Global Head of Architecture

Datatonic

18h•Remote

About The Position

Datatonic is hiring a Global Head of Architecture to serve as a hands-on Cloud Architect and lead its team of architects. The role designs and builds cloud, data and application estates while setting architecture standards, developing people and owning architecture quality across client work. Time is divided among architecture delivery on complex engagements, leading and developing architects, and representing Datatonic with clients and in pre-sales. The role covers target architecture across Google Cloud platforms and systems, hands-on technical work such as prototyping and infrastructure as code, systems design, architectural trade-offs and delivery governance. It also includes people management, mentorship, standards and pattern development, capability building and staffing coordination. With clients and the market, the role shapes proposals and solutions, builds relationships with senior stakeholders, and contributes to service propositions and thought leadership. The successful candidate will use agents throughout engineering delivery and maintain agents supporting the architecture discipline, including their versioning, evaluation, operation and continuous improvement. Example uses include option analysis, drafting decision records, checking consistency with established patterns, and initial threat and cost assessments. This role is open to candidates located anywhere in Canada. Datatonic's Canadian team works remotely and is distributed across North and South America.

Requirements

Extensive hands-on experience designing and building production systems on Google Cloud, or on AWS/Azure with a strong interest in GCP.
Proven depth in at least one engineering discipline (platform, data, software or ML engineering) at Senior 2 / L5 or above.
Demonstrated systems-design breadth across disciplines, including networking, security, IAM, data platforms and application architecture.
Comfort with infrastructure as code such as Terraform, CI/CD, containers, Kubernetes and at least one programming language such as Python.
Experience leading, mentoring or line managing engineers or architects, and raising the bar for a whole team.
Client-facing architecture leadership with senior stakeholders, including pre-sales and solution shaping.
Ability to explain complex trade-offs clearly to technical and non-technical audiences, in writing and in person.

Nice To Haves

Google Cloud certifications, such as Professional Cloud Architect or similar.
Experience with multi-cloud, hybrid or complex integration environments.
Experience applying formal architecture methods such as TOGAF in complex delivery environments.
Experience architecting ML platforms, generative AI applications or agentic systems in production.
Experience in a consultancy or professional services environment.

Responsibilities

Design and lead target architectures across cloud, data and application estates on Google Cloud.
Prototype, write infrastructure as code, review pull requests and unblock engineering teams on complex technical problems.
Own systems design decisions covering boundaries, failure modes, security, cost, operability and how designs evolve.
Resolve architectural trade-offs across Platform, Data, Analytics, AI, Software and UX.
Act as design authority on complex engagements and ensure delivered solutions are secure, reliable and maintainable.
Line manage and develop architects, including career conversations, performance reviews and growth plans.
Coach architects and discipline leads while leaving delivery ownership with them.
Set architecture standards, reference patterns and decision-record practices across projects and regions.
Grow architecture capability through hiring, training, communities of practice and design reviews.
Work with delivery leadership to match architects to engagements.
Shape solution architecture, estimates and proposals, particularly where estate design carries risk.
Build trusted relationships with senior client stakeholders, from engineering leads to CTOs.
Help shape service propositions and represent Datatonic as a technical authority at events and with Google Cloud.
Use agents throughout engineering delivery and maintain architecture-discipline agents, including their versioning, evaluation, operation and continuous improvement.

Benefits

20 days of paid vacation per calendar year.
Public holidays for the employee's province of residence.
5 wellness days for sickness, personal time or mental health.
5 lifestyle days for religious events, volunteering or sick days.
Matching Group Retirement Savings Plan after 3 months.
Competitive Group Insurance plan from Day 1, with the individual premium paid 100%.
Virtual Medicine and Family Assistance Program, 100% employer-paid.
Home office budget; the team is 100% remote.
CAD $70 per month for internet/phone expenses.
Company-supplied MacBook Pro or Air.
CAD $400 per year for books, relevant app subscriptions or an e-reader.
Opportunities for paid certifications.
Professional and personal learning opportunities through Udemy Business.
Regular company off-sites and meetups.