Data Architecture Lead

About the Role
We are seeking an authoritative, highly articulate Data Architecture Lead to serve as the ultimate Design Authority for the enterprise data estate across our major banking engagements in Dubai. In this role, you will define and govern the target data architecture, preventing structural fragmentation across parallel project streams, legacy core platforms, and modern cloud ecosystems. Operating across Retail Banking Group (RBG) modernizations, mobile banking backends, and real-time digital customer journeys, you will hold formal sign-off authority over solution designs, evaluate the architectural validity of change requests, and present confidently to senior C-level stakeholders—defending design integrity and standing up to challenge from project teams and external vendors.

What You’ll Do

• Serve as Estate Design Authority: Act as the ultimate design authority for the enterprise data estate, ensuring architectural alignment and actively preventing fragmentation across parallel delivery streams.
• Define Strategy & Reference Models: Define, document, and maintain the enterprise target data architecture, data modeling standards, and multi-year data roadmaps aligned with digital banking modernizations.
• Run Design Authority Governance: Establish and lead the formal Design Authority board—reviewing, challenging, and approving all solution designs before build execution begins.
• Power Mobile & Digital Customer Journeys: Architect high-throughput, low-latency data pipelines and event-driven architectures supporting real-time mobile banking app interactions and personalized digital customer flows.
• Assure SteerCo Content & Challenge Designs: Review and assure the architectural content within all Steering Committee (SteerCo) packs, actively challenging any proposed designs or technical approaches that diverge from the target state.
• Audit Change Requests & Resolve Delays: Rigorously evaluate cost estimates and Change Requests (CRs) to verify architectural justification, conduct root-cause analysis on technical delays, and flag cross-project trade-offs for Sponsor escalation.

As an AI consultancy, our greatest asset is the expertise of our people. While technical mastery is the foundation of what we do, the ability to bridge the gap between complex data science and actionable business value is what defines your success with us. We're looking for individuals who are not only world-class in their fields of specialism but also compelling communicators and persuasive advocates for their own skills. You will be the face of our firm, tasked with building trust, articulating the "why" behind your technical decisions, and effectively "selling" your vision to high-level stakeholders. If you thrive on the challenge of presenting cutting-edge solutions as much as you do on building them, you will fit right in.

Requirements
What We’re Looking For

• Proven Architecture Leadership: 10+ years of data architecture experience defining enterprise data strategies within top-tier consultancies or major financial institutions.
• Retail Banking Expertise: Solid background architecting enterprise data solutions within Retail Banking (RBG) environments.
• Digital Journeys & Mobile Apps: Demonstrated experience supporting client-facing mobile banking applications, high-concurrency microservices data layers, or end-to-end digital customer journey modernizations.
• Exceptional Communication & Presentation: World-class verbal, written, and visual presentation skills; adept at translating complex data models into clear, compelling executive narratives.
• Senior Stakeholder Gravitas: Proven ability to present to C-level executives (CTO, CDO, CIO), defend design choices under scrutiny, manage technical pushback constructively, and guide strategic decisions.
• Commercial & Governance Rigor: Ability to evaluate cloud compute/storage costs, bill-of-materials, and vendor change requests on architectural grounds to protect contract margins.

What Gives You an Edge

• GCC / UAE Banking Exposure: Direct experience leading data architecture initiatives for major banks in the UAE or GCC region.
• Architecture Certifications: TOGAF Certified, AWS Certified Data Analytics / Solutions Architect – Professional, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Databricks Certified Architect.

Why You Should Join Us
At our consultancy, you will hold strategic authority over enterprise-scale data transformations. You will work alongside world-class technical peers, lead governance frameworks, and serve as the trusted architectural partner to executive bank sponsors.

Benefits
The benefits you'll enjoy as part of this role include:

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive 'Gold Level' personal health insurance
• Individual Visa Sponsorship
• Professional development and certification support
• Subscription reimbursement relating to your role
• Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI projects
• Monthly Employee Incentive program
• Career advancement opportunities in a rapidly growing AI company

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of AI implementation while working with a talented team of professionals at the forefront of technological innovation. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in driving our company's success in delivering transformative AI solutions to our clients.

We recognise that diversity drives innovation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals with different thinking styles can thrive and contribute their unique strengths to our specialised AI and data solutions. Our goal is to ensure our application and interview process is accessible, predictable, and fair for all candidates. If you require any specific adjustments to the application process or any reasonable adjustments should you be successful in being processed to the interview stage, please let us know. This information will be kept strictly confidential and will not impact hiring decisions.