Principal Data Architect

About the role

The Principal Data Architect serves as the senior technical authority for Applied Materials’ enterprise data architecture, ensuring coherence of the data landscape across large‑scale transformation programs and owning the architecture of certified data products and the enterprise semantic layer.

Key responsibilities

• Define and own the target‑state architecture for the data platform and BI landscape, establishing reference architectures and design patterns.
• Lead end‑to‑end technical direction for multi‑year, multi‑business‑unit data transformation programs, including assessment, migration strategy, and cut‑over design.
• Act as the data architecture authority for the S/4 ERP program, shaping data models, master data strategy, and downstream analytics consumption.
• Design and certify high‑impact enterprise data products, driving reuse and establishing operating models, contracts, and SLAs.
• Govern the enterprise semantic layer, providing a common business vocabulary, conformed dimensions, and certified metric definitions.
• Embed governance, security, and data quality into architecture, partnering with Information Security and Compliance on encryption and SOX controls.
• Own the multi‑year technology roadmap, evaluate vendor solutions, and manage architectural lock‑in risks.
• Set technical direction for internal delivery teams and partners through design reviews, architecture gates, and acceptance criteria.
• Mentor and raise the data modeling capability of the broader organization through reviews, standards, and enablement.
• Translate architectural trade‑offs into business terms for senior stakeholders and drive alignment across business units.

Required profile

• Recognized enterprise technical authority in data architecture with deep knowledge of ERP, information security, and AI/ML platforms.
• Strong business acumen to understand commercial and operational drivers and anticipate impacts of architectural decisions.
• Leadership experience guiding complex, high‑risk programs without formal reporting authority.
• Ability to solve ambiguous, enterprise‑wide problems with innovative thinking.
• Influence over program sequencing, resource allocation, and multi‑year technology investments.

Required skills

• Data architecture and enterprise data platform design
• S/4 (SAP) and ERP data modeling
• Business intelligence (BI) and analytics
• AI/ML integration
• Data governance, cataloging and lineage
• Data modeling and semantic layer development
• Encryption, key management and SOX compliance
• Vendor assessment and technology road‑mapping

What we offer

• Salary range: $198,000 – $272,500 per year
• Supportive work culture that encourages learning, development and career growth
• Health and wellbeing programs, including personal and professional support