At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the technical direction of a large-scale M&A programme in data and AI.
- Company: Dynamic retail and CPG client with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Negotiable contract rate, hybrid work model, and leadership opportunities.
- Other info: Collaborate with senior architects and influence C-level stakeholders.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a high-stakes role at the intersection of business and technology.
- Qualifications: 15+ years in Data & Analytics with strong leadership and multi-cloud experience.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are seeking a Data & AI Technical Lead to drive the Discovery & Design phase of a large‑scale M&A program for a Retail & CPG client. This role will lead the technical direction across a complex, multi‑cloud data landscape spanning Azure, AWS, GCP, Databricks, and Snowflake. You will oversee and guide senior Data Architects, ensuring architectural alignment, technical quality, and business relevance. The role sits at the intersection of business strategy, data architecture, and platform engineering, acting as a key liaison between client stakeholders, IT teams, and the Chief Data Office. This is a high‑impact leadership role requiring both hands‑on architectural depth and stakeholder influence at senior levels.
Key Responsibilities
- Technical Leadership & Architecture Governance: Provide strategic and hands‑on technical leadership across multi‑cloud data platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP). Guide and mentor senior Data Architects, ensuring consistency in design patterns, frameworks, and standards. Define interim‑state, target‑state, and transitional architectures for M&A integration (data platforms, analytics, AI/ML enablement). Establish best practices across Databricks, Snowflake, and cloud‑native data services.
- M&A Discovery & Design: Lead data discovery across merging entities: systems, pipelines, governance, and data models. Define integration strategy (consolidation vs federation vs hybrid). Identify synergies, redundancies, and risks in data ecosystems. Produce high‑quality architecture blueprints, roadmaps, and design artifacts.
- Stakeholder Management & Liaison: Act as the primary technical interface between IT/Engineering teams, Chief Data Office (CDO), and client‑side architects and leadership. Translate business objectives into scalable technical solutions. Facilitate architecture reviews, design workshops, and decision forums.
- Data & AI Strategy Enablement: Define foundations for advanced analytics, AI/ML, and data products post‑M&A. Align architecture with data governance, security, and compliance frameworks. Enable scalable, future‑proof data platforms supporting Retail & CPG use cases (e.g., demand forecasting, customer 360, supply‑chain optimization).
- Delivery Oversight: Review and validate design outputs from architects and engineering teams. Ensure architectural integrity during discovery and early delivery phases. Manage risks, dependencies, and technical trade‑offs. Support estimation, planning, and prioritization activities.
Required Skills & Experience
- 15+ years in Data & Analytics, with 5+ years in leadership roles.
- Strong hands‑on experience across Azure cloud, ADF, DevOps, Power BI, Fabric workspaces. AWS cloud, S3, cross‑cloud connectivity, API Gateways. GCP (BigQuery, GCS, Dataflow).
- Deep expertise in Databricks (Lakehouse architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, Delta Sharing, PySpark, Spark SQL, etc.) and Snowflake (data warehousing & data sharing, Iceberg).
- Strong understanding of data architecture patterns, industry benchmarking, data integration patterns (ETL/ELT, streaming, CDC, APIs), and data governance & metadata management.
- Proven experience in M&A data integration, platform consolidation, or carve‑outs. Experience designing multi‑cloud or hybrid data architectures. Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks (TOGAF or equivalent).
- Experience managing or leading senior architects or technical teams. Strong communication skills with the ability to influence C‑level stakeholders. Ability to bridge business strategy and technical execution. Experience working in consulting or client‑facing roles.
Data and AI Tech Lead employer: Onyx-Conseil
As a Data and AI Tech Lead at our London-based firm, you will thrive in a dynamic hybrid work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. We prioritise employee growth through continuous learning opportunities and mentorship, ensuring you are well-equipped to lead complex data initiatives in the Retail & CPG sector. Our inclusive work culture values diverse perspectives, empowering you to make a meaningful impact while enjoying the unique advantages of working in one of the world's most vibrant cities.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Data and AI Tech Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend meetups, and engage in online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website showcasing your projects and achievements. This is a great way to demonstrate your expertise in data architecture and AI solutions to potential employers.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios related to data and AI leadership. Think about how you would approach M&A integration challenges and be ready to discuss your past experiences in detail.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications that way!
We think you need these skills to ace Data and AI Tech Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Data and AI Tech Lead role. Highlight your experience with multi-cloud data platforms and leadership in data architecture. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of your past experiences that relate to the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Technical Skills:Don’t hold back on showcasing your technical expertise! Mention your hands-on experience with Azure, AWS, GCP, Databricks, and Snowflake. We’re looking for someone who can lead with confidence across these platforms.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Onyx-Conseil
✨Know Your Tech Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specific technologies mentioned in the job description, like Azure, AWS, GCP, Databricks, and Snowflake. Brush up on your hands-on experience and be ready to discuss how you've used these platforms in past projects.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership experience, especially in guiding senior Data Architects. Think about times when you’ve influenced stakeholders or led a team through complex technical challenges, as this role requires strong leadership and communication skills.
✨Understand M&A Dynamics
Since this role focuses on M&A integration, be ready to discuss your experience with data integration during mergers or acquisitions. Familiarise yourself with different integration strategies and be prepared to share insights on identifying synergies and risks in data ecosystems.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Scenarios
Anticipate questions about how you would act as a liaison between technical teams and business stakeholders. Think of scenarios where you successfully translated business objectives into technical solutions, and be ready to explain your approach to facilitating architecture reviews and design workshops.
