Solution Architect - Data

The Role

Our client is a well-known brand in the Financial Services industry with a substantial customer base and a data agenda that carries genuine executive weight. Data here is not a tidy-up exercise. It is how the organisation intends to compete against the rest of its market, and there is sponsorship, investment and real urgency behind that intent.

The architecture function is being built out and this is the data seat. Reporting to the Head of Architecture, you will join a team of five covering other specialisations. The lanes are clear, the team is well formed, and data is yours to own and shape.

This is a role for someone who wants the architecture and the influence. The technical environment is modern and the mandate is real, but so are the internal stakeholders — they are demanding, they hold firm views, and you will be in front of them regularly. Our client has been explicit that the successful candidate will be as strong in the room as they are on the whiteboard.

Key Responsibilities:

Data & AI Solution Design

• Architect a scalable, secure data and AI environment across Snowflake and Microsoft Fabric, aligned to the enterprise strategy rather than to the current state.
• Own the future-state data models and the roadmap that takes the organisation to them.
• Make the build-versus-integrate calls across the data estate and hold the line on them.

Integration & Pipelines

• Shape how machine learning models, automated data pipelines and data flows land inside core business applications.
• Design the integration patterns that connect the data platform to the wider application landscape.
• Ensure data moves reliably and traceably between source systems, the platform and the point of consumption.

Governance & Standards

• Define the enterprise data governance framework, the standards, and the security and compliance guardrails.
• Establish data quality, lineage and ownership expectations, and make them practical enough that teams adopt them.
• Bring appropriate discipline to a fast-moving data agenda without slowing it down.

Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Partner with data engineers, data scientists and business squads so design and delivery stay joined up.
• Translate complex technical positions into language business leaders recognise and can act on.
• Communicate decisions — including deferrals and declines — in a way that leaves stakeholders informed and supportive.
• Build credibility with a demanding internal audience and bring them with you rather than around them.

Technical Leadership

• Mentor engineers and lift data architecture capability across the wider team.
• Set and maintain the architectural blueprints and reference patterns.
• Assess emerging data and AI technology on its merits and its fit, not on its marketing.

Person Specification

• Proven experience as a Data Architect or Solution Architect with a data specialisation, in an environment of genuine scale and complexity.
• Real depth across modern cloud data platforms — Snowflake and Microsoft Azure / Fabric in particular.
• Strong data modelling capability, from conceptual through to physical, and the judgement to know which level a conversation needs.
• Integration architecture experience — pipelines, patterns and the boundaries between systems.
• Enterprise data governance experience, covering standards, quality, lineage, security and compliance.
• Exposure to embedding machine learning and AI into production business applications.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management. This is not a supporting skill in this role — it is a screening criterion. You will need to hold a difficult conversation with a senior, opinionated stakeholder and leave them on side.
• Financial Services or insurance experience is a strong advantage, though not a must-have. The right person from another regulated or data-intensive sector will be considered on their merits.
• Auckland based, with current and unrestricted rights to work in New Zealand.

Our client is not able to offer visa sponsorship and New Zealand market experience is strongly preferred. Exceptional candidates currently based offshore who already hold valid New Zealand work rights are welcome to apply.

What's on offer

• A well-defined seat in a small architecture function, reporting to the Head of Architecture.
• A modern data stack — Snowflake and Microsoft Fabric — with the investment behind it to do the job properly.
• A business where data is the stated route to competitive advantage, so the work has visibility and sponsorship.
• Genuine influence over the enterprise data direction rather than a delivery-only remit.
• Competitive salary, discussed openly at the first conversation.

Apply

Apply now, or reach out to Mike Messenger on mike@auraconsulting.co.nz / 027 2299118 for a confidential conversation.

Please note that all applications will be acknowledged electronically unless otherwise specified. Due to the complexity and seniority of this role it may take us a couple of weeks to review your application and respond accordingly.

Visit our website for more opportunities www.auraconsulting.co.nz