The Data Platform Lead is responsible for the end-to-end ownership of a large enterprise data platform within a complex, operational environment. Reporting into the Enterprise Data & Analytics function, this role carries accountability for the technical strategy, operational performance, cost management, and ongoing evolution of a Databricks-led Azure ecosystem. This is not a pure engineering role. It is a platform ownership position requiring strong technical depth combined with stakeholder leadership. The platform is established & operating, we need someone to own, stabilise, optimise, and to ensure consistent, measurable business value. Responsibilities: Own and execute the technical roadmap for the enterprise data platform aligned to business priorities Oversee day-to-day operational health across data lakes, warehouses, ingestion pipelines, transformation layers, and analytics environments Define, monitor, and enforce SLAs covering uptime, performance, incident management, data quality, and cost control Manage the relationship with the managed service provider, driving accountability, transparency, and delivery outcomes Act as the primary liaison between IT, architecture, business stakeholders, and operational teams Drive cost optimisation across Azure and Databricks through forecasting, monitoring, and resource management Establish and refine DevOps practices to support a hub-and-spoke operating model Strengthen governance capabilities including metadata, security, retention, and data quality frameworks Provide performance and cost reporting dashboards to senior stakeholders, understanding of Kimball highly desired Identify and implement improvements including automation, self-service enablement, and AI use case opportunities Requirements: Strong experience in enterprise engineering and analytics platform environments Strong production experience with Databricks in Azure-based architectures Understands the design and how to operating modern lakehouse architectures including ELT pipelines and medallion patterns Demonstrated ownership of platform reliability, scalability, security, and cost management Experience operating within complex, multi-stakeholder enterprise environments Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills across technical and non-technical audiences Ability to translate business requirements into sustainable platform solutions Comfortable taking accountability for platform outcomes rather than purely technical delivery This role won't suit someone who wants a hands on position! If you are a Data Engineering Lead or Principal Consultant looking to get off the tools fully, or maybe an Analytics Manager who wants more platform ownership, it may be a fit. Applicants must be based in Sydney & have Permanent Residency or Citizenship.
