Principal Enterprise Data & AI Architect

About the role

We are seeking a Principal Enterprise Data & AI Architect to lead data modernization and AI initiatives for UAE enterprise clients. The role focuses on designing and migrating large‑scale data platforms to Azure, integrating generative AI, and ensuring compliance with UAE data regulations.

Key responsibilities

• Define and standardize modern enterprise data and AI architectures using Azure Data Platform, Databricks, Snowflake, and Microsoft Fabric.
• Design high‑scale Data Lakehouse, Data Mesh, and Master Data Management frameworks with centralized lineage and cataloguing.
• Analyse legacy data models and drive large‑scale cloud migrations.
• Architect fault‑tolerant ETL/ELT pipelines for streaming and batch workloads on Azure.
• Build scalable Generative AI ecosystems, including LLM integration, RAG pipelines, agentic workflows and vector search, with MLOps governance.
• Implement automated data profiling, cleansing, validation and reconciliation to ensure zero data loss.
• Enforce fine‑grained security, RBAC/ABAC, encryption and Microsoft Purview to meet UAE compliance.
• Lead cutover planning, migration runbooks, performance tuning of Spark, SQL and storage, and provide executive advisory to C‑suite stakeholders.
• Manage cross‑functional engineering squads and align business objectives with data governance councils.

Required profile

• Minimum 18 years of experience in data architecture and engineering, with proven delivery of enterprise Azure migrations.
• Strong background in enterprise architecture strategy and senior‑level client advisory.
• Experience leading large, cross‑functional teams and presenting to C‑suite audiences.
• Relevant certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect, Databricks, Snowflake are highly preferred.

Required skills

• Azure Data Platform
• Databricks
• Snowflake
• Microsoft Fabric
• Data Lakehouse, Data Mesh, Master Data Management
• ETL/ELT pipeline design (streaming & batch)
• Generative AI, LLM integration, RAG pipelines, vector search
• MLOps
• Microsoft Purview
• RBAC / ABAC, encryption
• Spark
• SQL
• Data profiling and reconciliation tools