Principal Architect - Azure

About Datacom

Datacom is a premier technology service provider in Australasia, harnessing technology, expert knowledge, and skilled professionals to empower organisations in a swiftly evolving digital landscape. We collaborate with diverse clients—including governments, enterprises, and growing businesses—to solve impactful challenges and generate valuable outcomes.

Role Overview

This Principal Architect position involves delivering high-level strategic technology guidance for complex client environments, shaping the future trajectory of cloud, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms. The role encompasses defining enterprise architecture strategies, developing standards and governance, and ensuring implementations are secure, scalable, maintainable, and commercially viable. Close collaboration with customers, senior stakeholders, architects, engineering teams, and delivery leaders is integral to influence technology decisions that drive transformational and sustained business value.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop enterprise-wide strategies for cloud, AI, and platform initiatives aligned with clients' strategic objectives.
• Lead architectural efforts in large-scale transformation programs to guarantee solutions meet security, scalability, supportability, and commercial standards.
• Create and enforce Azure reference architectures, platform standards, governance policies, and best practices.
• Oversee design and execution of agentic platforms, AI-powered business workflows, and progressive AI technologies.
• Assess emerging technologies to identify opportunities for enhancing business results, innovativeness, and efficiency.
• Provide architectural assurance spanning cloud, security, networking, data, application, and AI domains.
• Set architectural guidelines that support delivery success, operational stability, maintainability, and adaptability.
• Advise executives through strategic consultations, technology roadmaps, and investment planning.
• Contribute to thought leadership, technical communities, innovation projects, and reusable intellectual properties.

Candidate Profile

• Substantial experience in senior technology leadership roles such as Enterprise or Principal Architect.
• Proven track record in shaping and governing enterprise technology strategies encompassing cloud infrastructure, security, networking, applications, and data services.
• Deep proficiency with Microsoft Azure including governance, landing zones, identity and access management, security, automation, and operational models.
• Hands-on experience directing enterprise AI programs and facilitating AI platform adoption in large complex organisations.
• Strong expertise with Azure AI Foundry, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search, large language models, and contemporary AI architectural approaches.
• Skilled in designing enterprise AI solutions employing retrieval-augmented generation, vector search, and AI orchestration methods.
• Experience establishing AI governance, responsible AI frameworks, model lifecycle management, and AI operational models at the enterprise level.
• Familiarity with developing or overseeing agentic solutions, AI-driven automation platforms, and intelligent business workflows.
• Comprehensive understanding of security, resilience, observability, compliance, and risk management in cloud and AI environments.
• Experience constructing architecture standards, governance structures, reference designs, and strategic technology roadmaps.
• Proven ability to lead architects and multidisciplinary teams through complex transformations.
• Exceptional communication and influencing capabilities to engage executives, technical leaders, and delivery teams.
• A passion for pioneering technologies and translating innovations into tangible business value.

Preferred Qualifications and Skills

• Background establishing enterprise AI Centres of Excellence or AI governance divisions.
• Familiarity with multi-cloud solutions and hybrid cloud operating strategies.
• Experience with Kubernetes, platform engineering, and modern cloud-native technologies.
• Knowledge of GitHub Enterprise, GitHub Copilot, and AI-assisted software development methodologies.
• Understanding of FinOps principles, AI cost optimization, and cloud financial governance.
• Contributions to industry standards, technical communities, boards, or thought leadership initiatives.
• Certifications such as Azure Solutions Architect Expert, Azure AI Engineer Associate, Azure Security Engineer Associate, or TOGAF.
• A relevant degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent professional experience.

Benefits and Culture

Joining Datacom means becoming part of a supportive environment fostering your career growth, health, and meaningful contribution. We offer industry-leading learning and development programs, parental leave, wellbeing services, and various employee benefits. The workplace culture values curiosity, innovation, diversity, inclusion, and purpose-driven work.

• Paid parental leave
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program (DataCare)
• Continuous learning, certification, and career development opportunities
• Access to top-tier learning platforms and skill development
• Recognition programs celebrating exceptional contributions
• Employee discounts and financial wellbeing perks
• Engagement in impactful and rewarding projects

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria and terms may apply to certain benefits.