Principal Data Architect

Why Valtech? We’re the experience innovation company - a trusted partner to the world’s most recognized brands. To our people we offer growth opportunities, a values-driven culture, international careers and the chance to shape the future of experience. 

The opportunity

At Valtech, you’ll find an environment designed for continuous learning, meaningful impact, and professional growth. Whether you're pioneering new digital solutions, challenging conventional thinking or building the next generation of customer experiences, your work will help transform industries. 

We are proud of: 

• The work we do and the innovation we drive 
• Our values of share, care and dare 
• A workplace culture that fosters creativity, diversity and autonomy 
• Our borderless, global framework, which enables seamless collaboration 

 

The role  

As a Principal Data Architect at a digital transformation agency, you’ll define and lead data architecture strategy across multiple client engagements—shaping modern data platforms, guiding delivery teams, and acting as a trusted advisor to senior client stakeholders. You’ll balance hands-on architecture with leadership: setting standards, assuring quality, and helping teams ship secure, scalable, and cost-effective data solutions.

Role responsibilities

• Architecture leadership: Define target-state data architecture and roadmaps across cloud and hybrid environments; align to business outcomes and transformation goals.
  
• Platform design: Architect modern data platforms (lakehouse/warehouse, streaming, batch, semantic layers) with clear patterns for ingestion, modeling, governance, and consumption.
  
• Data modeling: Lead conceptual/logical/physical modeling, domain-oriented design, and analytical modeling (dimensional, Data Vault, wide-table patterns where appropriate).
  
• Integration & interoperability: Design APIs, event-driven/streaming architectures, data sharing patterns, and integration with enterprise apps and SaaS products.
  
• Governance & trust: Establish data governance, metadata management, lineage, MDM/reference data approaches, data quality frameworks, and stewardship operating models.
  
• Security & compliance: Embed security-by-design (IAM, encryption, secrets, network controls), privacy-by-design, and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR) into architectures.
  
• Delivery assurance: Provide technical oversight across projects—review designs, ensure best practices, manage architectural risks, and unblock teams.
  
• Client advisory: Lead architecture workshops, produce decision papers and architecture artifacts, present to C-level stakeholders, and influence investment decisions.
  
• Engineering collaboration: Partner with data engineers, analysts, ML engineers, and product teams to ensure designs are buildable, operable, and meet SLAs.
  
• Observability & operations: Define operational models (DataOps/MLOps), monitoring, incident response, SLOs, and cost/performance optimization.
  
• Practice building: Contribute to agency accelerators, reusable reference architectures, pre-sales discovery, proposals, and mentoring/coaching.
  

Typical deliverables

• Enterprise and solution architecture diagrams, reference architectures, and platform blueprints
  
• Data strategy and roadmap documents, capability assessments, and options appraisals
  
• Standards and guardrails (naming, modeling, security, SDLC/DataOps, CI/CD patterns)
  
• Data governance operating model, catalog/lineage approach, quality KPIs
  
• Non-functional requirements: performance, resilience, DR, availability, and cost model
  
• Architecture Decision Records (ADRs) and assurance reviews

Must have qualifications

To be considered for this role, you must meet the following essential qualifications:

• 10+ years in data architecture / data engineering, including leading architecture for complex programs
  
• Proven design of cloud data platforms (AWS/Azure/GCP) and modern analytics stacks
  
• Strong command of data modeling, distributed systems concepts, and integration patterns
  
• Experience with governance, metadata/lineage, data quality, and privacy/security controls
  
• Ability to communicate clearly with both engineers and senior business stakeholders
  
• Consulting experience: multi-client delivery, ambiguity management, workshop facilitation, and influencing without authority
  
• Strong written skills: concise architecture documentation and decision-making artifacts
  

Common technology exposure (varies by client)

• Cloud: Azure/AWS/GCP (landing zones, networking, IAM), Kubernetes optional
• Data platforms: Databricks, Snowflake, BigQuery, Synapse/Redshift, Fabric, lakehouse patterns
  
• Orchestration/ELT: Airflow, dbt, ADF, Fivetran/Matillion, CI/CD for data
  
• Streaming: Kafka, Kinesis, Pub/Sub, Event Hubs; CDC patterns

Leadership & behaviours

• Sets direction, establishes standards, and drives pragmatic decisions
• Coaches teams, raises the bar on quality, and builds reusable assets
• Balances innovation with maintainability, security, and cost control
• Comfortable owning outcomes in ambiguous environments

Reporting line & stakeholder landscape

Typically reports into a Data/Technology Practice Lead or CTO/CIO advisory team, and works closely with: client enterprise architects, security teams, product owners, data engineering leads, analysts, and delivery leadership.

Success measures

• Architectures adopted and successfully delivered with minimal rework
• Improved data trust (quality, lineage, governance) and measurable business outcomes
• Reduced platform cost and improved performance/reliability
• Strong client satisfaction and repeat engagement growth

Nice to have qualifications  

• Experience with enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF) and modeling notations (ArchiMate/UML)
• Experience with domain-driven design, data mesh, and federated governance models
• Knowledge of ML/AI platform needs (feature stores, model monitoring)
• Industry experience in regulated sectors (finance, public sector, health) 

 

If you do not meet all the listed qualifications or have gaps in your experience, we still encourage you to apply. At Valtech, we recognize that talent comes in many forms, and we value diverse perspectives and a willingness to learn. 

 

Commitment to reaching all kinds of people 

We design experiences that work for all kinds of people - and that starts with our own teams. At Valtech, we’re intentional about building an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported to grow, thrive and achieve their goals. No matter your background, you belong here. Explore our Diversity & Inclusion site to see how we’re creating a more equitable Valtech for all. 

 

The benefits  

Beyond a competitive compensation package, we offer: 

• Flexibility, with remote and hybrid work options (country-dependent) 
• Career advancement, with international mobility and professional development programs 
• Learning and development, with access to cutting-edge tools, training and industry experts 

Our benefits are tailored to each location. Your Talent Partner will provide full details during the hiring process. 

  

Your application process

Once you apply, our Talent Acquisition team will review your application. Your CV should cover key information on relevant experiences and expertise. We do not require information such as age, gender, marital status, or a headshot in your application. We review all candidates based on skills, experience, and potential.

⚠️ Beware of recruitment fraud!

We are committed to inclusion and accessibility. If you need reasonable accommodations during the interview process, please either indicate it in your application or let your Talent Partner know. 

  

About Valtech

Valtech is the experience innovation company that exists to unlock a better way to experience the world. By blending crafts, categories, and cultures, we help brands unlock new value in an increasingly digital world. 

At the intersection of data, AI, creativity, and technology, we drive transformation for leading organizations, including L’Oréal, Mars, Audi, P&G, Volkswagen Dolby, and more. 

At Valtech, we don’t just talk about transformation. We make it happen. Our people are the heart of our success, and we foster a workplace where everyone has the support to thrive, grow and innovate. 

Are you ready to create what’s next? Join us.