Why Valtech? We’re the experience innovation company - trusted partner to the world’s most recognized brands. To our people we offer growth opportunities, a values-driven culture, international careers and the chance to shape the future of experience.
The opportunity
At Valtech, you’ll find an environment designed for continuous learning, meaningful impact, and professional growth. Whether you're pioneering new digital solutions, challenging conventional thinking or building the next generation of customer experiences, your work will help transform industries.
We are proud of:
The role
Please note, we are only accepting applicants from the provinces of Ontario, Vancouver and Québec for this role. For Québec-based candidates, fluency in English is necessary because the position entails collaboration with teams based in the rest of Americas and occasionally in Europe.
We are seeking a Principal‑level Data Architect with deep expertise in enterprise data architecture, AI enablement, and cloud‑native development paradigms. This role goes beyond hands‑on engineering—requiring a leader who can define platform strategy, security posture, influence senior clients, and guide teams across multiple concurrent programs.
In addition to strong capabilities in Microsoft Fabric and Azure, the ideal candidate has experience across either AWS or GCP, plus Databricks and broader understanding of modern data stacks. They must be comfortable supporting sales pursuits, leading architectural vision, and ensuring the technical integrity of solutions throughout delivery.
To effectively manage this project and the surrounding ecosystem, the ideal candidate brings demonstrated hands-on expertise in SQL, Python, distributed systems, data governance, and cloud architecture. They should be comfortable guiding clients, scoping and resolving architectural deviations to fit solution requirements, and shaping long-term data and AI strategy.
Role responsibilities
Architecture & Strategy
- Design and own complex, enterprise-scale data architectures across MS Fabric, Azure, GCP, AWS, or Databricks serverless or hosted environments.
- Define and enforce architectural standards, patterns, and governance frameworks across ingestion, modeling, lineage, security, and orchestration.
- Shape AI‑enabled architecture approaches, including data foundations for ML, feature engineering, and low-latency operationalization pipelines.
- Act as a principal advisor to client technical leadership, helping shape long-term strategy, roadmaps, and modernization initiatives.
- Lead architectural direction during pre-sales cycles, including solutioning, scoping, estimation, and executive-level presentations.
- Anticipate downstream impacts of architectural decisions; maintain ownership when delivery teams or constraints require deviation from the original design.
Data Engineering Leadership
- Architect highly available, distributed, fault‑tolerant data pipelines supporting batch and streaming workloads.
- Oversee migration and integration of complex, diverse data sources into Fabric, Azure, GCP, or Databricks platforms.
- Define medallion/lakehouse modeling patterns across Bronze/Silver/Gold zones or cloud equivalents.
- Set enterprise standards for ingestion → transformation → serving layers across multi-cloud environments.
- Optimize performance of large-scale data processing across Spark, Databricks, and Fabric-native engines.
- Provide leadership across 2–3 concurrent projects with variable allocation, ensuring architectural consistency and delivery quality while also contributing to in-depth technical work where needed.
Technical Execution & Hands-on Work
- Develop advanced transformations, pipelines, and frameworks using SQL, Python, dbt, and Fabric/Databricks cloud-native tooling.
- Implement automation using REST APIs, Data Factory, orchestration services, and multi-cloud workflow tools.
- Guide engineers on distributed architecture, metadata design, data quality frameworks, and platform hygiene.
- Conduct root cause analysis on complex platform or performance issues, driving permanent and scalable remediation.
Collaboration & Influence
- Serve as the senior-most technical voice in architecture reviews, solution design, and cross-functional planning.
- Lead strategic conversations with director-level and executive stakeholders.
- Translate complex architecture into clear business implications for non-technical audiences.
- Mentor engineering teams, Tech Archs, PMs, and junior architects, helping build organizational capability.
- Represent architecture during pre-sales conversations, capability pitches, and proposal cycles.
Must have qualifications
To be considered for this role, you must meet the following essential qualifications:
- 10+ years of experience in data engineering, data architecture, or platform engineering.
- Experience designing or building enterprise data platforms on at least one of Azure, GCP, or AWS and Databricks.
