Senior Data/AI Technical Architect

NTT Limited; Johannesburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid Working

Job summary

NTT DATA is seeking a Senior AI and Data Cloud Architect to partner with enterprise sales, consulting, and delivery teams in SA and MEA. You will lead architectures for AI, data, and cloud programs across Azure, AWS and Google Cloud, driving governance, security, and optimization.

You’ll translate complex business objectives into enterprise-grade AI/data architectures, mentor teams, and contribute to cloud transformation, data modernization, and AI adoption initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS or related field.
• 10+ years in enterprise/cloud architectures.
• 5+ years designing cloud-native solutions on major clouds.
• Experience with pre-sales and solution consulting.
• Strong data, AI, and governance knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead pre-sales solutioning for AI, data, analytics, and cloud opportunities.
• Develop end-to-end AI and data platform architectures on Azure, AWS and Google Cloud.
• Design scalable, secure, cost-optimized cloud-native solutions for AI and analytics.
• Define target architectures covering data platforms, AI platforms, and security.
• Architect data lakes, data warehouses, and real-time analytics.
• Provide governance for MLOps, RAG, and AI safety frameworks.
• Lead cloud migration, data modernization, and platform transformation programs.
• Promote IaC and DevOps practices across engagements.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement cloud-native architectures.
• Mentor architects and engineers and stay updated on cloud trends.

Skills

Pre-sales leadership

Enterprise architecture

Cloud strategy

Stakeholder mgmt

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science

Tools

Azure

AWS

GCP

Terraform

Kubernetes

Databricks

Job description

Make an impact with NTT DATA Join a company that is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We are renowned for our technical excellence and leading innovations, and for making a difference to our clients and society. Our workplace embraces diversity and inclusion – it’s a place where you can grow, belong and thrive. We are seeking a highly experienced Senior AI and Data Cloud Architect to partner with enterprise sales, consulting, and delivery teams in designing, positioning, and governing AI, Data, and Cloud solutions for clients across South Africa and the Middle East & Africa. This role serves as the senior technical leader for AI and Data architecture engagements, providing strategic guidance, pre‑sales leadership, solution architecture, and technical governance across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to clients and internal stakeholders, translating business objectives into enterprise‑grade AI, analytics, data platform, and cloud‑native architectures. The role combines deep technical expertise with strong commercial acumen to support solution development, business growth, cloud transformation programs, AI adoption initiatives, and large‑scale data modernization engagements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead pre‑sales solutioning activities for AI, Data, Analytics, and Cloud opportunities, including client workshops, discovery sessions, solution shaping, proposals, RFP/RFI responses, and executive presentations
• Develop end‑to‑end AI and Data platform architectures leveraging Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud services
• Design scalable, secure, resilient, and cost‑optimized cloud‑native solutions supporting AI, Generative AI, Machine Learning, Advanced Analytics, Data Engineering, and Data Governance use cases
• Define target‑state architectures covering data platforms, AI platforms, cloud infrastructure, networking, security, identity, observability, automation, governance, and operational excellence
• Architect modern data platforms including data lakes, lakehouses, data warehouses, streaming platforms, and real‑time analytics solutions
• Design and govern enterprise AI solutions including Machine Learning Operations (MLOps), Generative AI architectures, Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, AI governance, and responsible AI frameworks
• Provide architectural leadership for cloud migration, data modernization, application modernization, containerization, and platform transformation initiatives
• Promote Infrastructure as Code (IaC), platform engineering, DevOps, DataOps, and MLOps best practices using Terraform and cloud‑native automation capabilities
• Collaborate with engineering, security, data, AI, and application teams to implement cloud‑native architectures and automation strategies
• Drive cloud security, compliance, governance, FinOps, and responsible AI best practices across client engagements
• Perform architecture reviews and provide technical oversight throughout solution delivery
• Act as a trusted advisor to executive, business, and technical stakeholders, translating complex technical concepts into business value
• Mentor architects, consultants, and engineers while contributing to AI, Data, and Cloud capability development and thought leadership
• Stay current with emerging AI technologies, hyperscaler innovations, cloud‑native platforms, and industry trends

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, Data Science, or a related discipline
• 10+ years of experience in enterprise architecture, cloud architecture, data platforms, analytics, or digital transformation
• Minimum 5 years of experience designing cloud‑native solutions on Azure, AWS, and/or Google Cloud
• Proven experience supporting pre‑sales, solution consulting, business development, and complex sales pursuits
• Deep expertise in enterprise data architectures, analytics platforms, AI/ML solutions, and cloud‑native technologies
• Strong knowledge of cloud services including: Azure: Azure AI Services, Azure OpenAI, Fabric, Synapse, Databricks, Data Factory, AKS, Azure SQL, Cosmos DB
• AWS: SageMaker, Bedrock, Redshift, Glue, EMR, EKS, Lambda, DynamoDB
• Google Cloud: Vertex AI, BigQuery, Dataflow, Dataproc, GKE, Cloud Run, Cloud Storage
• Strong experience with Kubernetes, containers, microservices, serverless platforms, and cloud‑native application patterns
• Hands‑on expertise with Infrastructure as Code using Terraform and cloud automation frameworks
• Experience implementing data governance, data quality, security, privacy, and compliance frameworks
• Strong understanding of DevOps, DataOps, MLOps, CI/CD pipelines, Git, and platform engineering practices
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, solution presentation, and architecture documentation skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure AI Engineer Associate, AWS Solutions Architect Professional, Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect, or equivalent certifications
• Experience with Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval‑Augmented Generation (RAG), vector databases, and AI governance frameworks
• Experience with Databricks, Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, Confluent Kafka, or other modern data platform technologies
• Experience with observability and monitoring platforms such as Datadog, Grafana, Prometheus, OpenSearch, Splunk, or Dynatrace
• Experience with cloud financial management (FinOps), cost optimization, and cloud governance frameworks
• Background in software engineering or development using Python, Java, .NET, JavaScript, or related technologies
• Experience leading large‑scale enterprise transformation, AI adoption, and data modernization programs
• Experience supporting executive‑level client engagements, solution workshops, and strategic technology advisory services

Workplace type

Hybrid Working

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise‑scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 50 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start‑up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3billion each year in R&D.

Equal Opportunity Employer

NTT DATA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer with a global culture that embraces diversity. We are committed to providing an environment free of unfair discrimination and harassment. We do not discriminate based on age, race, colour, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, disability, pregnancy, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected category.

Join our growing global team and accelerate your career with us.

Is innovation part of your DNA? Do you want to enable a connected future for people, organizations, and society? Join our growing global NTT family and you’ll be part of the world’s largest ICT company (by revenue). We’ve combined the capabilities of 28 remarkable companies to become one, leading technology services provider. Together, we help our people, clients, and communities do great things with technology to create a more secure and connected future. We employ 40,000 people across 57 countries. By bringing together the world’s best technology companies and emerging innovators, we work together to deliver sustainable outcomes to businesses and the world. Innovation is part of our DNA. We believe it’s key to what makes us different. So, we strive to move forward, challenge the status quo, and drive excellence through the technologies we integrate and the services we deliver around the world. The result is connected cities, connected factories, connected healthcare, connected agriculture, connected conservation, connected mobility, and connected sport. Together we enable the connected future. You’ll be joining a global employer that is committed to attracting, growing and keeping the best talent. A place where you will be at the heart of our success!