Principal data architects at Thoughtworks play a key part in developing modern data architecture approaches to meet business objectives and provide end-to-end data solutions. They enable clients and Thoughtworks teams to align on outcomes that support the vision painted by data strategists.
They lead the design and architecture of the initiatives that are key to delivering solutions to budget and timelines, and they guide and mentor delivery teams on the architectural decisions that bring those solutions to life
- This role leans strategic: it pairs strong architecture leadership with the advisory, commercial and consulting instincts of a data strategist.
This is a client-facing, builder's leadership role. You will start with a small, senior team and grow it through technical depth, delivery excellence and thought leadership, rather than inheriting a large organisation to manage. The role is based in India and requires regular travel to client sites, up to approximately 50% of your time.
This role is pivotal to the India market, responsible for driving complex Data and AI solutions for both existing and prospective clients. You will primarily engage with C-level stakeholders to lead high-impact, thought-leadership-driven initiatives focused on delivering tangible business outcomes. While this role carries revenue targets, the core emphasis is on strategic solutioning and establishing market thought leadership
Job responsibilities
- You will provide client-facing technical leadership and guidance on data architecture, engineering and analytics to advise clients on bringing their data strategy to life.
- You will collaborate with sales and pre-sales to clarify requirements, design viable solutions and drive complex pursuits with technical and executive stakeholders.
- You will lead complex data programs, navigating architectural concerns and enabling delivery teams to deliver on accepted standards within time and budget.
- You will interact with client counterparts from the enterprise architecture group and lead the delivery, alignment and sign-off of key architectural decisions, trade-offs and ways of working.
- You will communicate both high- and low-level technical details of data architecture to engineers and business stakeholders, including C-level.
- You will collaborate, influence and guide at the intersection of analytical and operational architecture.
- You will be responsible for the technical design of data governance, data security and data privacy to fulfill compliance requirements, and incorporate data quality frameworks and processes.
- You will create differentiated assets in data architecture and strategy to take to market.
- You lead through influence rather than headcount: growing capability and raising delivery standards inside the organisation, while building our presence in the market through thought leadership, ecosystem initiatives and client-facing points of view.
- You will understand the client's business problem and create data oriented solutions. You would be presenting the solution to Thoughtworks leaders and client stakeholders.
- You would utilize AI tools (like Claude, Copilot) to fast track understanding client requirements, solution preparation, estimation, and other pre-sales and solutioning activities.
Job qualifications
Technical Skills
- You have experience defining and implementing different types of data architecture, analyzing trade-offs and defining technology stacks for each.
- You have experience designing application system architecture based on big data, artificial intelligence and related technologies.
- You have rich experience in building, maintaining and tuning data platforms, as well as data warehouse design, data modeling, data monitoring and operations.
- You have experience with common design patterns, application frameworks and foundational knowledge (for example distributed systems and data-intensive applications).
- You are conversant in common open-source distributed computing and storage technologies (for example Spark, Kafka, Flink) and can reason clearly about their trade-offs. Deep day-to-day coding in these is welcome but not essential for this strategy-leaning role, provided you stay hands-on in at least or two relevant technologies.
- You have deep experience in solutioning and implementation of data platforms, data mesh, data modernization, data as a product, data quality, data governance.
- You have experience defining, developing and enabling data-driven techniques, advanced analytics and ML/AI applications in the enterprise, including a view on productionizing machine learning.
- You have experience in building high-level solution frameworks, leveraging paradigms such as data-as-a-product and federated governance where needed.
- Experience of of the following technologies - Snowflake / Databricks / AWS data platform & services / Azure data platform & services.
Consulting and commercial track record
- You have worked in a consultancy or professional-services environment within the last five years, driving data and AI engagements end to end (recent examples matter more than historical).
- You can point to data and AI pursuits you helped win and shape within the last three to five years, including deals from around €3M upwards, and you can speak concretely to their commercial shape, trade-offs and delivery.
- You have grown a practice, capability or go-to-market asset, for example a reusable accelerator taken to market, combining solutioning, sales and delivery with tangible business outcomes.
- You stay genuinely hands-on: you can build alongside your team when it counts and are comfortable being the deepest engineer in the room.
- You bring significant hands-on and leadership experience in data and AI (typically 10+ years) and, above all, the appetite to keep building: growing accounts, teams and capability rather than overseeing them.
Professional Skills
- You understand the importance of stakeholder management and can easily liaise between clients and other key stakeholders throughout projects, ensuring buy-in and gaining trust along the way.
- You are resilient in ambiguous situations and can adapt your role to approach challenges from multiple perspectives.
- You don't shy away from risks or conflicts, instead you take them on and skillfully manage them.
- You coach, mentor and motivate others and you aspire to influence teammates to take positive action and accountability for their work.
- You enjoy influencing others and always advocate for technical excellence while being open to change when needed.
- You are a proven leader with a track record of encouraging teammates in their professional development and relationships.
- Cultivating strong partnerships comes naturally to you; you understand how relationship building brings new opportunities to our business.
- Strong understanding of the Indian market and nuances blended with experience in BFSI / other sectors.
Other things to know
Learning & Development
There is no-size-fits-all career path at Thoughtworks: however you want to develop your career is entirely up to you. But we also balance autonomy with the strength of our cultivation culture. This means your career is supported by interactive tools, numerous development programs and teammates who want to help you grow. We see value in helping each other be our best and that extends to empowering our employees in their career journeys.
Responsible Use of AI in Recruitment
At Thoughtworks, we use AI tools to support our recruitment team with administrative tasks such as drafting communications, scheduling interviews and writing job descriptions.
Crucially, our AI tools do not screen, assess, rank or make hiring decisions. Every application is reviewed by our team and all selection decisions are made exclusively by our interviewers and hiring managers.
We are committed to fairness and responsible AI. We actively manage our AI systems by testing, monitoring for biased outcomes and implementing mitigation measures. We hold our third-party vendors to these same high standards through a rigorous governance process. For additional information, please see our full Thoughtworks AI Policy for Recruitment.
About Thoughtworks
Thoughtworks is a dynamic and inclusive community of bright and supportive colleagues who are revolutionizing tech. As a leading technology consultancy, we’re pushing boundaries through our purposeful and impactful work. For 30+ years, we’ve delivered extraordinary impact together with our clients by helping them solve complex business problems with technology as the differentiator. Bring your brilliant expertise and commitment for continuous learning to Thoughtworks. Together, let’s be extraordinary.
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See here our AI policy.
