Principal Data Architect

About the role

Applied Materials, a global leader in materials science and engineering solutions for semiconductors and displays, is hiring a Principal Data Architect in Santa Clara, CA. The role is the senior technical authority for the enterprise data architecture, accountable for the coherence of the data landscape across large-scale transformation programs. It leads the S/4 transformation data architecture, defines data products and the enterprise semantic layer, and operates through influence across business units rather than direct reporting authority.

Key responsibilities

• Define the target-state architecture for the data platform and BI landscape, establish reference architectures and design patterns, and approve platform and solution designs
• Lead multi-year, multi-business-unit data transformation programs, including migration strategy, sequencing, cutover and decommissioning
• Act as data architecture authority for the S/4 program, owning the data model, master data implications and the downstream architecture for analytics and AI
• Own the data product operating model, including data contracts, certification criteria, quality and freshness SLAs, versioning and deprecation
• Design and govern the enterprise semantic layer, including the change-control process for semantic definitions
• Embed governance, security and data quality by design, working with Information Security and Compliance on encryption, key management and SOX controls
• Own multi-year platform roadmaps, evaluate vendors and assess architectural lock-in and exit costs
• Set technical direction for delivery teams, systems integrators and partners, and mentor the wider data organization
• Translate architectural trade-offs into business terms for senior stakeholders

Required profile

• Recognized enterprise authority in data architecture and an advanced expert in data and analytics
• Deep knowledge of ERP data, information security and AI/ML platform engineering
• Ability to lead complex programs without formal reporting authority and to communicate complex technical concepts to executives
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• Preferred: semiconductor or complex global manufacturing experience, experience architecting for AI and agentic data consumption, and experience with technical acceptance criteria for systems integrators

Required skills

• SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC), including Datasphere data modeling, replication/transformation flows and BDC-to-lakehouse integration with Databricks
• SAP ABAP (OO-ABAP, CDS Views, AMDP) and SQLScript/HANA-native procedures
• SQL and Python for pipeline development and validation scripting
• SAP BTP extensibility (RAP, CAP) and Delta Sharing
• Databricks: Delta Lake, PySpark/Spark SQL, Delta Live Tables (or Lakeflow), Unity Catalog, and semantic layer design
• CI/CD or transport-based version control; familiarity with SAP Analytics Cloud or BW/BW4HANA integration is preferred

What we offer

• Salary of $198,000 to $272,500
• Full-time position, with travel of about 10% of the time and relocation eligibility
• Comprehensive benefits package, with possible bonus and stock award program participation