Principal AWS Data Architect

HireOn is seeking a highly experienced Principal AWS Data Architect to lead the technical direction of enterprise data engineering and cloud data platform initiatives for a prominent client. This role requires a seasoned data professional with deep architectural expertise and hands-on experience in AWS technologies to design and implement secure, scalable, and reliable data ecosystems. The successful candidate will be responsible for owning the data platform architecture, guiding engineering teams, and ensuring that data solutions align with performance, governance, security, and business objectives. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Lahore, Karachi, or Islamabad, Pakistan.

Key Responsibilities

- Cloud Data Architecture: Develop comprehensive enterprise data platform blueprints and define scalable architecture patterns tailored for AWS-based environments.
- Data Pipeline Engineering: Design and implement robust data ingestion, transformation, integration, and processing workflows capable of handling high-volume datasets.
- AWS Processing Frameworks: Build and optimize ETL and distributed processing solutions using AWS Glue, Amazon EMR, and AWS Lambda.
- Workflow Automation: Create orchestrated data workflows, scheduling mechanisms, and dependency management using Amazon MWAA (Apache Airflow).
- Data Storage & Analytics: Architect data lake and data warehouse solutions leveraging Amazon S3 and Amazon Redshift, selecting appropriate storage and processing patterns for analytical workloads.
- Data Modeling: Develop effective data models for relational, dimensional, analytical, and NoSQL use cases, including Amazon DynamoDB.
- Governance & Data Discovery: Implement metadata management, data cataloging, discovery, and governance practices using AWS Glue Data Catalog and AWS DataZone.
- Security & Compliance: Define and enforce access policies, identity controls, encryption standards, and secure data handling practices across cloud data environments.
- Platform Reliability: Establish monitoring, logging, and operational visibility using Amazon CloudWatch, enhancing system resilience and maintainability.
- Performance & Cost Management: Identify bottlenecks, optimize processing workloads, and manage AWS resource utilization to improve efficiency and control costs.
- Architecture Leadership: Review technical designs, establish engineering standards, evaluate architectural trade-offs, and mentor data engineering teams.
- Platform Transformation: Lead data migration, cloud modernization, and architecture improvement initiatives aligned with evolving business needs.

Required Qualifications

- Minimum of 12 years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or large-scale data platform development.
- Proven track record of designing and delivering enterprise data solutions on AWS.
- Hands-on experience in designing complex data pipelines and distributed processing workflows.
- Strong ability to make informed architecture decisions covering storage, processing, integration, governance, and security domains.
- Demonstrated success in enhancing data platform performance, scalability, reliability, and cost efficiency.
- Experience providing technical leadership, mentoring engineering teams, and aligning architecture with business goals.
- Expertise with AWS technology stack including AWS Glue, Glue Data Catalog, Amazon EMR, AWS Lambda, Amazon MWAA, Amazon S3, Amazon Redshift, Amazon DynamoDB, AWS DataZone, Amazon EC2, and Amazon CloudWatch.
- Proficiency in enterprise data platform design, data lake and warehouse architecture, ETL/ELT development, workflow orchestration, advanced SQL, data transformation, dimensional modeling, and data quality management.
- Strong knowledge of AWS IAM, access control, encryption, cloud security, metadata management, data governance, monitoring, troubleshooting, workload optimization, and cloud cost management.

Preferred Qualifications

- AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional or an equivalent advanced AWS certification.
- AWS data-related certifications or demonstrable equivalent expertise.
- Experience with enterprise data governance frameworks and modern cloud analytics architectures.

This role offers the opportunity to lead cutting-edge data platform initiatives within a dynamic environment, working alongside skilled professionals to drive innovation and business value through advanced AWS data solutions.