A Belgian federal public sector organisation is consolidating multiple statistical and administrative data tracks into a single modern data platform on Azure. This role exists to strengthen the central data office by defining cloud architecture, data engineering patterns and AI-enabled data workflows, with particular emphasis on Azure Cloud and data modelling using Python and SQL.
The mission
The project aims to replace and integrate legacy on-prem systems and applications into a secure cloud-based data platform running on Azure, serving analytics, statistical production and downstream APIs for several federal services. The technical landscape includes Java and Python applications, Terraform-managed infrastructure, Kubernetes orchestration and CI/CD pipelines, supporting thousands of internal users and automated data ingestion from legacy systems.
Day to day you will design and validate cloud data architectures, produce technical roadmaps and architecture guidelines, and lead the implementation of a modern data platform project. You will act as the senior technical owner for data modelling, ingestion and operational support, coordinate with the enterprise architect and contribute to federated governance and cloud centre of excellence activities.
Your responsibilities
- Define and maintain the enterprise data architecture and technical roadmap for cloud storage, integration patterns and data flows, ensuring alignment with Azure Cloud best practices
- Lead design and delivery of the modern data platform, producing data models, ingestion patterns and deployment blueprints that work in Terraform, Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines
- Drive data engineering outcomes by establishing Python standards, dbt practices and SQL modelling guidelines, and by leading the Python Centre of Excellence
- Advise on security-sensitive components, including secrets management, IAM patterns and safe use of AI tools such as Microsoft Copilot in production
- Coordinate cross-team integration work, mentor engineering leads, and provide product-owner level input for delivery sprints and stakeholder governance
- Represent the data office in federal cloud governance fora and contribute to shared tooling and compliance frameworks
Your profile
Essential skills
- Proven senior experience, minimum 6 years in data management, AI initiatives and Azure Cloud architecture
- Minimum 3 years’ experience leading technical teams or a centre of excellence
- Demonstrable track record designing and implementing cloud data architectures and operating them in production
- Strong hands-on skills with Python, SQL and Java for data processing and integration
- Practical experience with Terraform, Kubernetes and CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure and deployments
- Familiarity with data modelling, dbt or equivalent transformation tooling, data ingestion patterns and observability for data platforms
- Azure Cloud certification and a recognised data engineering certification (or equivalent experience)
- Clear communicator able to produce architecture artefacts and advise senior stakeholders on security and governance