Chief Data Architect

Job Purpose

At Emirates, we believe in connecting the world, to and through, our global hub in Dubai and in constantly innovating to ensure our customers 'Fly Better'.

Emirates Group IT operates at the heart of a complex, global aviation business, where data is fundamental to how we operate, innovate and make decisions. As we continue to evolve our enterprise technology and data landscape, we are looking for an accomplished architecture leader to join our team as Senior Manager Enterprise Data Architecture.

We are seeking a strategic technology leader to join us as Senior Manager Enterprise Data Architecture. You will lead the enterprise data architecture strategy, defining the principles, standards, platforms and patterns that enable scalable, secure and sustainable data solutions across Emirates Group IT. You will shape future state data platforms, provide architecture governance and influence strategic technology decisions, working closely with business and technology teams and Group's Enterprise Data & Analytics (ED&A) teams to align data architecture with the Group’s broader data and analytics strategy.

In This Role You Will

• Define and govern enterprise IT standards and architectural principles to ensure alignment with corporate strategy and resolve cross-portfolio concerns. Establish the frameworks necessary to safeguard enterprise coherence, reduce duplication, and ensure that all technology decisions support scalable, resilient, and long-term business growth.
• Research and assess emerging technologies and market trends to modernise the IT estate and sustain competitive advantage. Lead the evaluation of disruptive innovations and define modernisation roadmaps that manage technical debt and technology currency, ensuring the organization remains agile and future ready.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and leadership to solution architects and development teams to drive high performance and organisational alignment. Foster a culture of collaboration and build internal capability through development plans, ensuring teams are empowered to deliver solutions that meet both service levels and strategic objectives.
• Lead the evolution of enterprise-wide architecture across infrastructure, operations, cybersecurity, and platform domains. Oversee frameworks that embed resilience, automation, and security into the design process to create a robust foundation for secure, efficient IT services and business continuity.
• Establish the strategic direction, standards, and governance frameworks for data and analytics to safeguard information quality, integrity, and security. Define policies for data management and compliance, transforming information assets into reliable, trusted products for enterprise-wide decision-making and innovation.
• Act as a thought leader and consultant to business units and cross-domain teams, promoting the adoption of well-architected frameworks and best practices. Influence stakeholders to apply architectural standards effectively, accelerating enterprise agility and enhancing responsiveness to evolving business needs.
• Drive technology investment decisions through TCO and cost-benefit analysis and provide architectural leadership in vendor selection. Align enterprise business architecture with long-term strategic and technology priorities by mapping capabilities to IT products and partnering with Product Delivery teams to define architectural runways and prioritise technical enablers for scalable, sustainable delivery.
  
  

Qualification

To be considered for this role, you must meet the below requirements:

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or an equivalent IT-related discipline. Experience in Information Technology, Enterprise Architecture
• 10+ years of experience in Information Technology and Enterprise Architecture, focused on developing large‑scale, complex, distributed, and mission‑critical applications across heterogeneous environments.
• 8+ years of experience in defining and executing technology strategies with both an enterprise‑wide perspective and solution‑level detail, ideally complemented by exposure to the airline domain and experience working within Product-centric delivery models partnering with Product Management.
• Strong understanding of application development technologies such as Java, open‑source frameworks, cloud platforms, and low‑code solutions.
• Knowledge of non‑functional requirements and practices, including observability, automation, scalability, and maintainability.
• Familiarity with agile software development methodologies such as Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and Scrum.
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF, Zachman, or other modern approaches.
• Proficiency in industry‑standard modelling techniques such as ArchiMate and/or UML.
• Understanding of contemporary architecture styles, including microservices, event‑driven architecture, and cloud‑native applications.
• In‑depth knowledge of cloud architecture principles, with the ability to apply Well‑Architected Frameworks to deliver secure, scalable, and cost-optimised deployments, including FinOps practices.
• Ideally certified in one or more relevant areas such as TOGAF, IASA, Cloud Architecture, or Cybersecurity.
• Proficiency in IT financial models, including TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), budgeting, and Cloud FinOps principles to drive cost-optimised architecture decisions
• Ability to model business capabilities, value streams, and operating models to bridge the gap between corporate strategy and technical execution.
• Advanced soft skills in stakeholder management, negotiation, and the ability to influence decision-making and negotiate across complex organisational structures, distributed entities and competing priorities.
  
  

Leadership role: Yes

Salary & benefits

Join us in a management role and enjoy an attractive tax-free salary. On top of our generous travel benefits, including discounted flights and hotel stays around the world, this managerial role also has an excellent leave and healthcare package. That’s on top of transport benefits, life insurance and more. Find out what it’s like to live and work in our fast-paced, cosmopolitan home city in the Dubai Lifestyle section of our website www.emirates.com/careers

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