Senior Enterprise Architect – Databricks

Key Responsibilities

Technical Design Authority Leadership

• Lead and chair the Technical Design Authority (TDA), reviewing and approving solution designs across Databricks workstreams
• Establish and govern architecture review processes, including submission standards, governance forums, decision logs, and approval workflows
• Ensure architectural alignment with enterprise standards, target-state roadmaps, and platform strategies
• Identify, manage, and mitigate architecture risks, exceptions, and technical dependencies raised through governance processes

Enterprise & Solution Architecture

• Provide architecture assurance for Databricks Lakehouse implementations, including data ingestion, medallion architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and compute strategies
• Validate integration patterns across Databricks, cloud platforms, enterprise applications, and data ecosystems
• Define and maintain reference architectures, architecture principles, design patterns, and technical standards
• Drive standardization and reuse of architectural components to reduce technical debt and improve delivery efficiency

Security, Governance & Compliance

• Ensure solutions comply with security-by-design principles, data privacy requirements, and enterprise governance frameworks
• Collaborate with Cyber Security, Risk, and Data Governance teams to ensure control effectiveness and regulatory compliance
• Oversee architecture assurance activities related to data protection, identity management, monitoring, and auditability
• Maintain documented architecture decisions and governance evidence for audit and assurance purposes

Stakeholder Management & Advisory

• Act as the senior architecture authority across delivery teams, business stakeholders, and third-party partners
• Present architecture recommendations, governance outcomes, and technical risks to executive leadership and governance boards
• Facilitate architecture workshops, design reviews, and decision-making forums with cross-functional stakeholders
• Build strong relationships with technology, security, infrastructure, and program delivery teams to drive alignment

Delivery Oversight

• Support solution teams in resolving complex technology challenges and architectural decisions
• Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise objectives
• Monitor architectural compliance throughout design, development, testing, and deployment phases
• Provide guidance and oversight to ensure consistent delivery quality across multiple workstreams

Skills & Experience

Domain Expertise

• Strong experience in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, and architecture governance functions
• Deep understanding of modern data platforms, cloud-native architectures, and large-scale data modernization programs
• Experience establishing and managing Technical Design Authority (TDA) or equivalent architecture governance frameworks
• Knowledge of enterprise data management, governance, security, and regulatory requirements

Functional Skills

• Proven experience leading architecture reviews, design assurance processes, and governance forums
• Strong expertise in architecture documentation, standards development, and decision management
• Ability to balance strategic architecture objectives with practical delivery requirements
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across technical and business audiences

Technical Skills

• Strong hands-on knowledge of Databricks including Lakehouse Architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and platform governance
• Experience with cloud platforms supporting Databricks environments, including AWS and/or Azure
• Solid understanding of enterprise integration patterns, data architecture, API ecosystems, and data governance controls
• Familiarity with infrastructure, security, networking, and platform architecture considerations for cloud environments
• Knowledge of architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture methodologies

Delivery Experience

• Experience leading architecture governance within large-scale enterprise transformation programs
• Strong collaboration across architecture, security, engineering, infrastructure, and delivery teams
• Experience supporting full solution lifecycle activities from design through implementation and operational readiness
• Proven ability to manage multiple architectural workstreams in complex delivery environments

Personal Attributes

• Strong communicator with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and executive audiences
• Strategic thinker capable of driving long-term architectural vision while supporting immediate delivery needs
• Analytical and solution-focused mindset with strong decision-making capabilities
• Collaborative leader who can build alignment across diverse teams and organizations
• Proactive and adaptable, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and evolving business priorities

Contribution to Development of Practice

• Contribute to the development of enterprise architecture and governance capabilities within the Data & AI Consulting practice
• Support the creation and maintenance of reusable architecture assets, reference architectures, standards, and accelerators
• Drive knowledge sharing and mentoring across architecture communities and delivery teams
• Contribute to thought leadership, white papers, client proposals, and governance best practices related to modern data platforms and architecture assurance