A&I - Senior Data Architect

As a Senior Data Architect, you will be at the forefront of modernising our A&I (Automation & Insights) data platform architecture and driving operational excellence through automation. You will design cloud-based solutions with both functional (e.g., real-time personalisation) and non-functional (e.g., performance, security, cost control) requirements in mind, ensuring FDJ United remains a leader in the data-driven online gambling industry. Your work will involve shaping lakehouse and data-lake paradigms, leveraging Parquet and Iceberg for high-performance data storage, and adopting scalable Spark frameworks for large-scale processing. Ultimately, you will enable self-service analytics, personalised user experiences, and an AI-first approach to data-driven decision-making.

What You'll Be Doing Architecting Advanced Data Solutions

• Shape End-to-End Data Architectures: Define conceptual and logical models for data lakes, warehouses, and hybrid deployments (AWS, Azure/Fabric), aligning with key performance and cost objectives.
• Embed Automation & Monitoring: Reduce complexity and maximise uptime through DevOps practices, ensuring compliance with FDJ United's security and regulatory standards.

Modernising Data Pipelines & Workflows

• Implement Scalable Frameworks: Orchestrate large-scale pipelines using Spark, Docker, Kubernetes, and other DevOps tools.
• Accelerate Delivery: Apply standardised processes and automated testing to streamline development and reduce time-to-market while managing terabytes of data daily.

Driving AI & ML Initiatives

• Champion LLMOps & MLOps Strategy: Set the architectural framework for building, training, and deploying AI/ML models with automation and regulatory compliance in mind.
• Enhance Operational Efficiency: Oversee end-to-end workflows (model improvement, versioning, monitoring) to support real-time personalisation and advanced analytics, focusing on architectural integrity rather than hands-on coding.

Ensuring Governance & Quality

• Establish Strong Data Governance: Partner with the Data Governance Manager to define schema management, metadata frameworks (e.g., OpenMetadata), and data quality controls, promoting data democratisation and self-service.
• Adhere to Security & Compliance: Integrate information security standards and FDJ United's compliance framework into every data process, safeguarding internal and customer data across all stages.

Collaborative Design & Leadership

• Lead Technical Workshops: Host whiteboard sessions and design reviews, driving shared expertise and open dialogue.
• Influence Stakeholders: Translate complex architectural concepts into actionable strategies, ensuring alignment with enterprise architecture standards and TOGAF principles.

Continuous Innovation & Exploration

• Stay Ahead of Trends: Track emerging data technologies in cloud, DevOps, and AI to maintain a cutting-edge platform.
• Evaluate & Implement New Solutions: Prototype and integrate innovations-such as vector databases or advanced real-time analytics-that bring tangible business impact., If you're excited about applying innovative data architectures, automation, and AI-driven solutions to power one of the world's largest online gambling groups, we would love to hear from you. Join FDJ United's A&I Department and help us shape the future of responsible, data-driven entertainment on a global scale.

Ensure that you adhere to the Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) obligations for your role.

• Identify and raise any non-compliance incidents promptly to your line manager.
• Challenge processes, policies and projects that will negatively impact compliance within the Group.
• Complete all mandatory compliance training assigned to you.
• Reach out to the Compliance Teams if unsure of any of your compliance obligations or the requirements are unclear.

• Proven experience architecting data solutions at enterprise scale (lakehouse concepts, big data platforms, real-time pipelines).
• TOGAF Certified would be an added advantage.
• Successful track record of optimising cost, performance, and business outcomes under strict compliance requirements.

Technical Mastery & Hands-On Skills

• Advanced knowledge of Java/Spring, Python, Docker, Kubernetes, AWS and DevOps methodologies.
• Familiarity with Spark, Iceberg, Parquet, and other solutions for large-scale data processing.

AI/ML & Analytics Background

• Competent in ML & analytics, with exposure to LLMOps and MLOps practices (pipeline automation, model governance).
• Comfortable leading the architecture of AI solutions rather than day-to-day model development.

Governance, Security & Compliance Mindset

• Skilled in defining and enforcing data governance standards while upholding regulatory and information security best practices.
• Ability to navigate a tough regulatory landscape, ensuring compliance without compromising innovation.

Excellent Communication & Collaboration

• Adept at workshop facilitation and bridging technical and non-technical perspectives.
• Self-driven, with a passion for continuous improvement, developer productivity, and accelerating time-to-market.