Data Cloud Platform Architect

Data Cloud Platform Architect
Porto
Porto, Porto District, Portugal

At Lùkla, we partner with major European organisations to design and build
- scale,
- native data platforms in highly regulated and
- critical environments.

We are currently looking for an experienced Data Cloud Platform Architect to play a key role in the creation and evolution of a complex data platform built from scratch, supporting advanced analytics, governance, and regulatory needs.

This is a senior,
- on architecture role, combining technical leadership, deep cloud data expertise, and close collaboration with engineering, security and business teams.

? Location: Porto (hybrid - 3x
- site)

Key Responsibilities:

Data Platform Architecture & Delivery

• Design, implement and evolve scalable cloud data architectures, primarily on AWS, aligned with defined data architecture and governance frameworks.
• Lead the creation of a
  - native data platform from the ground up, covering ingestion, processing, storage, and consumption layers.
• Define and enforce technical standards, best practices and architectural principles across data engineering initiatives.
• Translate business and regulatory requirements into robust technical solutions.

Data Engineering & Orchestration

• Oversee and contribute to the design of data pipelines and ETL/ELT processes using technologies such as AWS Glue, Lambda, Step Functions and Apache Airflow.
• Support the management and optimisation of
  - scale datasets using Apache Iceberg and modern lakehouse approaches.
• Ensure efficient data integration into analytical and operational stores such as Redshift, Postgre
  SQL and Duck
  DB.
• Optimise data models and queries for performance, scalability and cost.

Governance, Security & Reliability

• Lead the implementation and enforcement of data governance, security and compliance standards across the data platform.
• Ensure production readiness through monitoring, logging and tracing mechanisms using services such as Cloud
  Watch, Cloud
  Trail and X-Ray.
• Proactively identify risks, performance bottlenecks and improvement opportunities.

Technical Leadership

• Act as a technical reference and subject matter expert for cloud data architecture and engineering.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to data engineers and technical teams.
• Challenge requirements when needed and propose innovative, efficient and
  - effective solutions.
• Produce and maintain clear solution and technical documentation.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong experience as a Data Architect, Data Platform Architect or Principal/Lead Data Engineer.
• Deep expertise in AWS data services, including Glue, Redshift, Athena, Lambda and Step Functions.
• Proven experience with Infrastructure as Code (Ia
  C) using Terraform and/or Cloud
  Formation.
• Solid
  - on skills in Python and SQL, including prototyping and setting coding standards.
• Experience with Apache Iceberg and managing large datasets at scale.
• Strong background in data modelling, ETL processes and data integration.
• Experience with orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow.
• Familiarity with Kafka or
  - driven data architectures is a plus.
• Proactive mindset regarding production monitoring, troubleshooting and optimisation.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work across multiple stakeholders.

Nice to Have

• Exposure to Azure data services, including Databricks.
• Experience in regulated or enterprise environments (finance, capital markets, insurance, etc. ).
• Previous involvement in greenfield data platform initiatives.

Languages

• English — Fluent / Professional level