Lead Data Architect

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Health insurance

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, seeks a Lead Data Architect to shape the client's data strategy, design scalable architectures, and lead a team of data professionals. This hybrid role balances in-office collaboration with remote flexibility to deliver robust data platforms across data warehouses, data lakes, and pipelines.

You will drive data modeling standards (Kimball, Inmon, Data Vault), govern data quality and security, and partner with stakeholders to translate requirements into

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in data management with at least 5 years in a data architecture role.
• Proven experience designing and implementing complex data architectures (relational, NoSQL, data lakes/warehouses).
• Strong data modeling expertise (Kimball, Inmon, Data Vault).
• Experience with cloud data platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and big data tech (Spark/Hadoop).
• Proficiency in SQL and data manipulation languages.
• Experience with data governance, data quality, and data security principles.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the enterprise data architecture strategy and roadmap.
• Design and implement scalable data solutions including data warehouses, data lakes, and data marts.
• Define data modeling standards, patterns, and best practices.
• Oversee data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, security, and governance across platforms.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate requirements into designs.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to data engineers and architects.
• Evaluate and adopt new data technologies and tools.
• Maintain architecture documentation and communicate decisions.
• Stay updated on trends in data management and analytics.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Data governance

Data security

Hybrid work adaptability

Education

Master's degree in Computer Science or Information Systems

Tools

SQL

NoSQL

Spark

Hadoop

Data lakes

Data warehouses

AWS

Azure

GCP

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent financial services institution, is seeking an experienced Lead Data Architect to join their innovative team in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. This hybrid position offers a dynamic blend of in-office collaboration and remote flexibility, fostering a productive work environment. You will be instrumental in shaping the organization's data strategy, designing and implementing robust data architectures, and ensuring the integrity, security, and accessibility of data assets. This role requires a strategic thinker with a deep understanding of data modeling, data warehousing, big data technologies, and cloud-based data platforms. As the Lead Data Architect, you will guide a team of data professionals, drive architectural best practices, and ensure data solutions align with business objectives and regulatory requirements. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on data-driven decision-making within a leading organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the enterprise data architecture strategy and roadmap.
• Design and implement scalable, high-performance data solutions, including data warehouses, data lakes, and data marts.
• Define data modeling standards, patterns, and best practices.
• Oversee the design and implementation of data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes.
• Ensure data quality, integrity, security, and governance across all data platforms.
• Collaborate with business stakeholders to understand data requirements and translate them into architectural designs.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to data engineers and data architects.
• Evaluate and recommend new data technologies and tools.
• Manage data architecture documentation and communicate architectural decisions.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends in data management and analytics.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in data management, with at least 5 years in a data architecture role.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing complex data architectures (e.g., relational databases, NoSQL databases, data lakes, data warehouses).
• Strong expertise in data modeling techniques (e.g., Kimball, Inmon, Data Vault).
• Experience with cloud data platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and big data technologies (e.g., Spark, Hadoop).
• Proficiency in SQL and knowledge of data manipulation languages.
• Experience with data governance, data quality, and data security principles.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Familiarity with hybrid work environments.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous retirement savings plan.
• Significant paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Opportunities for professional development and advanced certifications.
• Hybrid work model for enhanced work-life balance.
• Access to cutting-edge data technologies and challenging projects.