Data Architect Manager

We're looking for a hands-on Data Architect Manager (Azure & Modern Data Architecture) to modernize enterprise data architecture and build the foundation for AI, analytics, and trusted business reporting.

This is a technical leadership role for someone who enjoys both defining strategy and rolling up their sleeves to deliver. You'll lead the design and implementation of a modern cloud data platform, primarily within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem, while bringing experience with technologies such as Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake, Synapse, AWS, or similar platforms.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable establishing architectural standards, mentoring engineers, modernizing legacy data environments, and contributing directly to solution design and implementation.

This is not a traditional BI or reporting role. We're seeking a modern data platform expert who understands AI-ready architecture, lakehouse and medallion design patterns, governance, semantic consistency, and how to build trusted data products that support reporting, analytics, applications, data science, and AI-powered solutions.

Compensation

• Expected salary range is $160,000 - $190,000 per annum, commensurate with experience

What You'll Do

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of a modern cloud data platform, with a primary focus on Microsoft Azure technologies.
• Define scalable architectural patterns for data ingestion, transformation, medallion/lakehouse architecture, governance, security, lineage, testing, and data consumption.
• Build reusable, metadata-driven frameworks that simplify onboarding of new data sources, acquisitions, and evolving business requirements without creating one-off solutions.
• Develop governed, reusable data products that power Power BI, operational reporting, advanced analytics, data science, AI search, summarization, predictive analytics, and future AI agent workflows.
• Centralize business logic, metric definitions, and reusable transformations within governed, version-controlled platform layers instead of distributing logic across reports, spreadsheets, scripts, and stored procedures.
• Partner closely with BI, analytics, engineering, product, finance, and business teams to improve data quality, trust, platform adoption, and delivery speed.
• Establish engineering standards, mentor team members, perform architecture and code reviews, and contribute directly to implementation when needed.
• Help shape the organization's long-term data platform strategy while delivering practical, incremental improvements that create immediate business value.

What You'll Bring

• 7+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, analytics engineering, or modern cloud data platform delivery.
• Proven experience designing, building, or modernizing enterprise cloud data platforms using Azure, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Snowflake, Synapse, AWS, or comparable technologies.
• Strong understanding of lakehouse architecture, medallion design, data warehousing, and modern data modeling, with the judgment to apply dimensional modeling where it adds value without making it the center of every solution.
• Hands-on experience with technologies such as Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory, Microsoft Fabric, Databricks, Synapse Analytics, Power BI, Microsoft Purview, dbt, Snowflake, SQL, Python, Delta Lake, or equivalent tools.
• Deep knowledge of metadata-driven ingestion, schema evolution, pipeline automation, data quality, lineage, observability, security, governance, and access management.
• Experience preparing enterprise data for AI-enabled capabilities, including governed data access, semantic consistency, search, summarization, predictive analytics, machine learning, and agent-based workflows.
• Strong SQL and data engineering skills, with the ability to design, optimize, troubleshoot, and review complex data pipelines and transformations.
• Experience modernizing legacy environments with fragmented reporting logic, inconsistent business definitions, Power BI dependencies, stored procedures, and manual data processes.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical concepts for both technical and business stakeholders.
• A collaborative, hands-on leadership style with the ability to set direction, coach a small team, and actively contribute to architecture and implementation.

At Aplin — together with our brands CompuStaff, Impact Recruitment, and Vantix Systems — we connect great people with great organizations across North America. We believe diverse teams build stronger companies, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We use AI tools to assist in a fair and efficient matching process, helping our recruiters connect the right people with the right opportunities. To be considered, applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada, including holding any required permits. Our recruitment services are always free for job seekers.