Job Description
Senior Data Architect
Location: Hybrid (Belgium) – On-site 1 day per week
Language: Fluent Dutch (C2 level)
Contract Type: 12 months (with extensions)
Start Date: asap
Industry: Utilities / Energy
**Urgent 12-Month Contract - Role hiring now!!**
Our client is a leading utility provider in Belgium, undergoing a significant IT transformation initiative. They are investing in cloud-native architectures, microservices, and event-driven technologies to modernize their core systems and prepare for future growth.
About the Role
We are seeking a Senior Data Architect to lead the design and implementation of a modern integration interface that will replace legacy systems across critical operational platforms. This is a pivotal role within an enterprise-wide transformation program, focused on cloud-native, event-driven architecture using Kafka and Kafka Streams.
As a key team member, you will collaborate with business analysts, developers, and enterprise architects to deliver a robust, scalable solution aligned with the company's strategic IT roadmap.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement a scalable, event-driven architecture using Kafka Streams
- Lead the replacement of legacy system integrations with modern interfaces
- Translate conceptual models into logical data models
- Act as liaison between the delivery team and central architecture/integration functions
- Ensure solutions meet standards for maintainability, performance, and scalability
- Contribute to architecture documentation and design reviews
- Support DevOps practices across the development lifecycle
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and mentor team members
Required Skills & Experience
- Minimum 5 years of experience as a Data Architect in complex enterprise environments
- Strong expertise with Apache Kafka and Kafka Streams (hands-on implementation)
- In-depth understanding of Event-Driven Architecture (EDA)
- Proven experience in data modeling (conceptual to logical)
- Strong cloud expertise, particularly:
- Azure Cloud (4+ years)
- Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS) (2+ years)
- Docker (4+ years)
- Experience with Git, GitOps, and Azure DevOps workflows
- Certifications:
- Azure Fundamentals
- Confluent Certified Developer for Apache Kafka
- Fluent Dutch (spoken and written) – CEFR level C2
Nice to Have
- Experience running Event Storming workshops
- Familiarity with Domain-Driven Design (DDD)
- Willingness to support occasional out-of-hours work (e.g., production releases)
Soft Skills
- Ownership mentality and proactive problem-solver
- Excellent communication skills (written & verbal)
- Team player with a mentoring attitude
- Analytical and customer-focused
- Adaptable to hybrid work setups
We champion differences in technology recruitment and work with clients who actively wish to diversify their talent force - ALL applicants are welcome to apply.