Systems Architect Lead (Database Services)

Role Purpose

Systems Architect Lead is responsible for leading the design, implementation, operation, and continuous optimization of enterprise database platforms across on premises and multi cloud environments. The role ensures high availability, scalability, performance, security, and integration of database services while leading senior database engineers and DBAs and acting as the key technical interface with application teams and business stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Database Architecture & Strategy

• Define and maintain enterprise database architecture standards and roadmaps for on premises, Azure, and GCP environments.

• Design scalable, secure, and highly available database architectures for mission critical systems.

• Lead architectural reviews and ensure alignment with enterprise standards

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and develop senior database engineers and DBAs.

• Allocate resources, set technical direction, and ensure adherence to best practices and operational standards.

• Drive a culture of reliability, automation, documentation, and continuous improvement.

Database Project Delivery

• Lead database related projects end to end, from requirements gathering and design through build, migration, go live, and support.

• Manage multi cloud and hybrid database migrations and modernization initiatives.

• Ensure delivery within agreed scope, timelines, and quality standards.

Database Platforms & Technologies

• Manage and operate SQL and NoSQL platforms across on premises, Azure, and GCP.

• Oversee native cloud database services including Azure SQL, Azure Managed Instances, Azure Fabric, and Google Cloud databases.

• Manage complex, high scale, and performance intensive SQL environments.

High Availability, DR & Integration

• Design and operate highly available and disaster resilient database architectures across hybrid and multi cloud environments.

• Ensure seamless integration between applications, data platforms, and analytics systems.

• Define and test backup, recovery, replication, and failover strategies.

Data Warehouse & Data Lake Management

• Manage, enhance, and operate enterprise data warehouses and data lakes.

• Ensure data platforms are highly available, optimized, and aligned with analytics and reporting needs.

• Drive performance tuning, capacity planning, and cost optimization.

Operations, Monitoring & Performance

• Ensure 24x7 reliability, monitoring, and proactive management of all database environments.

• Define KPIs, SLAs, and operational dashboards for performance, availability, and capacity.

• Lead root cause analysis and continuous service improvement initiatives.

Security, Risk & Compliance

• Define and enforce database security standards, access controls, encryption, and auditing.

• Ensure compliance with organizational security, privacy, and regulatory requirements.

• Lead vulnerability management, patching, and security hardening activities.

Stakeholder Communication

• Act as the primary technical interface with application teams, architects, vendors, and business users.

• Translate business requirements into robust database solutions.

• Provide clear technical guidance, documentation, presentation and executive level communication when required.

Qualifications

•10+ years of experience in database engineering, architecture, and operations in large scale enterprise environments.

•Proven experience leading senior engineers and DBAs in complex, mission critical environments.

•Strong hands on and architectural experience with on premises, hybrid, and multi cloud database platforms (Azure and GCP).

•Demonstrated experience in leading end to end database projects, including migrations and modernization initiatives.

• Extensive experience with high availability, disaster recovery, performance tuning, and large scale SQL environments.

• Strong background in data warehouse and data lake platforms and operations.

•Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field.

• Relevant professional certifications are highly desirable, such as:

1. Microsoft Azure Database / Data / Architect certifications

2. Google Cloud Professional Database Engineer or Architect

3. ITIL or equivalent service management certification

• Advanced expertise in SQL Server and enterprise grade SQL platforms.

• Strong experience with Azure SQL, Azure Managed Instance, Azure Fabric, and related Azure data services.

• Strong experience with Google Cloud database services.

• Deep knowledge of database security, encryption, auditing, and compliance controls.

• Proven skills in monitoring, automation, performance tuning, and capacity management.

• Strong understanding of integration patterns, analytics platforms, and data pipelines.

• Excellent communication, documentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.