Senior Data Architect Position

For a client, we are seeking a Senior Data Architect with over 7 years of experience. The ideal candidate will have expertise in Azure and Databricks, with certifications preferred. Below are the details and technical requirements for the role.

Role Overview

As a Data Solution Architect, you will be responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing cloud-based data solutions using Azure and Databricks. This includes migrating ETL jobs to Databricks and ensuring that data architectures are scalable, secure, and aligned with enterprise standards.

Primary Tasks & Responsibilities

1. Azure Engineering & Architecture
   • Configure and set up Azure services.
   • Manage environment provisioning, networking, IAM, and security.
   • Design secure and efficient Azure architectures in collaboration with the Enterprise Architect and team.
   • Troubleshoot and optimize systems.
2. Databricks Engineering
   • Migrate ETL jobs to Databricks.
   • Redesign ETL/ELT processes in Databricks.
   • Configure clusters, workspaces, notebooks, and CI/CD.
   • Perform performance tuning and workflow optimization.
3. Architecture & Best Practices
   • Define end-to-end data architectures and standards.
   • Ensure alignment with governance, lineage, and security.
   • Produce architecture documentation.
   • Collaborate with cross-functional teams.
4. Transition & Solution Design (Legacy → New Platform)
   • Support the transition design and decision-making process.
   • Analyze platform constraints and propose solutions.
   • Participate in refinement to define migration strategies.
   • Design temporary or hybrid solutions for smooth transitions.
5. Support & Collaboration
   • Provide guidance on Azure and Databricks usage.
   • Manage user stories and ensure alignment with objectives.
   • Participate in sprint reviews and planning sessions.
   • Fulfill product ownership responsibilities for the Data Platform.
   • Mentor team members on best practices.

Secondary Tasks & Responsibilities

• Support incident resolution related to data pipelines or cloud services.
• Improve monitoring, observability, and alerting systems.
• Contribute to CI/CD improvements for data pipelines.
• Support data quality initiatives and validation frameworks.
• Evaluate new tools or technologies.
• Enforce coding standards.
• Collaborate with security teams for compliance.
• Assist in cloud cost optimization and resource usage governance.
• Provide backup support for other architects/engineers.

Technical Profile Requirements

Required Technical Skills

• Certification & strong hands-on experience with Azure (Key Vault, IAM, networking).
• Certification & strong hands-on experience with Databricks (Clusters, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, PySpark, Notebooks).
• Experience in migrating ETL jobs to Databricks.
• Solid knowledge of data lake house architectures.
• Strong understanding of cloud security principles.
• Hands-on experience with CI/CD and Git workflows.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Terraform or Bicep.
• Docker or Kubernetes.
• Data governance tools (e.g., Purview, Collibra).

Non-Technical Profile Requirements

Communication & Collaboration

• Excellent communication skills with both technical and business stakeholders.
• Ability to explain complex concepts clearly.
• Ability to work in multilingual environments.

Leadership & Ownership

• Proactive, autonomous, and able to take ownership of architectural decisions.
• Capable of leading technical initiatives from design to implementation.
• Strong sense of responsibility and commitment to delivery deadlines.

Problem-Solving & Analytical Thinking

• Structured and analytical mindset.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex data or cloud architecture issues.
• Capacity to anticipate risks and propose mitigation strategies.

Team Spirit & Adaptability

• Collaborative mindset and willingness to work with diverse teams.
• Flexibility to adapt to evolving priorities and new technologies.
• Comfortable working in a hybrid onsite/remote model.

Professional Attitude

• Strong client orientation and result-driven mentality.
• Highly organized, with excellent time-management skills.
• Respectful, reliable, and able to maintain confidentiality where needed.

Certifications

• Azure Certification – required.
• Databricks Certification – required.

Work Location

Brussel

Languages

French and/or Dutch (knowledge of the second language is a plus) and very good English proficiency.