Sr Data Architect

About the role

In this role, we are seeking an experienced, hands-on, and innovative Data Architect with expertise in the Azure Cloud platform to design, implement, and optimize scalable data solutions. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in data architecture, cloud solutions, and experience with healthcare and benefits data systems. They will work closely with a cross functional team of Data, DevOps, and Analytics engineers to architect a robust data platform for H&B, ensure efficient data management, and support enterprise-level decision making process. The role will work on products which include high concurrency, highly transactional systems as well as big data systems with complex reporting and business intelligence requirements. The Data Architect will evaluate and improve existing database structures and play a crucial role in creating evolutionary data models that converge into one global data platform. 

As an integral part of the global data platform technology team, you will require to analyze an array of existing product offerings and business requirements within the organization. The role will work closely with the Business stakeholders and Client Delivery teams to evaluate and identify solutions that meet the needs of the business, utilizing industry standard best practices and creative design techniques to overcome complex business and technical challenges (e.g. maximum performance with complex data sets). 

• Partner with other architecture resources to lead the end-to-end architecture of the health and benefits data platform using Azure services, ensuring scalability, flexibility, and reliability.
• Develop broad understanding of the data lake architecture, including the impact of changes on a whole system, the onboarding of clients and the security implications of the solution.
• Design a new or improve upon existing architecture including data ingestion, storage, transformation and consumption layers. 
• Define data models, schemas, and database structures optimized for H&B use cases including claims, census, placement, broking and finance sources.
• Designing solutions for seamless integration of diverse health and benefits data sources.
• Implement data governance and security best practices in compliance with industry standards and regulations using Microsoft Purview.
• Evaluate data lake architecture to understand how technical decisions may impact business outcomes and suggest new solutions/technologies that better align to the Health and Benefits Data strategy. 
• Draw on internal and external practices to establish data lake architecture best practices and standards within the team and ensure that they are shared and understood.
• Continuously develop technical knowledge and be recognised as a key resource across the global team.
• Collaborate with other specialists and/or technical experts to ensure H&B Data Platform is delivering to the highest possible standards and that solutions support stakeholder needs and business requirements.
• Initiate practices that will increase code quality, performance and security.
• Develop recommendations for continuous improvements initiatives, applying deep subject matter knowledge to provide guidance at all levels on the potential implications of changes.
• Build the team’s technical expertise/capabilities/skills through the delivery of regular feedback, knowledge sharing, and coaching.
• High learning adaptability, demonstrating understanding of the implications of technical issues on business requirements and / or operations.
• Analyze existing data design and suggest improvements that promote performance, stability and interoperability.
• Work with product management and business subject matter experts to translate business requirements into good data lake design.
• Maintain the governance model on the data lake architecture through training, design reviews, code reviews, and progress reviews.
• Participate in the development of Data lake Architecture and Roadmaps in support of business strategies
• Communication with key stakeholders and development teams on technical solutions. Convince and present proposals by way of high-level solutions to end users and/or stakeholders.

The Requirements

• Candidate must have significant experience in a technology related discipline, such as IT or Engineering with a Bachelor's/College Degree in these areas being beneficial.
• Strong experience in databases, tools and methodologies 
• Strong skills across a broad range of database technologies including Azure Data Factory, Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Databricks, Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Lake Storage, and other Azure Services. 
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Fabric is preferred.
• Data Analysis, Data Modeling, Data Integration, Data Warehousing, Database Design
• Experience with database performance evaluation and remediation
• Develop strategies for data acquisitions, archive recovery and implementation
• Be able to design and develop Databases, Data Warehouses and Multidimensional Databases
• Experience in Data Governance including Microsoft Purview, Azure Data Catalogue, Azure Data Share, and other Azure tools.
• Familiarity with legal risks related to data usage and rights. 
• Experience in data security, including Azure Key Vault, Azure Data Encryption, Azure Data Masking, Azure Data Anonymization, and Azure Active Directory.
• Ability to develop database strategies for flexible high-performance reporting and business intelligence
• Experience using data modeling tools & methodology
• Experience working within an Agile Scrum Development Life Cycle, across varying levels of Agile maturity
• Experience working with geographically distributed scrum teams
• Excellent verbal and writing skills, including the ability to research, design, and write new documentation, as well as to maintain and improve existing material

Subject Matter Expertise

• Developing expertise
  • You strengthen your depth and/or breadth of subject matter knowledge and skills across multiple areas. 
  • You define the expertise required in your area based on emerging technologies, industry practices. You build the team’s capability accordingly. 
• Applying expertise
• You apply subject matter knowledge and skills across multiple areas to assess the impact of complex issues and implement long-term solutions. You foster innovation using subject matter knowledge to enhance tools, practices, and processes for the team.

Solution Development

• Systems thinking
  • You lead and foster collaboration across H&B Data Platform Technology to develop solutions to complex issues.
  • You apply a whole systems approach to evaluating impact, and take ownership for ensuring links between structure, people and processes are made.
• Focusing on quality
• You instill a quality mindset to the team and ensure the appropriate methods, processes and standards are in place for teams to deliver quality solutions. You create and deliver improvement initiatives.

Technical Communication

• Simplifying complexity
  • You develop tools, aids and/or original content to support the delivery and/or understanding of complex information. You guide others on best practice.
• Influencing stakeholders
• You are adaptive across a range of situations, effectively tailoring your delivery methods based on your knowledge of stakeholders to have maximum impact and influence

WTW is an Equal Opportunity Employer