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Data architect

Data is now used by all industries to guide their strategies, improve performance, and gain a competitive edge.

The data architect prepares the company to undertake a big data project. He or she creatively solves data-related challenges from a technical perspective, with a focus on growth objectives.

Data refers to all digital information. Today, it is essential for artificial intelligence, business management, and the development of new offerings.

Overview and Responsibilities of the Data Architect

The data architect, also known as a big data architect, plays a role well before the processing of data (both internal and external) by organizing the project for the company.

Depending on the needs of the organization and its industry, they define the system architecture: creating storage infrastructure to house raw data, implementing solutions to address specific data challenges, and integrating the project into the company’s IT infrastructure.

In terms of the data processing workflow, the data architect is the first to get involved, as they lay the groundwork for the other specialists. In short, the data architect organizes the project, the data engineer manages the raw data, the data scientist analyzes it, and the data analyst interprets it.

The role of a data architect is to build the environment for collecting, processing, and interpreting big data. Depending on the context, strategy, and feasibility, they select the appropriate technological solutions and tools, taking into account their impact on the overall IT system. The data architect ensures the project’s structure and coherence.

Data architect
Business implications

Data is exploding, and every industry is taking an interest in it because leveraging it offers a competitive edge. Pharmaceutical companies, banks, insurance firms, and polling organizations were among the first to hire big data architects.

This profession has a place wherever big data is involved: e-commerce, public organizations, transportation and logistics, recruitment and staffing agencies…

Data architect
Ethical implications
Data raises numerous ethical and legal questions. The storage and use of data are now regulated. Data architects are, of course, familiar with these issues. AI legal experts and ethics officers help them explore these issues in greater depth and ensure they operate within a framework that respects the law and fundamental human values.
Aivancity's programs incorporate all aspects of artificial intelligence and its challenges, whether technical, technological, commercial, ethical, or legal, into their teaching. These comprehensive, hybrid courses enable future engineers to acquire the highest level of knowledge and a broad range of expertise.

Key skills

The core pillars of the data architect’s profession are innovation, project management, and creativity. Combined with a strategic vision for the data project and a keen analytical sense of the context, these qualities enable data architects to design relevant and effective solutions.

The data architect understands the ins and outs of the industry in which they work. They know how to build a technology stack to create a high-performing, optimal end-to-end system. They work by analyzing use cases—that is, the ways in which a system can be used to deliver value or utility to all stakeholders (technical experts and senior management).

The data architect is familiar with IT management frameworks (CobIT, ITIL, TOGAL), databases and big data platforms (such as Hadoop), data modeling tools (ERWin, Enterprise Architect, and Visio), and, of course, project management. They are fluent in English and possess excellent interpersonal skills. Their explanatory language is understandable to all their counterparts.

Technology monitoring is essential to the role of a big data architect, as it serves as a source of innovation. Its accuracy and precision are critical, given the significant investments and financial stakes involved for the company. The architect’s organizational skills are impeccable, ensuring that deadlines and budgets are met. The role requires a delicate balance between conceptual and technical skills.

Trends and factors driving change

A data architect can advance within the same role by leading larger-scale projects with greater responsibilities. They may also move into the role of chief data officer.

Data is an incredible resource, but one that is difficult to grasp. Since data projects cannot be replicated from one company to another, the data architect plays a key role. As a creative problem-solver, they ensure that other experts and their organization have a robust, relevant, and high-performing environment in which to manage and leverage big data.