Data Architect

Role overview

Architecture and Iceberg standards

• Design and enforce Medallion Architecture and lead design for Data Factory squads.
• Drive decisions through SAF/ARB architecture forums.
• Define Iceberg standards for partitioning, schema evolution, time travel, snapshot retention, and table optimization schedules.

Modeling, metadata, and governance

• Set modeling standards including Gold-layer dimensional modeling, SCD2, naming conventions, and metadata management.
• Define lineage standards using OpenMetadata.
• Coordinate with platform teams and Data Quality leads on Iceberg activities and validation rules.

Technical leadership

• Manage escalations and communicate progress to senior stakeholders.
• Guide Glue Data Engineers; establish code review processes and best practices.
• Create reusable design patterns and templates.

Required expertise

• Proven Lakehouse architecture experience with S3, Iceberg, Glue, and Spark.
• Strong understanding of Medallion architecture and data modeling principles.
• Hands-on Iceberg experience with schema evolution, partitioning strategies, and table optimization.
• Ability to lead architecture forums, influence decisions, and define metadata, lineage, and data quality frameworks.

Tools and working skills

• AWS services include S3, Glue, Athena, and EMR; technologies include Apache Iceberg and Spark.
• OpenMetadata or similar lineage tools; ability to automate work and repetitive tasks.
• Communication, stakeholder management, cross-squad collaboration, Jira, and agile ways of working.

Preferred qualifications

• 10+ years in data architecture roles, including at least 3 years in Lakehouse implementations, are preferred.
• Financial services or banking experience is a plus.

Location

• The description lists Dubai-Abu Dhabi; it does not state a remote, hybrid, or on-site work policy.