Data Architect (Manager)

Data & AI | Avanade Australia

Role Summary

As a Data Architect at Avanade, you will lead the design and implementation of modern data platforms that enable analytics, AI, and business transformation for some of Australia's leading organizations.

You will work closely with business stakeholders, enterprise architects, data engineers, AI specialists, and client executives to define data strategies, architect scalable cloud-native data solutions, and deliver trusted, secure, and AI-ready data foundations.

This role combines deep technical expertise in Microsoft data technologies with strong consulting, stakeholder engagement, and delivery leadership capabilities. You will be responsible for shaping client data roadmaps, leading architecture decisions, supporting sales pursuits, and mentoring engineering teams throughout the delivery lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

Data Strategy & Advisory

• Lead data strategy and architecture engagements for enterprise clients.
• Define target-state data platforms, modernization roadmaps, and migration strategies.
• Advise clients on data governance, operating models, data organization design, and AI readiness.
• Translate business priorities into scalable data and analytics solutions.
• Provide executive-level guidance on data platform investments and transformation programs.

Architecture & Solution Design

• Design modern cloud-native data platforms leveraging:
  • Microsoft Fabric
  • Azure Databricks
  • Azure Data Lake
  • Azure Data Factory
  • Azure SQL
  • Power BI
  • Microsoft Purview
• Define architecture patterns for:
  • Lakehouse architectures
  • Data warehouse modernization
  • Data mesh and data products
  • Real-time analytics
  • Streaming and IoT platforms
  • Master Data Management (MDM)
  • Enterprise semantic models
• Design scalable, secure, high-performing data ecosystems supporting reporting, analytics, machine learning, and AI initiatives.

AI-Ready Data Foundations

• Design data architectures that support Generative AI, Copilots, Agentic AI, and advanced analytics.
• Establish enterprise knowledge and metadata strategies to improve discoverability and governance.
• Architect data products and semantic layers that enable trusted AI outcomes.
• Collaborate with AI Architects and Engineers to support RAG, enterprise search, and AI solution development.
• Ensure data quality, lineage, observability, and governance principles are embedded across platforms.

Delivery Leadership

• Lead architecture activities across complex client programs.
• Provide technical leadership to Data Engineers, Analytics Engineers, and Solution Architects.
• Conduct architecture reviews, design authority sessions, and technical governance checkpoints.
• Define engineering standards, reusable assets, accelerators, and reference architectures.
• Support successful project delivery through architecture oversight and risk management.

Client Engagement & Business Development

• Act as a trusted advisor to client technology and business leaders.
• Lead architecture workshops and requirements discovery sessions.
• Support proposal development, solution estimation, and technical responses for major pursuits.
• Develop compelling solution narratives and value propositions.

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Required Skills & Experience

Data Architecture

• 10+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or analytics platform delivery.
• Proven experience designing enterprise-scale data platforms on Azure.
• Strong understanding of modern data architecture principles and patterns.
• Experience delivering large-scale cloud migration and modernization programs.

Microsoft Data Platform Expertise

Strong experience across several of the following:

• Microsoft Fabric
• Azure Databricks
• Azure Data Factory
• Azure Synapse Analytics
• Azure Data Lake Storage
• Azure SQL
• Power BI
• Microsoft Purview
• Azure Event Hub and Streaming Services

Governance & Information Management

Experience with:

• Data Governance
• Data Quality Management
• Metadata Management
• Master Data Management
• Data Lineage
• Information Security
• Privacy and Regulatory Compliance

Leadership & Consulting

• Experience leading architecture workstreams and technical teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage C-suite and senior technology stakeholders.
• Experience developing proposals, architecture assessments, and transformation roadmaps.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into business outcomes.

Preferred Experience

• Enterprise analytics modernization programs.
• AI and Generative AI enablement initiatives.
• Data Operating Model and Data Product implementations.
• Data Mesh and Distributed Data Architectures.
• Managed services and platform operations.

Preferred Certifications

Highly Desired

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
• Microsoft Certified: Fabric Analytics Engineer Associate (DP-600)
• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate (DP-203)
• Microsoft Certified: Power BI Data Analyst Associate (PL-300)

Desirable

• Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional
• Databricks Certified Data Architect
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

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