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Senior Data & AI Architect

Artefactlinkedin
Contract type
Ongoing
Work mode
Hybrid · Zürich
Experience
Mid-level · 4+ years

Job description

A Senior Data & AI Architect role at Artefact's Zurich office, combining business strategy and technology across Data and GenAI. The role designs Data & GenAI operating models and target architectures and steers data products from demand through rollout for clients.

At a glance

Work mode
Hybrid · Zürich
Languages
English – fluent

What you'll do

  • Design the Data & AI operating model (centralized, federated, hub-and-spoke) following Data Mesh principles: roles, responsibilities, domain ownership and governance mechanisms.
  • Define the organization of the Data & GenAI CoE: scope, service catalogue, skills, sizing and engagement model with business domains.
  • Design end-to-end processes for demand management, use case prioritization, funding and value tracking.
  • Define the target data platform architecture on cloud (Azure, AWS, GCP) and Databricks, including GenAI components (RAG, agents, vector stores, LLMOps).
  • Run make-or-buy analyses and vendor selections: scouting, evaluation criteria, business case, TCO and final recommendation.
  • Check that architecture, security and data governance choices are consistent with enterprise standards and with the operating model.
  • Gather and formalize functional requirements with the business, translating them into data products with owners, consumers, SLAs and quality metrics.
  • Design data products from both a functional angle (use cases, KPIs, impacted processes) and a technical one (data model, pipelines, interfaces, serving layer).
  • Act as design authority during implementation: review system integrator solutions and oversee quality, progress and risks of the rollout.

What we're looking for

  • At least 4 years of professional experience in IT.
  • At least 2 years on projects focused on AI/GenAI, Data Mesh and functional requirements gathering.
  • Consulting experience, ideally in strategy consulting, combined with experience at a system integrator or delivery firm.
  • Hands-on experience designing operating models, Data/AI organizations or CoEs.
  • Experience with make-or-buy analyses, vendor selection or target architecture definition.
  • Excellent written and spoken English.
  • Data Mesh and governance: domain ownership, data products, federated governance, data contracts, catalogues and lineage (e.g. Unity Catalog, OpenMetadata, Collibra).
  • Cloud: data and AI PaaS services on at least one of Azure, AWS and GCP; security, networking and FinOps principles.
  • Databricks: Lakehouse, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Workflows; ability to assess design and cost.
  • GenAI: RAG and agentic architectures, LLMOps, model evaluation, platforms such as Azure AI Foundry, Vertex AI and Bedrock.
  • Operating model: Data/AI organization, CoE, roles (data owner, data steward, product owner), demand and portfolio processes.
  • Requirements and delivery: requirements gathering, user stories, process modelling, agile methods, programme governance.
  • Business: business cases, TCO, value tracking, and the ability to translate technical choices into economic impact.

Nice to have

  • German not strictly required.
  • Experience with clients in pharma sector.
  • Cloud or Databricks certifications (e.g. Azure Solutions Architect, Databricks Data Engineer or Solutions Architect).
  • Experience in tech due diligence or post-merger transformation projects.
  • Prior technical background as an engineer or developer.

Your team

Data & GenAI CoE

Benefits

  • A role bridging strategy and technology, with direct impact on client decisions.
  • International projects on Data Mesh, data platforms and GenAI.
  • Close collaboration with the Project Lead and a growth path towards programme leadership roles.
  • Highly competitive

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About Artefact

Next-generation strategy and data consulting firm

Artefact is a next-generation strategy and data consulting firm dedicated to transforming organizations through data and AI. We combine the rigor of top-tier strategy consulting with deep expertise in data, digital, and analytics to help clients achieve tangible business impact.

Mission

Transforming organizations through data and AI

Key facts

  • 1,800+ consultants, data scientists, and engineers
  • strategy and data consulting
  • 1,800+ consultants, data scientists, and engineers across 23 countries
  • Zurich office is at the heart of Artefact's growth

Partners & customers

SamsungL'OréalOrangeSanofi