- Deep expertise in SQL, Python, distributed data processing, and cloud-native data design.
- Significant experience with medallion/lakehouse architecture patterns.
- Strong knowledge of modern data platforms: Databricks, Azure Synapse, Microsoft Fabric, Delta Lake, BigQuery, etc.
- Proven experience leading architecture across large programs and multiple concurrent projects.
- Experience with enterprise automation and integration using REST APIs.
- Strong communication skills and ability to engage confidently with senior leadership and clients.
- Experience in pre-sales, technical solutioning, or client-facing architecture leadership.
Nice to have qualifications
- Experience building AI‑enabled data architectures and ML data pipelines.
- Familiarity with Tableau, Power BI, and Fabric reporting tools.
- Demonstrated experience defining and operationalizing DevOps best practices.
- Experience with Spark, Hive, Impala, and other big data frameworks.
- Knowledge of multi-cloud architecture components (Azure, GCP, AWS).
- Experience with pipeline automation tooling such as Airflow, Azure Data Factory, Prefect.
- Experience leading technical teams and managing data/analytics/ML projects.
- Familiarity with front- and back‑end application stacks and API design (REST/GraphQL).
If you do not meet all the listed qualifications or have gaps in your experience, we still encourage you to apply. At Valtech, we recognize that talent comes in many forms, and we value diverse perspectives and a willingness to learn.
Commitment to reaching all kinds of people
We design experiences that work for all kinds of people - and that starts with our own teams. At Valtech, we’re intentional about building an inclusive culture where everyone feels supported to grow, thrive and achieve their goals. No matter your background, you belong here. Explore our Diversity & Inclusion site to see how we’re creating a more equitable Valtech for all.
The benefits
This is a full time position based in Canada. The offered salary range is $180,00-250,000 annually, depending on experience and location.
Valtech offers a comprehensive benefits package effective after three months of continuous service:
- A comprehensive insurance plan, where you can choose the module that best suits your needs—Gold, Silver, or Bronze. The employer may contribute up to 80% of your coverage depending on the selected module. This plan includes short- and long-term disability coverage.
- Dialogue via Sun Life provides virtual healthcare services, allowing you to consult with a healthcare professional for emergencies, prescription renewals, and more. You also have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, as well as a complete mental health support program.
- A $500 Personal Spending Account, which can be used for healthcare reimbursements, gym memberships, public transit passes, office supplies, or contributions to your RRSP through Valtech.
- A retirement plan where Valtech will match 100% of your RRSP contributions through a Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP), up to a maximum of 4%. You can start contributing to your RRSP immediately, and to the DPSP after 3 months. The vesting of the DPSP will be after a 24 months of service.
- Access to a flexible vacation under Valtech's policy to support your work-life balance, with 5 days available during your probation period and a prorated amount calculated for the remainder of the year.
- Personal Technology Reimbursement – $30/month for every employee-offered on day 1.
- We close during the winter holidays and offer flexible scheduling throughout the year, so you can enjoy those sunny Friday afternoons—provided your weekly hours are completed.
Your application process
Once you apply, our Talent Acquisition team will review your application. If your skills and experience align with the role, we’ll reach out for next steps. Your CV should cover key information on relevant experiences and expertise. We do not require information such as age, gender, marital status, or a headshot in your application. We review all candidates based on skills, experience, and potential.
⚠️ Beware of recruitment fraud: Only engage with official Valtech email addresses.
We are committed to inclusion and accessibility. If you need reasonable accommodations during the interview process, please either indicate it in your application or let your Talent Partner know.
About Valtech
Valtech is the experience innovation company that exists to unlock a better way to experience the world. By blending crafts, categories, and cultures, we help brands unlock new value in an increasingly digital world.
At the intersection of data, AI, creativity, and technology, we drive transformation for leading organizations, including L’Oréal, Mars, Audi, P&G, Volkswagen Dolby, and more.
At Valtech, we don’t just talk about transformation. We make it happen. Our people are the heart of our success, and we foster a workplace where everyone has the support to thrive, grow and innovate.
Are you ready to create what’s next? Join us.
