Solutions Architect

Job Description: Data & Analytics Solution Architect – Program Delivery Lead

Role Summary

We are looking for a Data & Analytics Solution Architect – Program Delivery Lead who can drive end-to-end delivery of multiple Data & Analytics initiatives while bringing strong technical depth across Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, data modelling, BI architecture, semantic models, and cloud data platforms.

This role requires a techno-functional leader who can understand business needs, shape solution design, guide technical teams, manage execution, handle stakeholders, and ensure successful delivery from discovery to go-live and hyper care.

The candidate should be strong enough to operate independently across both solution architecture and program delivery, acting as a bridge between business, architecture, engineering, reporting, platform, and leadership teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Solution Architecture & Technical Leadership

Lead solution design discussions across Microsoft Fabric, Power BI, Lakehouse, Warehouse, SQL Endpoint, semantic models, data pipelines, and reporting architecture.

2. Program & Project Delivery

Manage multiple Data & Analytics projects across planning, execution, governance, risk management, status reporting, stakeholder updates, go-live, and hypercare.

3. Power BI & Fabric Solution Guidance

Provide guidance on Power BI and Fabric solution patterns including semantic model design, dataset refresh strategy, performance optimisation, workspace structure, deployment approach, and capacity considerations.

4. Requirement to Solution Translation

Work with business and technical teams to convert business requirements into solution scope, technical work packages, delivery milestones, dependencies, and execution plans.

5. Technical Design Review

Review and challenge solution designs, data models, integration patterns, performance approach, and reporting architecture to ensure scalable and maintainable outcomes.

6. Delivery Governance

Drive project governance including sprint planning, RAID tracking, design reviews, dependency management, status reporting, escalation handling, and leadership communication.

7. Team Leadership

Lead cross-functional teams including data engineers, Power BI developers, architects, testers, business analysts, and support teams to ensure clear ownership and timely delivery.

8. Testing, Deployment & Cutover

Oversee SIT, UAT, defect management, reconciliation, performance validation, deployment readiness, cutover, production go-live, and hypercare support.

9. Stakeholder Management

Engage with business stakeholders, platform teams, architecture teams, security teams, delivery teams, and senior leadership to align priorities, manage expectations, and resolve blockers.

10. Executive Communication

Prepare crisp leadership updates, solution summaries, status reports, decision notes, risk updates, and project governance materials.

Required Skills

• Strong understanding of Microsoft Fabric and Power BI architecture
• Experience in Power BI semantic models, reports, dataset refresh, and performance optimisation
• Good knowledge of Lakehouse, Warehouse, SQL Endpoint, pipelines, and cloud data platform concepts
• Strong data modelling knowledge including facts, dimensions, star schema, and semantic layer design
• Ability to manage multiple Data & Analytics projects or workstreams
• Experience in Agile/waterfall delivery, sprint planning, RAID management, and governance reporting
• Strong stakeholder management across business, technical, architecture, and leadership teams
• Experience in SIT, UAT, deployment, go-live, and hypercare
• Ability to understand technical issues and drive practical resolutions
• Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Skills

• Experience in BI transformation or migration programs, especially MicroStrategy to Power BI
• Hands-on or strong working knowledge of Microsoft Fabric and Power BI
• Exposure to Azure Data Lake, Databricks, Synapse, SQL, or similar cloud data platforms
• Understanding of Microsoft Purview, data governance, data quality, and cataloguing
• Experience managing global or multi-market delivery programs
• Ability to create solution design decks, delivery plans, executive updates, and technical decision documents
• Experience working with enterprise reporting platforms and large-scale data models

Experience Required

10–15 years of experience in Data & Analytics, BI delivery, data engineering, solution architecture, or technology program management.

At least 5+ years of experience managing Data & Analytics delivery programs and working closely with BI, data platform, or cloud analytics teams.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate should be a strong techno-functional lead and manager who can operate across architecture, delivery, and stakeholder management.

They should not be a pure project manager who only tracks timelines, and they should not be a pure architect who only provides design inputs. This role needs someone who can own the solution direction, drive delivery execution, manage risks, challenge weak designs, and communicate confidently with leadership.

The person should be able to independently manage multiple projects, guide teams, resolve blockers, and ensure high-quality delivery outcomes.