Senior Data Architect

We are looking for a seasoned Data Architect to help shape the future data landscape of the Ministry of Defense. In this role, you will contribute to defining the organization’s data architecture vision, ensure coherence across systems, and provide guidelines in building a robust, secure, and future-proof data ecosystem.
The IT&S Department of Defence’s Competence Center is seeking experienced IT specialists to strengthen our dynamic, multidisciplinary team in Vilvoorde (Peutie). If you are ready to take on challenging IT projects and play a key role in the digital transformation of Defense, then this is the job for you Join us and tackle exciting technological challenges while contributing to national security.

As a Data Architect, you are a key stakeholder in defining and governing the data architecture for the Ministry of Defense. You ensure that data is integrated, secured, and leveraged effectively across the organization. Helping to define the enterprise data architecture and ensuring alignment with Defense’s digital strategy and long-term objectives.
· Establishing data architecture principles, standards, and best practices, and ensuring their adoption across teams.
· Driving the design of scalable, secure, and interoperable data platforms, including data warehouses, data lakes, and integration layers.
Data Modeling & Design
· Overseeing conceptual, logical, and physical data models for enterprise-wide initiatives.
· Ensuring consistency, reusability, and quality across all data models and metadata assets.
· Guiding teams in designing robust database schemas, canonical models, and reference data structures.

Partnering with data engineers, solution architects, and database developers and administrators to ensure correct implementation of architectural designs.
· Playing a leading role in data governance, including data quality, lineage, classification, and stewardship frameworks.

Designing data integration architectures (ETL/ELT, streaming, APIs) that ensure reliable and secure data flows across systems.
· Supporting modernization initiatives such as cloud adoption, legacy system transformation, and master data management (MDM).
· Evaluating and introducing new technologies, methodologies, and tools that strengthen Defense’s data capabilities.
Security & Compliance
· Ensuring that data architectures comply with security, privacy, and regulatory requirements, especially in a defense context.
· Collaborating with cybersecurity teams to embed data protection and risk mitigation into all architectural designs.

Master’s degree or higher in an IT related field.
· Extensive experience as a Data Architect, Senior Data Modeler, or Solution Architect in complex environments.
· Deep expertise in data modeling, database design, and enterprise data architecture.
· Strong knowledge of data modeling and architecture tools such as SPARX, ERwin, ER Studio, or PowerDesigner.
· Solid understanding of relational (SQL) and NoSQL technologies, data warehousing, ETL/ELT, and modern data platforms.
· Experience with data governance frameworks, metadata management, and MDM is a strong asset.
· Strong analytical mindset, precision, and a commitment to data quality and integrity.
· Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to influence and guide teams.
· Preferably bilingual (Dutch, French), with sufficient command of either French or Dutch to participate seamlessly in meetings with specialists and end-users.
· Solid command of technical English.
· Defense is undergoing a major digital transformation: from cybersecurity challenges to digital communication, from network improvements to support our new way of working, to complex development projects and optimization of existing applications.
We also attach great importance to a healthy work-life balance – with telework available for most positions – and our offices are easily accessible by public transport.