Lead Systems Architect (Database Services)

About This Role

Black & Grey HR is recruiting for a leading technology solutions and services provider in Doha, Qatar. Our client is looking to hire a Lead Systems Architect who will be responsible for the design, implementation, management, and optimization of enterprise-grade database platforms across on-premises and multi-cloud environments.

Responsibilities:

Database Architecture & Strategy

- Define and maintain enterprise database architecture standards and roadmaps for on-premises, Azure, and GCP environments.

- Design secure, scalable, and highly available database architectures for mission-critical systems.

- Conduct architectural reviews and ensure alignment with enterprise standards.

Technical Leadership & Team Development

- Lead, mentor, and develop senior database engineers and DBAs.

- Allocate resources, set technical direction, and enforce operational best practices.

- Foster a culture of reliability, automation, documentation, and continuous improvement.

Database Project Lifecycle Management

- Lead end-to-end database projects, from requirements and design through build, migration, go-live, and support.

- Manage hybrid and multi-cloud database migrations and modernization initiatives.

- Deliver solutions within defined scope, schedule, and quality standards.

Platform & Technology Management

- Manage and operate SQL and NoSQL platforms across on-premises, Azure, and GCP.

- Oversee native cloud database services including Azure SQL, Azure Managed Instance, Azure Fabric, and Google Cloud database offerings.

- Administer complex, high-scale, and performance-intensive SQL environments.

High Availability, Disaster Recovery & Integration

- Design and operate highly available, disaster-resilient database architectures in hybrid and multi-cloud setups.

- Ensure seamless integration across applications, data platforms, and analytics systems.

- Define and test backup, recovery, replication, and failover strategies.

Data Warehouse & Data Leak Management

- Manage, enhance, and operate enterprise data warehouses and data leaks.

- Ensure platforms are highly available, optimized, and aligned with analytics and reporting needs.

- Drive performance tuning, capacity planning, and cost optimization.

Operations, Monitoring & Performance

- Ensure 24x7 reliability through proactive monitoring and management of all database environments.

- Define KPIs, SLAs, and operational dashboards for performance, availability, and capacity.

- Lead root cause analysis and continuous service improvement initiatives.

Security, Risk & Compliance

- Define and enforce database security standards, access controls, encryption, and auditing.

- Ensure compliance with organizational security, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

- Lead vulnerability management, patching, and security hardening efforts.

Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication

- Serve as the primary technical interface for application teams, architects, vendors, and business users.

- Translate business requirements into robust, scalable database solutions.

- Provide clear technical guidance, documentation, presentations, and executive-level communication as needed.

Requirements

Experience

- 10+ years in database engineering, architecture, and operations within large-scale enterprise environments.

- Proven experience leading senior database engineers/DBAs in mission-critical settings.

- Strong hands-on and architectural expertise with on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud platforms (Azure & GCP).

- Demonstrated success leading end-to-end database projects, including migrations and modernization efforts.

- Extensive background in high availability, disaster recovery, performance tuning, and large-scale SQL environments.

- Solid experience with data warehouse and data lake platforms and operations.

Education & Certifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field.

- Relevant professional certifications are highly desirable, such as:

~ Microsoft Azure Database/Data/Architect certifications

~ Google Cloud Professional Database Engineer or Architect

~ ITIL or equivalent service management certification

Technical Expertise

- Advanced proficiency in SQL Server and enterprise-grade SQL platforms.

- Strong experience with Azure SQL, Azure Managed Instance, Azure Fabric, and related Azure data services.

- Hands-on experience with Google Cloud database services.

- Deep knowledge of database security, encryption, auditing, and compliance controls.

- Proven skills in monitoring, automation, performance tuning, and capacity management.

- Strong understanding of integration patterns, analytics platforms, and data pipelines.

- Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.