data architect - Application Architect-Azure Cloud Migration @ IBM

We are seeking a seasoned Azure Data Architect to lead our data modernization initiatives, leveraging Microsoft Fabric and the modern Azure Data Stack. The ideal candidate will design end-to-end data solutions, transforming legacy data architectures into high-performance lakehouse/mesh architectures. You will define best practices for data ingestion, processing, and governance while acting as the technical authority for our data engineering teams. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Architectural Design & Strategy (Microsoft Fabric Focus)

• Define and implement end-to-end data architecture strategies covering Data Lakes, Warehouses, and Lakehouses using Microsoft Fabric (OneLake, Lakehouse, DirectLake).
• Architect modern data integration patterns, prioritizing Fabric Dataflows Gen2 Fabric Data Pipelines, and Azure Data Factory (ADF).
• Design and implement Data Mesh architectures, focusing on domain-driven design and reusable data products. 

2. Data Engineering & Pipeline Development

• Design high-performance, scalable ETL/ELT pipelines using PySpark SQL, and Databricks.
• Implement Medallion Architecture (Bronze, Silver, Gold layers) for structured data processing.
• Architect real-time and event-driven ingestion patterns using Fabric Event Streams KQL, and Kafka. 

3. Governance, Security, and Optimization

• Establish governance frameworks for OneLake, including RBAC, data lineage, and naming conventions.
• Implement data cataloging, sensitivity labeling, and security using Microsoft Purview.
• Optimize cloud-based data infrastructure for performance, cost-effectiveness, and scalability (including cluster management in Databricks). 

4. Leadership & Consulting

• Lead client workshops, requirement discovery sessions, and modern data stack roadmaps.
• Mentor data engineers on best practices for Spark/PySpark development and Azure DevOps CI/CD implementation.
• Support pre-sales activities, including effort estimation and technical proposals.