Lead Data Architect, Madrid

Description

Lead Data Architect GFT is a pioneer company in digital transformation. We design AI-Centric business solutions, modernize IT infrastructures, and develop next-generation core systems for leaders in the banking, insurance, and industrial sectors. In close collaboration with our clients, we challenge boundaries to help them achieve their full potential. What are we looking for? We currently have an opening for a Lead Data Architect who wants to join our company. We seek a candidate with a strong background in data science, capable of leading teams or designing analytical strategies and guiding the implementation of advanced solutions for our Center of Excellence (CoE) AI.DA. **Your key responsibilities will include:** Although they will depend on your experience and expertise, your main duties will include: * Designing, implementing, and evolving the organization's data architecture, ensuring that data ingestion, processing, storage, and consumption systems are scalable, secure, and efficient. * Designing and maintaining reference architectures for data platforms in batch and streaming environments. * Defining data ingestion strategies (CDC, APIs, streaming), storage (Data Lake, Data Warehouse, Lakehouse), and orchestration. * Leading the adoption of data integration patterns and frameworks such as ETL/ELT, Data Mesh, and Event-Driven architectures. * Ensuring data quality, integrity, availability, and traceability across the entire data lifecycle. * Defining data models and exploitation strategies in collaboration with business, analytics, and engineering teams. * Overseeing security, governance, and regulatory compliance aspects (GDPR, data cataloging, access control, and data quality). * Evaluating emerging technologies and proposing improvements in terms of performance, cost, scalability, and maintainability. * Technically leading multidisciplinary teams, performing coaching and mentoring activities. * Coordinating complex Data initiatives, managing estimates, risks, dependencies, and key technical decisions. * Acting as the primary point of contact for clients and senior stakeholders. * Participating in consulting activities, solution definition, technical proposals, and pre-sales processes. * Contributing to the evolution of capabilities, standards, reference frameworks, and best practices within the Data discipline. **Requirements:** * More than 10 years of professional experience in the Data Architect domain. * Demonstrable experience leading complex initiatives related to Data Engineering, Big Data, Data Architecture, Data Strategy, Data Governance, and enterprise data platforms. * A solid and cross-cutting technical foundation within the Data ecosystem is required: * Large-scale data processing and transformation. * Distributed architectures and Big Data platforms. * Data integration and pipeline construction. * Relational and analytical databases. * Cloud environments oriented toward data. * Advanced knowledge of Python and SQL. * Experience with Big Data technologies, especially Apache Spark. * Experience with Cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP. * Experience with orchestration and distributed processing tools. * Databricks expertise will be particularly valued as a differentiating skill (nice to have). * Familiarity with Agile methodologies (Scrum/Kanban). * High level of English (B2/C1) for collaboration on international projects. **Key technologies we work with:** * Cloud Platforms: Azure (Data Factory, Synapse, Databricks, Event Hub), AWS (Glue, Redshift, S3, Kinesis), GCP (BigQuery, Dataflow, Pub/Sub). * Data Processing: Spark, Databricks, Flink, Beam, Airflow. * Databases and Storage: SQL Server, PostgreSQL, Snowflake, Delta Lake, Parquet, BigQuery. * Ingestion and Streaming: Kafka, Debezium, NiFi, AirByte, Event Hub, Pub/Sub. * Governance and Catalog: Unity Catalog, Collibra, Anjana, OpenMetadata, Purview. * Containers and Orchestration: Docker, Kubernetes. * Languages: Python, Scala, Java, SQL. **Personal competencies:** * Teamwork and multidisciplinary collaboration. * Excellent communication and influencing skills. * Ability to interact with technical, business, and executive stakeholders. * Consulting mindset and customer orientation. * Ability to define strategies and translate business needs into Data solutions. * Technical leadership and team mentoring. * Ability to produce and communicate technical documentation. * Proactivity and results orientation. * Interest in sharing knowledge and contributing to the growth of the Data practice. At GFT, we consider diversity one of our fundamental pillars and promote an inclusive work environment based on cooperation and mutual respect. We offer equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, cultural background, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or religious beliefs. GFT has developed and registered an Equality Plan outlining measures to achieve equal treatment and opportunities between women and men in the company and to eliminate, if present, any gender-based discrimination. Join our global team! ETL, Python, SQL