Data Architect

Be Different Sa (Pty) Ltd; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Be Different Sa (Pty) Ltd is seeking a Data Architect contractor for a major telecommunications client in Midrand. You will design and implement data structures, architectures and integration patterns to ensure reliable, secure, scalable data for business and operational use.

The role connects customer, product, billing, network and finance information into governed data platforms for reporting and analytics, translating business needs into logical and physical designs while guiding delivery

Qualifications

• Relevant IT qualification or equivalent architecture experience.
• Enterprise data architectures and scalable data models experience.
• Strong SQL and data modelling across relational and dimensional schemas.
• ETL/ELT and cloud lakehouse patterns; Databricks, Delta Lake, Azure or AWS.

Responsibilities

• Define target data architecture, standards and a migration roadmap across platforms.
• Create conceptual, logical and physical data models including 3NF and dimensional models.
• Design governed warehouse and lakehouse structures (raw, bronze, silver, gold).
• Specify ingestion, ETL/ELT, API integration, data contracts, lineage and quality rules.
• Collaborate with engineering on scalable SQL, cloud and Databricks implementations.
• Partner with BI to define trusted measures for reporting and analytics.
• Build privacy, security and access controls aligned to POPIA and ISO 27001.
• Review designs and coach delivery teams with stakeholders and vendors.

Skills

SQL & Modelling

Cloud cert

Databricks

PySpark

Delta Lake

Azure

AWS

API integration

Power BI

Data governance

POPIA/ISO 27001

Education

Information technology degree

Informatics degree

Computer Science degree

Tools

SQL Server

Data warehousing

Metadata management

3NF / dimensional models

Job description

Please Note: This is a contractor position

Our client, a major telecommunications company based in Midrand, is urgently seeking an experienced Data Architect (Contractor) to join their team and be responsible for designing and implementing data structures, architecture, and integration patterns that ensure telecommunications data is reliable, secure, scalable and readily accessible for business and operational use.

The role connects customer, product, billing, network, service and finance information into governed data platforms for operational reporting, analytics and decision-making. It translates business needs into logical and physical designs and guides delivery teams through implementation.

In order to be considered the following is required:

• Relevant qualification in information technology, informatics, computer science or a related field, or equivalent architecture experience
• Cloud architecture, data platform, information security or enterprise architecture certification is advantageous
• Telecommunications experience, particularly customer, billing, network or service assurance data, is advantageous
• Substantial experience designing enterprise data architectures and translating business processes into scalable data models
• Strong SQL and modelling skills across relational, dimensional and semantic structures, including star and snowflake schemas
• Experience with SQL Server and other enterprise databases, data warehousing, metadata, performance tuning and analytical consumption layers
• Practical knowledge of ETL or ELT and cloud Lakehouse patterns; experience with Databricks, PySpark, Delta Lake and Azure or AWS is valuable
• Ability to design API-led integrations and data flows between legacy and modern platforms, including clear data quality and lineage controls
• Understanding of BI needs and tools such as Power BI or Qlik, with the ability to define consistent, reusable measures
• Sound governance, security and privacy judgment; clear documentation and communication with technical and executive stakeholders

Expected Deliverables:

• Approved and reusable data models
• Documented architecture decisions and data contracts
• Improved data quality and lineage
• Reliable and performant data pipelines
• Consistent and trusted measures across reporting and analytics
• Successful delivery of the agreed data architecture roadmap

Responsibilities:

• Define target data architecture, standards and a practical migration roadmap across operational and analytical platforms
• Create conceptual, logical and physical data models, including 3NF, dimensional models, conformed dimensions, semantic layers and metadata
• Design governed warehouse and lakehouse structures, including raw, bronze, silver and gold layers, schema evolution and reusable data products
• Specify ingestion, ETL and ELT, API integration, data contracts, lineage, quality rules and orchestration for reliable cross-system data flows
• Work with engineering teams on scalable SQL, cloud and Databricks implementations, performance tuning and release practices
• Partner with BI and business teams to define trusted measures for customer behaviour, product performance, revenue, network and service operations
• Build privacy, security, access control, retention and recovery requirements into data designs, with controls aligned to POPIA and ISO 27001
• Review solution designs, document architecture decisions and coach delivery teams while working with stakeholders and vendors