Lead Data architect

THE ROLE

We are seeking a Lead Data Architect to secure the urbanization of our data platform and industrialize the delivery of high quality data products. Your primary mission is to design and govern a coherent, scalable data architecture that accelerates time to value for Analytics and AI use cases by ensuring that reliable and well certified data are delivered through a robust end‑to‑end process. As a Lead, you will not only define the target data architecture and standards but also manage and coordinate a team of Data Architects (initially external resources); you will monitor their work, ensure consistency across domains, and build a strong data architecture community and capabilities over time.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

Leadership & Team Management (Data Architects)

• Promote Data Architecture strategy & vision
• Lead and coordinate a pool of Data Architects (primarily external partners)
• Plan, prioritize, and allocate architecture work across initiatives and domains to maximize impact and coherence
• Ensure consistency of architectural approaches, models, and deliverables across all Data Architects
• Provide day‑to‑day guidance, coaching, and feedback to Data Architects to develop their expertise and align them with Group standards
• Define and monitor expectations and deliverables
• Build and ensure proper animation of the Data Architecture community (rituals, best practice sharing, documentation, training)
• Ensure alignment with Group data strategy and Enterprise architecture principles

Data Architecture

• Update and maintain the target data platform architecture to build the Single Source of Truth and support current and future Analytics & AI needs
• Urbanize the data landscape by structuring domains, data products, and shared capabilities
• Enforce reference architectures, design patterns, and standards across data domains and platforms (e.g., data lake, enterprise data warehouse, data domain factories)

Data Modeling

• Define modeling standards, patterns, and best practices (conceptual and logical models)
• Lead and review the design of complex data models across domains (analytical, data vault, dimensional/star schemas, semantic models)
• Guarantee semantic consistency, normalization where needed, and optimal denormalization for performance and usability
• Ensure data models are robust, evolutive, and designed for reusability across multiple use cases and data products
• Coach and challenge Data Architects and Data Engineers on modeling decisions to safeguard data quality, integrity, and long‑term maintainability

Data Product Strategy, Lifecycle & Certification

• Define the data product blueprint (contract, SLAs, quality criteria, ownership, classification, metadata, documentation)
• Design and continuously improve the delivery process for data products (methodology, templates, gates, design authority and governance)
• Lead and standardize the end‑to‑end data product lifecycle process: framing, design, build, test, certification, deployment, and evolution
• Work with business stakeholders and Analytics/AI teams to translate use‑case requirements into sustainable, reusable data products
• Ensure traceability and lineage from source systems to data products, enabling trust and explainability
• Implement a robust data product certification framework (quality checks, UAT, run organization, deliverable sign‑offs)

Cross‑Functional Leadership & Collaboration

• Act as the architectural lead and primary point of contact for data platform and data product architecture topics
• Collaborate closely with Business stakeholders, Enterprise & Solution Architects, Data Engineers, Data Scientists, AI/ML engineers, and Data Governance & Data Management experts
• Influence and align technical and business stakeholders around a common data architecture vision and roadmap

Technology Watch & Continuous Improvement

• Evangelize modern data architecture, data product thinking, and platform capabilities across the organization
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, tools, and architectural approaches that accelerate data product delivery and improve reliability

WHO ARE WE LOOKING FOR?

• 12+ years of professional experience in data related roles, including significant experience as a Data Architect and several years in a lead/principal capacity
• Strong communication, influencing, and leadership skills, with the ability to align technical and business stakeholders around a common data vision
• Experience managing or coordinating external partners/consultants, ideally in a data or architecture context
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills, with a strong delivery and outcome orientation
• Proven track record in data modeling excellence:
• Mastery of conceptual, logical modeling
• Strong experience in data warehousing and analytics modeling (e.g., dimensional/star schemas, 3NF)
• Solid experience with Data Vault 2.0 methodology
• Ability to challenge and optimize existing models for performance, scalability, and maintainability
• Deep expertise in ETL/ELT processes and integration patterns
• Strong experience with cloud‑based data solutions (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Snowflake) and modern data platform components
• Solid understanding of Analytics and AI/ML concepts
• Experience with BI/Analytics & Exploration tools (e.g., Qlik, PowerBI, Sigma)
• Understanding of data governance and data management practices, including knowledge of tools such as:
• Data catalog (e.g., Atlan)
• Data quality & observability (e.g., Sifflet)
• Master Data Management (e.g., Semarchy)
• Demonstrated ability to define and run data architectural standards, review boards, or design authorities