Job Purpose
The Data Architect is responsible for designing, developing, and governing enterprise data architecture to ensure business data is structured, integrated, secure, reliable, and accessible. The role supports business operations, reporting, analytics, digital transformation, and regulatory requirements by establishing scalable data models, integration frameworks, governance standards, and data management practices.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Data Architecture
- Design, maintain, and improve enterprise data architecture across business functions and technology platforms.
- Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models based on business and technical requirements.
- Define data architecture principles, standards, frameworks, and integration patterns.
- Align data architecture with business objectives, technology strategy, and digital transformation initiatives.
- Document data architecture components, dependencies, and technical standards.
Data Integration & Management
- Design and oversee data integration solutions connecting multiple applications, databases, and technology platforms.
- Define and support ETL and ELT processes for reliable movement and transformation of enterprise data.
- Develop scalable approaches for data collection, transformation, migration, and distribution.
- Identify and address data redundancy, duplication, fragmentation, and inconsistencies across systems.
- Support data migration initiatives and ensure data is transferred accurately between source and target environments.
Data Quality & Governance
- Establish data quality standards, controls, and validation processes across enterprise data environments.
- Support the implementation of data governance frameworks, policies, standards, and procedures.
- Promote consistent definitions, ownership, and management of critical business data.
- Support metadata management and maintain data lineage across relevant systems.
- Monitor data quality issues and recommend corrective actions to improve data accuracy, completeness, consistency, and reliability.
Data Security & Regulatory Compliance
- Work with cybersecurity, privacy, risk, and compliance teams to develop secure data architecture.
- Support data protection and privacy requirements applicable to operations in Saudi Arabia, including PDPL where applicable.
- Support compliance with relevant international data protection requirements, including GDPR where applicable.
- Define and support data classification, access control, and data protection standards.
- Ensure data architecture incorporates appropriate security and privacy controls.
Data Technology & Infrastructure
- Evaluate data architecture technologies, tools, platforms, and solutions based on business and technical requirements.
- Support the architecture and design of relational and non-relational database environments.
- Recommend scalable data platforms that support operational systems, analytics, reporting, and business intelligence.
- Support optimization of data platforms for performance, scalability, availability, and reliability.
- Stay updated on emerging data architecture, cloud data platforms, integration technologies, and data management practices.
Data Management & Lifecycle
- Support enterprise data lifecycle management from data creation and collection through storage, usage, retention, and disposal.
- Establish appropriate approaches for data collection, storage, processing, migration, and archiving.
- Identify opportunities to improve data accessibility, reliability, and usability.
- Support data planning and architecture initiatives for new applications and business projects.
- Ensure data structures and processes are designed to support future scalability and business growth.
Delivery & Operational Responsibilities
- Execute assigned data architecture activities according to project plans, priorities, and delivery schedules.
- Coordinate with business, technology, data, cybersecurity, and other stakeholders to deliver data architecture initiatives.
- Prepare periodic reports covering project progress, technical issues, deviations, and completed activities.
- Use available resources effectively to achieve data architecture objectives within agreed time and cost requirements.
Problem Solving
- Analyze complex data architecture, integration, quality, and migration issues.
- Identify root causes of data inconsistencies, integration failures, and performance challenges.
- Recommend practical technical solutions and escalate complex issues to the appropriate stakeholders when required.
Quality & Process Improvement
- Establish effective data quality controls and architecture standards.
- Identify opportunities to improve data management processes, architecture efficiency, and operational performance.
- Support automation opportunities across data integration, quality management, governance, and reporting processes.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives for enterprise data management.
Compliance
- Follow organizational policies, procedures, technical standards, and work instructions.
- Ensure data architecture activities comply with applicable data management, security, privacy, and regulatory requirements.
- Maintain appropriate documentation for architecture decisions, standards, processes, and controls.
Health, Safety & Environment
- Comply with relevant company health, safety, quality, and environmental policies and procedures applicable to the assigned work environment.
- Maintain professional and responsible working practices while performing technical and project activities.
Academic Qualification
- Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Data Management, Information Systems, or a related field.
Work Experience
- 6–10 years of relevant experience in data architecture, enterprise data management, data engineering, data governance, or related technology roles.
- Experience with enterprise data models, data integration, data quality, migration, and data lifecycle management is preferred.
Technical & Functional Skills
- Enterprise Data Architecture
- Data Modeling
- Data Analysis
- Data Collection
- Data Cleansing
- Data Integration
- ETL / ELT
- Data Migration
- Data Governance
- Data Quality Assurance
- Data Lifecycle Management
- Data Planning
- Metadata Management
- Data Lineage
- Database Architecture
- Relational & Non-Relational Databases
- Data Security & Access Control
- Data Classification
- Process Improvement
- Data Architecture Standards