Data Architect

Career at Damen

Within Damen, Damen Data Services (DDS) is the driving force behind our digital transformation. Our mission is to create business value through data by enabling smarter collaboration between colleagues, yards, customers, and partners. We are on a journey towards a ‘Human-led, Data-powered’ organization.

As a Data Architect, you are the critical link between business needs and technical realization. You design the foundation of Damen’s data landscape — and actively help build it.

You operate in a pragmatic environment where strategy and execution go hand in hand. You translate business requirements into scalable and future-proof data solutions, while taking ownership to ensure they are implemented in practice.

You work closely with Data Owners, Data Stewards, Data Engineers, and Business and Enterprise Architects to increase the maturity of our data organization step by step.

You leverage frameworks such as DAMA-DMBOK and TOGAF, but always apply them in a pragmatic and value-driven way that fits Damen’s way of working.

This is not an “ivory tower” role — you are expected to be hands-on, contributing directly to solutions and guiding teams in making the right architectural choices.

Key responsibilities

Design, Realize and Govern the Data Management Architecture

• Develop and realize Damen’s data management architecture and data platform vision with the business and enterprise architects, ensuring that data models, standards and frameworks are aligned with business strategy, processes and technology choices.
• Design and maintain conceptual, logical and physical data models that visualize relationships between key data entities.
• Develop data strategies that define how Damen collects, stores, integrates, governs and uses data.
• Create and apply enterprise-wide data model frameworks, standards and principles to ensure consistency, quality, security and reusability across domains and systems.
• Translate architectural direction into actionable designs and actively support implementation in projects and teams.
• Apply DAMA-DMBOK and TOGAF principles and translate them into practical, actionable solutions.
• Advise how AI can be utilized in an organization (e.g. business and data processes) that is growing in its data maturity.

Drive Data Maturity

• Help transition Damen towards a more data-driven organization.
• Introduce pragmatic improvements instead of theoretical perfection.
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks in data flows, structures, and usage.
• Balance long-term architectural vision with short-term business value.

Hands-on Collaboration

• Work closely with Data Engineers and Data Analysts on concrete solutions.
• Collaborate with Business and Enterprise Architects on enterprise-wide architectures related to data.
• Support and contribute to data ingestion, transformation, and storage design.
• Actively participate in solution design and implementation where needed.

Ensure Integration & Consistency

• Create and maintain a coherent data architecture across domains and systems.
• Align architecture across SAP, Workday, Salesforce, and other key platforms.
• Ensure interoperability within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem.

Data Governance & Security

• Collaborate with Data Governance, Master Data Management, and the CISO.
• Ensure architecture supports data quality, security, and compliance (e.g. GDPR).
• Embed governance principles in practical implementations.

Skills & experience

Experience

• 6+ years of experience in Data Architecture or similar roles.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing data solutions.
• Experience in a pragmatic organization.
• Affinity with manufacturing / industrial environments is a strong pre.

Technical & Methodological Skills

• Strong knowledge of data modelling (conceptual, logical, physical) and architecture modelling with ArchiMate.
• Solid understanding of DAMA-DMBOK and TOGAF, and the ability to apply them pragmatically.
• Good knowledge and experience with Agile way of working (SAFe).
• Experience with Microsoft Azure ecosystem (e.g. Synapse, Data Lake).
• Knowledge of data integration, pipelines, and cloud architectures.
• Familiarity with enterprise systems such as SAP, Workday, Salesforce.
• Experience with modern data technologies (AI, ML, analytics, big data).

Personal Skills

• Pragmatic and results-oriented — you get things done.
• Able to balance architectural rigor with speed and delivery.
• Strong stakeholder management across business and IT.
• Ability to translate complex topics into clear and actionable insights.
• Hands-on mindset: willing to step in and make things work.
• Drives change and continuously improves data maturity.
• Able to communicate and collaborate effectively with less experienced and less data-savvy stakeholders.

Why Damen?

• A Global Family – Work alongside passionate professionals worldwide in a collaborative, inspiring workplace.
• Career Growth Opportunities – Continuous learning and development in a global environment. Extensive development opportunities via the Damen Academy.
• Innovation at the Core – Be part of a team that drives digital transformation across the maritime industry.
• Work-Life Balance – Flexible working options and a culture that values your well-being. 40+ days of leave and excellent employment conditions (pension, bonus, travel allowance).
• Purpose-Driven Work – Contribute to sustainable, future-focused solutions that matter.

NB: We are looking for candidates who are already living and working in The Netherlands.