Senior Data Architect
Join us
At Vodafone, we’re not just shaping the future of connectivity for our customers – we’re shaping the future for everyone who joins our team. When you work with us, you’re part of a global mission to connect people, solve complex challenges, and create a sustainable and more inclusive world. If you want to grow your career whilst finding the perfect balance between work and life, Vodafone offers the opportunities to help you belong and make a real impact.
Role summary
Role purpose:
To design a unified, scalable, and secure data blueprint in conjunction with the tech group to integrate scattered network and business data. This role ensures that all data projects are in line with business vision while maintaining a unified standard across all departments to avoid data silos.
Role responsibilities
Key responsibilities:
Define and drive the enterprise data and AI architecture.
Design scalable data lake, data warehouse, and lakehouse solutions.
Lead AI and generative AI architecture initiatives, including RAG and LLM-based solutions.
Establish data governance, security, and best practices.
Collaborate with business and technology teams to deliver innovative, data-driven solutions.
Technology stack ownership and alignment with data group technology: Lead the evaluation and selection of all data tools and ensure group approval for these tools (e.g., choosing the data virtualization tools, choosing the cloud provider, or the data lake technology). Also responsible for reporting to the group architecture maturity index and initiating any project to meet it.
Enterprise data transformation: Assess current and planned architecture and identify gaps towards trustworthy data and work on high-level design for these projects to ensure engagement of business and governance – during the project, the architect will act as principal architect responsible for ensuring that objectives and KPIs are achieved.
Data infrastructure readiness for AI: Preparing the data foundation so that internal data scientists can safely use data in their models to learn. If any gaps are discovered, he/she should put a roadmap to close them.
Architectural enablement for "intelligent data apps": The architect must ensure the data infrastructure perfectly supports “intelligent data software products” that add more analytical insights for business (in and out data flow) and future-proof visualization tools.
Business alignment, governance, and lifecycle management: The architect ensures the technology roadmap serves business demand and maintains the long-term health of the data ecosystem.
Not a perfect fit?
Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about empowering people and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to still apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another opportunity.
Role requirements
Required skills:
Telecom experience (mandatory).
AI project experience (preferred).
Extensive experience in data architecture and enterprise architecture.
Expertise in data warehousing, lakehouse, ETL/ELT, and data modeling.
Hands-on experience with AI, machine learning, and generative AI architectures.
Experience with modern data platforms, MLOps, and data governance.
Excellent communication and leadership skills.
Core competencies, knowledge, and experience:
Technical expertise: Strong understanding of modern data architectures (e.g., Big Data, DWH, AI systems, and real-time data streaming), tools, and programming languages.
Leadership: Ability to inspire and align diverse teams, manage complex projects, and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Strategic thinking: Capable of balancing short-term deliverables with long-term vision and scalability.
Communication skills: Clear articulation of technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Problem-solving: Proactive and solution-oriented, with the ability to tackle complex challenges under tight deadlines.
Agile community experience:
Working in agile teams to ensure delivering the needed quality gates and proactive actions.
Must have technical/professional qualifications:
10+ years of experience in IT and maintaining large-scale data solutions.
Telecom experience (mandatory).
Knowledge of the different vendors' technology in telecommunication and IT industry.
Customer focus and ability to interact with decision makers.
AI project experience (preferred).
Who we are
We are a leading international telco, serving millions of customers. At Vodafone, we believe that connectivity is a force for good. If we use it for the things that really matter, it can improve people's lives and the world around us. Through our technology we empower people, connecting everyone regardless of who they are or where they live, and we protect the planet whilst helping our customers do the same.
Belonging at Vodafone isn't a concept; it's lived, breathed, and cultivated through everything we do. You'll be part of a global and diverse community, with many different minds, abilities, backgrounds, and cultures. We're committed to increasing diversity, ensuring equal representation, and making Vodafone a place everyone feels safe, valued, and included.
If you require any reasonable adjustments or have an accessibility request as part of your recruitment journey, for example, extended time or breaks in between online assessments, please contact the recruitment team for guidance.
Together we can.