Data Architect

SUMMARY:
Our client based in Centurion is looking for a Data Architect to be part of ICT project implementation team, who will be redesigning and modernizing the data warehouse environment. This is a fixed term contract. The successful candidate will be responsible for designing, governing and implementing the company's Enterprise Data Architecture. The role provides strategic leadership in establishing scalable, secure and high-performing data platforms that enable advanced analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Reporting and Business Intelligence.

The role requires skilled Data Architect with skills and experience in Microsoft Modern Data Architecture, including familiarisation and experience migrating on-premises SQL Data Warehouse environment to the Microsoft Cloud environment. The role also includes experience with Power BI and Medallion Architecture, Fabric, Azure data ecosystems and Application Program Interfaces (APIs).

POSITION INFO:
Qualifications and Experience Required: Matric plus Bachelor's Degree or National Diploma in Computer Science, Information Systems, Information Technology, Engineering or related field TOGAF Certification Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate Minimum 8-10 years' experience in: Enterprise Data Architecture, Data Warehousing, Azure Data Platform, Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Data Engineering, Cloud Architecture, Enterprise Integration, SQL Server, Lakehouse Architecture, Medallion Architecture and Enterprise-scale Analytics API & Integration Standards - Understanding how different software systems communicate via REST\/SOAP APIs and middleware Quality Assurance (QA) - Knowledge of automated testing frameworks and manual testing protocols Database Management - A functional understanding of SQL\/NoSQL structures to oversee data migrations and integrity during updates Good knowledge and handling of project and program management methodology and techniques Familiarity with Microsoft technologies used for application development Must be able to engage in formal and informal knowledge transfer Must be able to lead a team and manage project delivery Have ability to communicate clearly - verbally and in written form Demonstrate experience in troubleshooting and problem-solving technical issues Good presentation skills Role Responsibilities: Review and enhance the on-premises Data Warehouse environment and lead in the enhancement of the data warehouse performance, ETL \/ ELT optimizations, query optimizations, data partitioning, delta tables and capacity management Architecture & Design: Design and maintain a Modern Data Architecture using Microsoft Fabric, Azure Data Lake, OneLake, Synapse, Databricks, and Power BI etc. Develop and enforce Medallion Architecture standards Architect scalable ingestion pipelines for batch, streaming, and real-time data. Define data modelling standards (star schema, modelling, semantic models). Data Engineering & Integration: Oversee ingestion from operational systems, APIs, databases, and third-party sources. Implement ETL\/ELT pipelines using Fabric Data Factory, Azure Data Factory. Synapse Pipelines and Databricks Optimize storage, compute, and query performance across the data estate. Governance, Security & Compliance: Implement data governance frameworks aligned to POPIA and organizational policies. Define and enforce Data quality rules, Metadata standards, Data lineage and Access control and role-based security Ensure secure integration with on-premises systems (hybrid architecture). Implement enterprise governance covering Microsoft Purview, Data catalogue, Metadata management, Business glossary, Data ownership, Data stewardship, Data quality, Lineage, Classification, Information protection and Data retention Ensure compliance with POPIA, ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the company's Security Policies Analytics & Business Enablement Build and maintain semantic models for Power BI and enterprise reporting. Enable self-service analytics through governed datasets. Collaborate with business units to translate requirements into data solutions. Innovation & Modernization Drive adoption of Microsoft Fabric and cloud-native data capabilities. Evaluate emerging technologies (AI, ML, real-time analytics). Lead the implementation of hybrid data warehouses (legacy and modern architectures)