Global Data Platform – Lead Architect

The Platform Lead Architect will be responsible for defining the Platform Framework and Platform Capabilities, Platform Policies and ensuring their implementation by Sodexo Platform Teams (the Integration & Analytics Hubs).

This role is central to ensuring seamless data integration, scalability, and efficiency of our internal data system to support business intelligence, analytics, and real-time decision-making. The lead platform architect will collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver a robust, secure, and scalable data ecosystem aligned with the organizations strategic objectives.

Work Location: Mumbai / Gurgaon / Bangalore / Hyderabad

Roles & Responsibilities:

Architecture Design & Strategy:

• Design and implement scalable data architecture framework on Azure, incorporating API Hub, Azure iPaaS, Databricks, and Analytics Hub.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive data integration strategy that ensures seamless connectivity between diverse data sources and business applications.
• Ensure the Regional teams are properly onboarded on Platform Capabilities & Framework.
• Ensure cohesion with Enterprise Architecture, to ensure Platform Capabilities answer Business needs.

Data Governance & Security:

• Establish and enforce data governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations and organizational standards.
• Ensure robust data security and access management protocols are in place across all Azure services, including encryption, identity, and access controls.

Collaboration & Leadership:

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including data engineers, developers, analysts, and business stakeholders, to gather requirements and implement as Platform Patterns.
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to the platform teams to build aligned cohesive ecosystem.

API & Integration Management:

• Collaborate in the development of APIs framework within the API Hub and Azure iPaaS to ensure data consistency and real-time access across systems.
• Ensure patterns for API lifecycle management, including versioning, monitoring, and performance tuning are implemented.

Performance Optimization & Innovation:

• Ensure implementation of observability, monitoring and optimizations of data pipelines and cloud infrastructure, ensuring high availability, low latency, and cost-efficiency, capabilities are answering business and project needs.
• Stay updated on the latest Azure tools, features, and best practices, incorporating them into the architecture to drive innovation and improve business outcomes.

Documentation & Best Practices:

• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation of platform framework & patterns
• Define and promote best practices for data teams, utilizing platform patterns

Project Management & Delivery:

• Support the delivery of critical data projects, ensuring they benefit from platform patterns & standards effectively
• Manage stakeholder expectations and provide regular updates on platform progress, risks, and mitigation strategies.

Required Skills:

• 12+ years of professional experience in data architecture, data engineering, with a strong focus on Azure services.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing scalable cloud-based architectures using Azure components such as Azure Data Lake, Azure Databricks, Azure Synapse, and Azure iPaaS.
• In-depth experience with API management and API integration strategies, specifically with Azure API Management and other integration services.
• Experience in building modern Data Platforms, focused on Event-Driven Architectures, Microservices, APIs, Zero-Copy, Virtualization
• Is able to well communicate to various audiences (executives, project managers, developers) Platform Patterns and maintain documentation sharable with Enterprise Architects
• Strong background in data governance, security, and compliance frameworks, with knowledge of regulatory requirements like GDPR or HIPAA.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in overseeing complex data projects and managing cross-functional teams, with a focus on data integration, analytics, and performance optimization.
• Experience with Databricks for big data processing, machine learning pipelines, and advanced analytics is a must.
• Familiarity with Azure DevOps and CI/CD pipelines for deploying and managing cloud resources and APIs.
• Strong understanding of data modelling, ETL processes, and modern data architecture principles (e.g., Data Lakes, Data Warehouses, and Data Hubs).
• Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field. A Masters degree in a relevant discipline is a plus.
• Relevant certifications such as Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate, or similar cloud architecture certifications are highly desirable.