Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced Data Solution Architect to lead the design and delivery of compliant, scalable, and value-driven data solutions for governmental and semi-governmental entities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ideal candidate has hands-on experience with KSA data regulations, particularly SDAIA frameworks, and has previously delivered compliance-focused data initiatives within the public sector. Strong exposure to Data Governance, Data Value Realization, and enterprise data platforms is highly preferred.
Key Responsibilities
- Design end-to-end data architectures (data platforms, integration, analytics, and AI/ML readiness) aligned with business objectives and regulatory requirements.
- Ensure full compliance with SDAIA regulations, including PDPL, data classification, data sharing, and national data governance frameworks.
- Lead and contribute to data compliance projects for governmental entities, from assessment to implementation and audit readiness.
- Define and implement data governance models, including data ownership, stewardship, data quality, metadata management, and data lifecycle management.
- Drive Data Value Realization by linking data initiatives to measurable business and policy outcomes (KPIs, benefits tracking, and use-case prioritization).
- Architect and oversee enterprise data integration solutions, including batch and near-real-time pipelines.
- Design and govern data platforms and analytical layers to support reporting, dashboards, and advanced analytics.
- Collaborate with business, IT, legal, compliance, and leadership stakeholders to translate requirements into robust data solutions.
- Produce architectural artifacts such as target architectures, solution designs, roadmaps, standards, and policies.
- Support technology selection, integration, and best practices across on-prem, cloud, or hybrid environments.
- Mentor technical teams and contribute to architectural governance and standards.
Required Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field (Master's preferred).
- 8+ years of experience in data architecture, data engineering, or data solutions within large-scale or regulated environments.
- Proven experience working in KSA, with strong understanding of SDAIA regulations and national data frameworks.
- Demonstrated experience delivering data governance and compliance projects for governmental or highly regulated entities.
- Strong experience in Data Governance and Data Value Realization frameworks and practices.
- Fluency in Arabic (spoken and written) is mandatory; strong professional English required.
- Availability to work on-site in Riyadh.
Technical Skills (Mandatory)
- Informatica for ETL and data integration (PowerCenter, IDMC, or equivalent).
- Cloudera data platform for large-scale data processing and analytics.
- Denodo for data virtualization and logical data layer implementation.
- Power BI for enterprise reporting, dashboards, and data visualization.
- Strong understanding of data modeling (conceptual, logical, and physical).
- Experience with data quality, metadata management, and master/reference data concepts.
Preferred Skills & Certifications
- Experience with government-scale data platforms and interoperability initiatives.
- Exposure to advanced analytics or AI/ML enablement on enterprise data platforms.
- Certifications such as TOGAF, DAMA-CDMP, Informatica, Cloudera, or Power BI are a plus.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, particularly in government environments.
