Data Architect - FTC - Cape Town

Introduction

You will own and evolve enterprise data architecture to drive innovation and efficiency. This role focuses on end-to-end responsibility for the data landscape, closing gaps, modernizing architecture, and ensuring scalable, governed solutions for current and future products.

Who We Are

Get to know the team, the tech, and the impact we create at https://saratogasoftware.com

Responsibilities

Where You’ll Add Value

• Lead the end-to-end data architecture for the enterprise, providing a solid foundation for AI, analytics, and new product use cases.
• Analyze current data assets, pipelines, and architecture to identify improvement opportunities in speed, quality, and scalability.
• Direct the validation and evolution of medallion architecture, ensuring seamless data flow from ingestion through analytics.
• Oversee and optimize data pipelines, data quality, and classification standards.
• Design and drive the integration of data platforms with enterprise systems using Microsoft stack (.NET, SQL Server, Power BI); familiarity with Databricks or Snowflake is advantageous.
• Shape and govern future integrations and architecture landscape, ensuring design aligns to organizational standards and governance.
• Translate business strategy and requirements into robust, scalable technical solutions.
• Produce architecture diagrams, technical documentation, and required artifacts to guide engineering teams.
• Represent data architecture in governance forums and steering committees, challenging and improving existing approaches.
• Collaborate with data engineers and cross-functional teams to ensure architectural designs are implemented effectively.

Requirements

What Sets You Apart

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience as a hands-on Data Architect with a strong data engineering background and real-world delivery records.
• Track record of designing, evolving, and validating medallion or equivalent architectures.
• Deep expertise in data pipelines, quality, classification, and integration for analytics and AI readiness.
• Demonstrated ability to work within and improve governance, approval, and security processes.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills—able to challenge, advocate, and drive architectural decisions.
• Experience preparing data for advanced analytics and AI workloads.
• Ability to represent architecture in leadership forums and ensure traceability for architectural changes.
• Practical, delivery-focused mindset—not just advisory.

Your Toolkit

• Experience with Microsoft data stack (.NET, SQL Server, Power BI) in enterprise settings
• Exposure to Databricks, Snowflake, or similar is valuable.
• Practitioner of scalable architecture in complex, governed environments, with exposure to cloud (Azure preferred; AWS useful).

Compensation & Benefits

What’s In It For You

• Earn what you deserve: Enjoy competitive pay that grows with you through annual increases.
• Recharge fully: Benefit from 20 days of annual leave, more time for rest, travel, or personal projects.
• Earn rewards for successful referrals: Employee referral program for bringing talented people into the team.
• Feel valued and celebrated: Participate in quarterly reward and recognition programs, wellness events, and opportunities to engage in company-wide strategy meetings.
• Work with purpose: Gain hands-on experience on exciting projects across industries, collaborating with top South African and international clients.
• Advance your career: Receive mentorship and structured leadership training to accelerate your professional development.