Director – Data Platforms, Architecture

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Oversee multiple teams and managers, ensuring each group is healthy, performs at a high level, and aligns with service line priorities.

• Direct architecture for significant Azure programs that encompass applications, platforms, and data.

• Align business objectives with cloud modernization roadmaps, define architectural frameworks, and facilitate multi-team execution.

• Establish technical direction across the organization and coordinate cross-team discovery efforts.

• Transform successful technical patterns into reusable models.

• Advocate for engineering, automation, and AI-assisted methodologies.

• Provide mentorship to Senior Architects and Delivery Architects.

• Maintain development plans for teams, coaching team members, and offering constructive feedback.

• Manage staffing and resource distribution across teams.

• Spearhead architecture and technical strategy for substantial Azure programs and portfolios.

• Create modernization blueprints and reference architectures covering applications, platforms, and data.

• Convert business and product strategies into cloud architecture roadmaps and execution strategies.

• Guide critical architectural decisions and resolve significant technical trade-offs.

• Offer architectural oversight through design reviews, forums, and governance processes.

• Define and own the enterprise data platform strategy focusing on Databricks or similar lakehouse architectures.

• Develop reference architectures that encompass ingestion, lakehouse, analytics, and AI/ML.

• Set standards for Databricks lakehouse design, Delta Lake optimization, streaming and batch processing, governance, security, and multi-region deployments.

• Integrate Databricks with Azure-native services and downstream analytics tools.

• Lead discussions with executives and senior stakeholders regarding cloud modernization, platform strategy, AI adoption, and program roadmaps.

• Establish discovery and delivery frameworks for consistent, incremental delivery across multiple teams and time zones.

• Monitor risks, technical debt, quality trends, and architectural drift.

• Assist in opportunity qualification, estimation, pursuits, and solution development.

• Mentor Senior Architects, Delivery Architects, and senior engineers.

• Create reference implementations, architecture decision records, playbooks, mentoring guides, and other educational resources.

• Identify account growth opportunities and drive sales pursuits as Pursuit Lead or Technical Solution Lead.

• Define reusable architectures, modernization playbooks, landing zone templates, workshops, accelerators, and starter repositories.

• Promote modern frameworks, cloud platform capabilities, automation, and AI-assisted tools.

• Contribute to cross-practice initiatives and enablement programs.

⛳️ Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field is preferred.

• 12+ years of experience in delivering solutions in primary domains such as application development, cloud platform engineering, DevOps, or data and analytics, with substantial work at the enterprise scale.

• 7+ years of experience in solution architecture and leading development or engineering teams, including multi-team or multi-workstream efforts at a program scale.

• 10+ years of experience in data platforms, data engineering, or consulting.

• Extensive architectural expertise with Databricks, including Spark optimization, Delta Lake, and workload design.

• Strong understanding of Azure-native data services and cloud architecture.

• Proven experience in architecting and implementing solutions using Microsoft technologies.

• Demonstrated experience leading architecture and delivery for Azure-based modernization, transformation, AI, or platform programs at enterprise scale.

• Experience in defining solution and platform architectures that align business strategy with scalable technical design, strong delivery practices, and measurable outcomes.

• Proven track record in leading hybrid and remote teams and collaborating with multiple stakeholders across time zones while ensuring alignment, quality, and predictable delivery.

• Deep understanding of core concepts, languages, frameworks, and design patterns in a primary domain, with the capability to apply them at system and program scale.

• Experience in designing and integrating quality, automation, and observability practices at scale, including automated testing strategies and embedding quality checks into delivery workflows.

• Familiarity with AI-augmented development and integrating AI and machine learning capabilities into solutions.

• Significant experience in Agile or Scrum environments at scale, including backlog structuring, dependency management, integration planning, and release management.

• Proven success in consulting or professional services, including client-facing leadership and executive engagement.

• Familiarity with key Azure services relevant to modern solutions in your domain.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, along with excellent presentation, written, and verbal communication skills for both technical and business audiences.

• Commitment to continuous learning in cloud, data, and AI.

• Ability to foster culture, inclusion, and community participation within the organization.

• Relevant cloud architecture certifications are strongly preferred.

• Experience with multiple cloud vendors and complementary platforms such as Snowflake, Microsoft Fabric, and Power BI is preferred.

• Experience in creating data platform offerings is preferred.

• Relevant certifications like Databricks Champion, Databricks Professional level, or Azure Solutions Architect Expert are preferred.

• Applicants must not require work visa sponsorship; 3Cloud cannot sponsor applicants for work visas.

🏝️ Benefits

• Flexible work location with a virtual-first approach to work.

• 401(K) with a match of up to 50% of your 6% contributions of eligible pay.

• Generous PTO offering a minimum of 15 days in addition to 9 paid company holidays and 2 floating personal days.

• Two medical plan options available.

• Option for vision and dental coverage.

• 100% employer-paid coverage for life and disability insurance.

• Paid leave for both birth parents and non-birth parents.

• Options for Healthcare FSA, HSA, and Dependent Care FSA.

• $67.00 monthly tech and home office allowance.

• Bonus eligibility based on role, either utilization or discretionary.

• Employee Assistance Program to support everyday challenges.