Azure Data Lead/Architect

Data Lead/ Architect Domain: Banking Location: Minneapolis, MN (3-4 Days Onsite in a Week) Must Have - Technical Skills - Azure Analytics (Synapse, Databricks, Data Factory) - AI/ML (Azure ML, Cognitive Services) - Programming (Python/Java/Scala, SQL) - DevOps & CI/CD (Azure DevOps, Docker, Kubernetes) Problem-Solving Ability Communication Skills Collaboration with Offshore Teams Job Summary We are looking for a highly skilled Data Architect with strong Technical Program Management (TPM) capabilities, deep data modeling expertise, and hands-on experience with Azure Cloud. The ideal candidate will architect scalable data solutions, manage cross-functional programs, and ensure the delivery of enterprise-grade data platforms that enable analytics, AI/ML, and business intelligence initiatives. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Key Responsibilities • Define and own the data architecture strategy leveraging Azure cloud services (Azure Synapse, Data Factory, Databricks, Data Lake, Cosmos DB, etc.). • Design, implement, and optimize conceptual, logical, and physical data models to support data warehouse, lakehouse, and transactional systems. • Partner with business stakeholders, product owners, and engineering teams to translate requirements into scalable architecture. • Act as a Technical Program Manager (TPM) to oversee planning, execution, and delivery of large-scale data programs, managing dependencies and risks. • Ensure adherence to data governance, security, compliance, and performance standards. • Provide architectural guidance for ETL/ELT pipelines, data integrations, and API-driven architectures. • Collaborate with enterprise architects, cloud engineers, and data scientists to enable advanced analytics and AI/ML workloads. • Mentor and guide data engineers and modelers in best practices. • Monitor emerging technologies and propose enhancements to improve scalability and efficiency. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Required Qualifications • 10+ years of experience in data architecture and engineering, • Strong expertise in Azure Cloud Services: Azure Synapse, ADF, Databricks, Data Lake, SQL Database, Cosmos DB. • Advanced knowledge of data modeling techniques (dimensional, relational, star/snowflake schema, NoSQL). • Proven experience leading large-scale data programs/projects with cross-functional teams. • Proficiency in SQL, Python, and/or PySpark for data processing and modeling validation. • Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and program leadership skills. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Preferred Qualifications • Experience in BFSI, Wealth Management, or Telecom domains. • Azure Certifications (Data Engineer Associate, Solutions Architect, or Data Scientist). • Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines, DevOps practices, and automation for data solutions. • Knowledge of BI/Analytics tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Looker. \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Education • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, or a related field.