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Principal Data Architect

Job Title: Principal Data Architect

Department: Data Engineering

Reports to: Chief Digital Officer

Role Overview:

We are seeking an experienced Principal Data Architect to join Simpaisa Holdings, a cross-border payments and remittances company operating across the Middle East and South Asia. The ideal candidate will be responsible for designing, building, and managing the organisation's enterprise data architecture, encompassing data models, data pipelines, data storage solutions, and cross-jurisdiction data flows. Strong expertise in data modelling principles, database technologies, data warehousing concepts, and master data management - with particular depth in payment domain schemas (BIC, IBAN, LEI, transaction identifiers) - ensuring data is accessible, reliable, secure, and compliant with data residency requirements, is essential. Expertise in agile methodologies and collaborating with data engineering and data science teams is also preferable.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and maintain the organisation's enterprise data architecture blueprint, including canonical data models for cross-border payment transactions, settlement, reconciliation, FX, and merchant processing.
  • Design and govern the enterprise data model, incorporating payment industry standards (ISO 20022, BIC/SWIFT codes, IBAN, LEI) and ensuring consistency across all systems and jurisdictions.
  • Design and implement data storage solutions, such as data warehouses, data lakes, and operational databases, considering performance, scalability, security, and data residency requirements (UAE, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia).
  • Establish and maintain data lineage tracking across the full transaction lifecycle - from Pay-In through FX conversion, settlement, and Pay-Out - ensuring auditability and regulatory traceability.
  • Implement master data management (MDM) strategies for core entities: customers, merchants, counterparties, corridors, currencies, and regulatory classifications.
  • Design and implement robust and efficient data pipelines for data ingestion, transformation, and loading (ETL/ELT) from various sources, including payment gateways, banking partners, and regulatory reporting systems.
  • Ensure data quality, integrity, and security across all data systems and pipelines, with particular attention to AML/CTF data requirements and PCI-DSS data handling obligations.
  • Define and enforce cross-jurisdiction data flow policies, ensuring compliance with data residency and data protection regulations (DIFC Data Protection Law, Pakistan data localisation requirements).
  • Collaborate closely with data engineers, data scientists, and business analysts to understand their data needs and provide appropriate data solutions.
  • Evaluate and recommend new data technologies, tools, and platforms to improve data infrastructure and capabilities.
  • Optimise data systems for performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.
  • Document data architecture designs, data models, data dictionaries, and data flow processes clearly and comprehensively, maintaining artefacts in Bitbucket repositories.
  • Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and advancements in data management, architecture, and payments data standards.

Required Skills and Experience:

  • Agile: Understanding of agile methodologies and experience working with data engineering and data science teams in an agile environment.
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to articulate complex data architecture concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, including regulators.
  • Strategy and Planning: Ability to develop strategic data architecture plans that align with business requirements and the overall data strategy across multiple jurisdictions. Strong planning and organisational skills to manage data architecture deliverables effectively.
  • Leadership & Influence Skills: Ability to influence technical decisions related to data architecture and guide data engineering teams in implementation. Experience establishing data governance frameworks and standards.
  • Problem-solving and Analytical skills: Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills to design effective data solutions and address data-related challenges in a complex, multi-currency payments environment.
  • Data Architecture Expertise: Deep understanding of data modelling principles (e.g., relational, dimensional, Data Vault), database technologies (SQL and NoSQL), data warehousing concepts, and data lake architectures. Experience with ETL/ELT tools and techniques, and cloud-based data platforms (e.g., AWS Redshift, Athena, Glue, S3). Strong SQL skills. Experience with data lineage tools and master data management platforms.
  • Payments Domain Knowledge: Understanding of cross-border payment data flows, ISO 20022 messaging, BIC/IBAN/LEI schemas, FX rate data, settlement and reconciliation data models, and regulatory reporting data requirements.
  • Stakeholder Management: Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including regulators (DFSA, SBP, SAMA), banking partners, and internal teams, ensuring alignment on data architecture and solutions.

General Requirements for the Role:

  • Bachelor's Degree in related field: A bachelor's degree in Information Systems, Business Administration, Computer Science, Engineering, or a closely related STEM field is required.
  • 8+ years of experience in data architecture or related roles: Minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in data architecture, database design, or data warehousing, preferably within financial services or payments.
  • Experience designing complex data systems: Demonstrated experience in designing and implementing complex data models, data lineage frameworks, and data infrastructure solutions for transaction-heavy environments.
  • Proven track record of successful data architecture implementation: A verifiable history of contributing to the successful delivery of data projects through effective data architecture in regulated environments.

Benefits and Perks:

  • Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Opportunity to work with cutting-edge payments and fintech data solutions and collaborate with skilled professionals across multiple markets.
  • Professional development and training opportunities.
  • Inclusive company culture that values diversity and innovation.