IT Data Architect- Azure

Job Responsibilities

• Owns and drives the company’s data architecture across ingestion, storage, operational consumption, data warehousing and BI/analytics, and it’s evolution to Azure
• Communication of the target architecture & validation with key stakeholders using architecture templates and frameworks
• Ensures compliance of solution architectural designs with the company’s target architecture and relevant company policies, such as security or change management
• Closely works with all areas of IT (applications, DevOps, I&O, security etc.) and the IT project teams to serve as the central point of communication for all decisions / questions around the architecture of the digital systems.
• Liaises with business representatives to understand and support both the business strategy and the short term needs of business
• Supports and enforces the company Architecture governance process and is responsible for the production and quality of the key artefacts.
• Supports the implementation of the company’s Cloud strategy and the compliance with Group binding principles.
• Supports the transition of company IT to Agile methodologies.
• Assesses new technologies or alternate options by conducting proof of concept style investigations
• Conducts reviews of existing solutions and identifies risks and potential improvements (e.g. cost, efficiency or simplification)
• Engages with third parties where required

Technical Knowledge Required

• Design of reliable, resilient scalable, performant, secure production data architectures
• Traditional principles of Data engineering, operational data storage, data warehousing design, BI and analytics, with appropriate supporting architectures
• Modern approaches encompassing Big Data, modern analytical methods, machine learning
• Migrating on-premise data architectures to Azure PaaS data services:
  • Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Warehouse/Synapse
  • Azure Data Factory
  • Databricks/Spark
  • Azure ML and Cognitive Services
• Security concepts (encryption, authentication, privacy-by-design), and mitigation of security threats (sensitive data controls, data leakage, GDPR compliance)
• Networking, gateway & security infrastructure for on-premise integration and hybrid cloud
• Microsoft product stack (.NET, associated languages and frameworks, VSTS,…) including Common persistence frameworks for .NET (Entity Framework) would be a distinct advantage
• Data modelling experience would be a distinct advantage.

Essential and Desirable Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills, including teamwork, facilitation and negotiation; self-motivated
• Excellent analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to describe solutions both on a technical and business level
• The ability to translate business needs into IT Architecture requirements
• Experience architecting in a regulated, financial services environment