Data Architect (m/f/d)

About the Job

The Data Architect will own the architectural design of the cyber data platform and its data pipelines. The platform is live and in daily use; this role will shape how it evolves. The role combines data architecture expertise, a strong grasp of modern Azure data technologies, an understanding of the regulatory requirements that apply to sensitive security data, and the ability to work with security architects, platform teams and data owners to agree the right patterns.

You will be responsible for setting best practice in data flows and pipeline design, assessing and introducing new platform capabilities needed for analytics (including AI and machine learning features), and ensuring the platform continues to meet security and regulatory expectations as it moves from Azure Synapse to Azure Databricks.

What you do

• Define the target architecture for the cyber data platform and the standard patterns for ingestion, transformation, modelling and serving of data. Define and promote best practice for data flows and pipeline design across the platform, ensuring solutions are consistent, scalable and maintainable.
• Produce reference designs that data engineers can reuse, and review their solution designs for consistency and quality. Shape the architecture and migration approach for the move from Azure Synapse to Azure Databricks.
• Assess new platform features required for analytics, such as AI and machine learning services, generative AI tooling, streaming and data governance capabilities. Run or support proofs of concept, make clear adoption recommendations and maintain a technology roadmap for the platform. Keep the platform cost-effective and performant as data volumes and the number of use cases grow.
• Ensure the architecture meets regulatory requirements for handling sensitive and personal data (for example GDPR and financial-sector resilience regulation) and Allianz data classification and access-control standards. Design for data lineage, retention, quality and auditability, and support audit and regulatory requests with evidence from the platform
• Work with security architects and other stakeholders to identify the right pipeline development pattern for each new use case. Partner with the central data team that onboards new data sources, agreeing interfaces, standards and responsibilities. Represent the platform in architecture governance and explain design choices to engineers, security specialists and leadership.
• Work in an agile team: contribute to backlog refinement, sprint planning and reviews, and take ownership of items from start to finish. Collaborate daily with colleagues in other disciplines and locations, sharing knowledge and helping where the team needs it most. Document architecture decisions in a lightweight, reviewable form that keeps pace with delivery.
• You will be a strong collaborator who enjoys working in a multidisciplinary, multi-geography team and builds trusted relationships across technical and non-technical colleagues. Comfortable in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities, able to balance quality with momentum. Takes ownership and sees work through to a usable outcome rather than handing it on half-finished. Pragmatic and curious, with sound judgement and attention to detail as well as the ability to hold a long-term architectural view while helping the team solve technical challenges and focus on delivery.

What you bring

• Advanced experience designing cloud data platforms and data pipelines in analytics platforms, including Azure Synapse and Databricks (Delta Lake, Spark, Unity Catalog or equivalent governance tooling). Experience assessing and introducing new data and AI technologies into an existing platform.
• Strong data modelling skills and experience defining data standards, governance, lineage and quality practices. A good understanding of regulatory and security requirements for sensitive data in a regulated industry.
• Experience working with security or enterprise architects and with engineering teams to agree and implement design patterns. Experience of agile ways of working and of documenting architecture in a lightweight manner.
• Strong communication skills in English, with the ability to explain technical design to non-technical audiences.
• Cyber security domain knowledge, for example vulnerability management, identity and access management, security operations or control assurance.
• Desirable: Programming or data engineering background, with applied knowledge in python, sql and other languages; Familiarity with Power BI semantic modelling and what makes a dataset performant for reporting; Experience with the wider Azure ecosystem, such as Data Factory, Fabric or AI Foundry and experience assessing and integrating AI and machine learning platform capabilities (for example Azure AI Foundry, Databricks Mosaic AI or MLflow) into data pipelines.
• Infrastructure as code and DevOps / CI-CD approaches for data platforms; Experience supporting audit or regulatory reporting in a financial-services environment; Relevant certifications in Azure, Databricks, data architecture or cyber security are not required but represent a strong advantage.

What we offer

• We offer a hybrid work model which recognizes the value of striking a balance between in-person collaboration and remote working incl. up to 25 days per year working from abroad.
• We believe in rewarding performance and our compensation and benefits package includes a company bonus scheme, pension, employee shares program and multiple employee discounts (details vary by location).
• From career development and digital learning programs to international career mobility, we offer lifelong learning for our employees worldwide and an environment where innovation, delivery and empowerment are fostered.
• Flexible working, health and wellbeing offers (including healthcare and parental leave benefits) support to balance family and career and help our people return from career breaks with experience that nothing else can teach.

About Allianz Technology

With its headquarters in Munich, Germany, Allianz Technology is Allianz's global IT service provider and delivers IT solutions that drive the group's digitalization. With more than 11,000 employees in over 20 countries around the world, Allianz Technology is tasked to run, optimize, transform and innovate the infrastructure, applications and services together with Allianz companies to co-create the best customer experience.

We service the entire spectrum of digitalization – from one of the industry's largest IT infrastructure projects that spans data centres, networks and security, to application platforms ranging from workplace services to digital interaction.

In short: We deliver comprehensive end-to-end IT solutions for Allianz in the digital age. We are the backbone of Allianz.

Find us at: www.linkedin.com/company/allianz-technology.

Commitment to Integrity, Fairness & Inclusion

Allianz Group is one of the most trusted insurance and asset management companies in the world. Caring for our employees, their ambitions, dreams and challenges, is what makes us a unique employer. Together we can build an environment where everyone feels empowered and has the confidence to explore, to grow and to shape a better future for our customers and the world around us.

We at Allianz believe in a strong inclusive culture that encourages people to speak their minds, get involved and question the status quo. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and encourage you to bring your whole self to work, no matter where you are from, what you look like, who you love, or what you believe in. We therefore welcome applications regardless of race, ethnicity or cultural background, age, gender, nationality, religion, social class, disability, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected under applicable local laws and regulations.

To Recruitment Agencies

Allianz Technology has an in-house recruitment team that sources great candidates directly. Therefore, Allianz Technology does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies or search firm recruiters.

When we do work with recruitment agencies, that engagement is formalized by a contract. Fees will only be paid when there is a contract in place. Without a contract in place, we will not accept invoices on unsolicited resumes, even if the candidate was ultimately employed by Allianz.

109182 | IT & Tech Engineering | Professional | Non-Executive | Allianz Technology | Full-Time | Permanent