Senior Data Architect (m/f/d)

About the job

Senior Data Architect (m/f/d)

Shape the data-driven and AI-enabled future of a world-leading university with us

To support research and teaching, the IT Services of ETH Zurich operate as a service organisation within a large and complex IT environment. We offer the members of ETH Zurich high-quality, flexible, and scalable IT services, thereby supporting them in competing with the best universities worldwide.

The services of the ID Applications (APPS) section include e-mail, groupware (collaborative software solutions), as well as hosting of websites, databases, and applications. The portfolio also includes the design, implementation, and further development of various systems (central operational information system, Identity & Access Management, SAP-ERP, Web Content Management, as well as solutions for teaching development/technology and the departments) of ETH Zurich.

ETH Zurich is consistently driving the digital transformation of its data landscape: moving away from historically grown, point-to-point integrations towards a modern, event-driven, and governance-strong data platform that also enables the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence. As a Senior Data Architect, you will take on a central, shaping role in this strategic realignment – both conceptually and hands-on.

Job Description

As a Senior Data Architect, you will play a key role in designing and further developing our enterprise-wide data landscape. With your profound architectural expertise, you will be responsible for the conceptual, logical, and physical information and data architecture, creating the foundation for consistent and future-proof data usage across all relevant domains with canonical data models. You will actively drive the strategic transformation of our integration architecture and develop it from classic point-to-point interfaces to a modern, event-driven, and decentralised data platform based on the principles of Event-Driven Architecture and Data Mesh.

Thanks to your experience, you will establish sustainable data governance structures and ensure that processes around metadata management, data quality, data classification, as well as role and approval concepts are effectively anchored within the organisation. At the same time, you will create the architectural prerequisites for the responsible use of Business Intelligence, Analytics, and Artificial Intelligence, enabling the development of innovative data products up to machine learning applications.

As an experienced architect, you will design modern persistence and data platform strategies, develop solutions for relational, document-based, graph, and vector databases, and support the expansion of powerful data lake and lakehouse architectures. You will serve as a competent contact person for project teams, ERP managers, and specialist departments, assisting them in implementing modern data pipelines and integration solutions with technologies such as ETL/ELT, Apache NiFi, Kafka, or CDC.

Furthermore, you will represent the data architecture at a strategic level in specialist committees, prepare the necessary architecture documentation, and contribute your expertise in evaluations, procurements, and tenders. With your foresight, you will sustainably shape the data-driven development of our organisation and make a decisive contribution to the digital future.

Profile

• Completed university degree in computer science, business informatics, or a comparable qualification, as well as several years of experience as a Senior Data or Solution Architect.
• Solid knowledge in information and data modelling with a focus on relational databases (Oracle), including DDL, SQL, and PL/SQL.
• Experience with heterogeneous persistence architectures (graph, document/JSON, vector) as well as data warehouse/lakehouse concepts (e.g. Spark, Databricks or comparable).
• Practical experience in data pipeline engineering (ETL/ELT, NiFi, Informatica) as well as in event-driven/Kafka-based integration patterns (CDC, schema registry).
• Experience in building and operating data governance processes and tools (catalogues, classification, metadata).
• Interest and ideally initial experience in the use of AI or generative AI for data insights, data quality, or data exploitation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder skills as well as a structured, documentation-intensive working style.
• Several years of experience collaborating with demanding stakeholders and decision-makers at various leadership and hierarchy levels.
• Very good German and English skills, both spoken and written.

We offer

Your job with impact: Become part of ETH Zurich, which not only supports your professional development but also actively contributes to positive changes in society.

Working at the Vice Presidency for Infrastructure and Sustainability (VPIN) means actively shaping the future of ETH Zurich – an inspiring, international, and innovative institution. Your commitment creates the best conditions for excellence in teaching, research, knowledge transfer, and sustainability at ETH Zurich.

In an open, inspiring atmosphere, trust, reliability, and mutual respect form the foundation of our collaboration. We offer you not only security but also diverse development opportunities. With us, you can expect meaningful work in an innovative and appreciative environment that you can help shape and that opens up new perspectives for you.

• At ETH Zurich, you will find a dynamic and international environment
• A cheerful, helpful, open team and a modern workplace
• You will have scope for creativity and practical, innovative solutions are very welcome
• We live: Lifelong Learning
• Benefits such as public transport subscriptions and car sharing, a broad sports programme from the ASVZ , childcare, attractive pension schemes , etc.

Working, teaching and researching at ETH Zurich

Diversity and sustainability are important to us

In line with our values , ETH Zurich supports an inclusive culture. We promote equal opportunities, value diversity, and foster a working and learning environment in which the rights and dignity of all employees and students are respected. On our Equal Opportunities and Diversity webpage , you can learn how we ensure a fair and open environment where everyone can develop and thrive. Sustainability is a core value for us – we are consistently working towards a climate-neutral future.

Curious? So are we.

We look forward to receiving your online application with the following documents:

• Motivation letter
• Curriculum vitae
• Certificates

Further information about the IT Services Application can be found on our website . For enquiries, Silvio Mombelli [silvio.mombelli@id.ethz.ch] (no application documents) will be happy to assist you.

Please apply exclusively via the online application portal. Applications by e-mail or post will not be considered.

We would like to point out that the pre-selection is carried out by the responsible recruiters and not by artificial intelligence.

For personnel recruitment, the ETH Zurich terms and conditions apply.

About ETH Zurich

ETH Zurich is one of the best technical and natural science universities in the world. We are known for our excellent teaching, pioneering fundamental research, and the direct transfer of new knowledge into society. More than 30,000 people from over 120 countries find an environment here that promotes independent thinking and a climate that inspires top performance. Located in the heart of Europe and connected worldwide, we develop solutions together for the global challenges of today and tomorrow.