Senior Data Architect

Flash Group; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology firm in South Africa is seeking a Senior Data Architect to design and govern integrated data architecture. Responsibilities include leading redesign efforts and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of experience in data architecture, along with strong SQL proficiency. This is a permanent position offering a market-related salary.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in data architecture or related roles.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions.
• Strong background in data modelling (conceptual, logical, physical).

Responsibilities

• Lead the redesign of enterprise-wide data architecture.
• Design and maintain robust data models for analytical and operational needs.
• Implement data security and privacy measures.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Problem Solving

Collaboration

Technical Expertise

Attention to Detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or Data Science

Tools

SQL

ETL/ELT pipelines

BI/reporting tools

Big Data technologies

Job description

Flash

2025/06/27 Western Cape

Job Reference Number: FH-622

Department: Data Intelligence

Business Unit:

Industry: Data

Job Type: Permanent

Positions Available: 1

Salary: Market Related

You will design and govern a secure, scalable, and integrated data architecture that unifies complex transactional systems, enabling accurate, compliant, and analytics-ready data to support strategic decision-making in a fintech environment.

Job Description

Company:

A well-established brand with a global strategy, that prides itself on making people’s lives easier through frontier technology that creates enabling opportunities.

Culture:

At FLASH, we realise that “the way we do things around here” drives our business and enables us to achieve our purpose of “Making People’s Lives Easier”. Our 3 values are the drumbeat of our business:

• We are all in
• We have each other’s backs
• We are brave
  
  

These values help us to make our People’s lives easier by creating a culture where people come to work because it’s a place where they can engage in meaningful work, in a supportive environment where they can be the best version of themselves and achieve the remarkable!

Job Role:

As a Senior Data Architect you will design and govern a secure, scalable, and integrated data architecture that unifies complex transactional systems, enabling accurate, compliant, and analytics-ready data to support strategic decision-making in a fintech environment. This role is both strategic—influencing data roadmap and technology choices—and hands-on, involving close collaboration with technical teams and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the redesign of our enterprise-wide data architecture, simplifying legacy systems and eliminating data silos and duplication.
• Design and maintain robust conceptual, logical, and physical data models that serve both analytical and operational needs.
• Establish and enforce data architecture standards that ensure scalability, performance, and alignment with business goals.
• Guide the integration of multiple transactional systems, creating unified, accessible, and high-quality datasets for reporting and advanced analytics.
• Define and champion data governance practices, including data quality controls, data lineage, metadata management, and stewardship frameworks.
• Implement data security and privacy measures that align with financial services regulations and best practices.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to turn business requirements into effective data solutions, from prototypes to production systems.
• Mentor data engineers and analysts and provide architectural oversight across all data initiatives.
• Evaluate and recommend modern data platforms, tools, and technologies to future-proof our ecosystem and support innovation.
• Optimize performance and reliability of our data pipelines, storage layers, and reporting infrastructure.
• Design and implement scalable strategies for data lifecycle management, including retention, archival, and purging.
• Drive automation and reusability in our data processes, enabling faster, more consistent data delivery across the organization.
  
  

Job Requirements

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Data Science, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in data architecture or related data management roles.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing enterprise-scale data solutions.
• Strong background in data modelling (conceptual, logical, physical).
• Experience with data integration, ETL/ELT pipelines, and data warehousing.
• Experience with big data technologies and migration strategies from legacy to new platforms.
• Demonstrated knowledge of data governance, data quality frameworks, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in SQL, Database design and management.
• Experience with BI/reporting tools.
  
  

Competencies / Attributes:

• Analytical Thinking – Ability to assess complex data environments, identify architectural gaps, and design scalable, efficient solutions.
• Problem Solving – Tackling issues such as data silos, performance bottlenecks, or compliance risks with innovative and practical solutions.
• Collaboration – Working cross-functionally with engineers, analysts, compliance officers, and business leaders to ensure alignment and execution.
• Technical Expertise – Deep understanding of data modelling, integration, cloud platforms, on-prem platforms, and governance frameworks to make informed architectural decisions.
• Attention to Detail – Ensuring data accuracy, quality, and consistency across systems, especially in high-stakes financial environments.
• Effective Communication – Translating complex technical concepts into clear, actionable insights for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Strategic Thinking – Aligning data architecture with long-term business goals, regulatory requirements, and emerging technologies.
• Adaptability – Staying current with evolving fintech trends, tools, and compliance standards, and adjusting architectural strategies accordingly.