, and cloud data platforms, mentor teams, ensure data quality and compliance, and partner with data scientists, analysts, and stakeholders to unlock data value.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Management, or related field.
• Minimum 10 years in data architecture, data modeling, and data management, with 4+ years in lead role.
• Proven experience designing large-scale data architectures (data warehouses, data lakes).
• Strong SQL and NoSQL expertise.
• Cloud data platform experience (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Familiarity with big data tech (Hadoop/Spark).
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead comprehensive data architectures (warehouses, lakes, marts).
• Establish data governance policies, standards, and procedures.
• Define data models and schemas for BI and analytics.
• Oversee ETL/ELT processes and data integration.
• Evaluate and select cloud/data technologies and platforms.
• Provide technical leadership on data projects.
• Collaborate with data scientists and stakeholders to understand needs.
• Ensure data quality, security, and compliance.
• Develop data lifecycle management and archiving strategies.
• Mentor junior data professionals and promote data literacy.

Skills

Data modeling

Data architecture

ETL/ELT design

Data governance

Cloud platforms

SQL/NoSQL

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytics

Big data

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science

Tools

AWS Redshift

Azure Synapse

GCP BigQuery

Apache Spark

Hadoop

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a key player in the renewable energy sector, is seeking a highly experienced and visionary Principal Data Architect to establish and lead their data strategy in Upington, Northern Cape . This critical role will be responsible for designing and implementing robust data architectures, data governance frameworks, and data management solutions that support advanced analytics, business intelligence, and operational decision-making. As an on-site position at our Upington facility, you will work closely with various departments to understand data needs and translate them into effective architectural designs. We are looking for a strategic leader with deep expertise in data modeling, data warehousing, big data technologies, and cloud data platforms. Your leadership will be instrumental in building a data-driven culture and unlocking the value of our data assets to drive innovation and efficiency in the renewable energy landscape. This is a unique opportunity to shape data infrastructure in a growing regional economy.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop comprehensive data architectures, including data warehouses, data lakes, and data marts.
• Establish data governance policies, standards, and procedures.
• Define data models and schemas to support business intelligence and analytics requirements.
• Oversee the implementation of ETL/ELT processes and data integration strategies.
• Evaluate and select appropriate data technologies, tools, and platforms (e.g., cloud data services, big data technologies).
• Provide technical leadership and guidance on data-related projects.
• Collaborate with data scientists, analysts, and business stakeholders to understand data needs.
• Ensure data quality, consistency, security, and compliance.
• Develop strategies for data lifecycle management and data archiving.
• Stay abreast of emerging data technologies and industry best practices.
• Mentor junior data professionals and promote data literacy across the organization.
• Champion data architecture principles and best practices within the company.

Requirements

• A Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Information Management, or a related quantitative field.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in data architecture, data modeling, and data management, with at least 4 years in a principal or lead architect role.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale data architectures (data warehouses, data lakes).
• In-depth knowledge of SQL and NoSQL database technologies.
• Strong expertise in cloud data platforms (e.g., AWS Redshift/S3/Glue, Azure Synapse/Data Factory, GCP BigQuery).
• Familiarity with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop ecosystem, Spark).
• Experience with data governance tools and methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Outstanding communication, leadership, and stakeholder management abilities.
• Understanding of data security, privacy regulations, and compliance requirements.
• Experience in the energy sector or with industrial IoT data is highly desirable.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits package including medical aid and retirement annuities, and significant opportunities for professional development. Working on-site in Upington ensures strong team collaboration and direct impact on strategic projects. You will play a key role in driving data-driven decision-making within a crucial industry. We provide a supportive work environment and pathways for career advancement. This is a unique opportunity to shape the data future of a significant organization in the Northern Cape.