Head of Data Engineering & Architecture (all genders)

Benefits

Additional Information

Join our global team of experts At Diconium, we do digital business transformation across various industries. As a team member, you will work on projects that generate value from software, data, and AI by delivering strategies and solutions that challenge conventional industry practices and drive technological progress. Together with over 2,300 fellow experts, you enable Fortune 500 firms, global market leaders, and SMEs to maximize the impact of their digital initiatives and achieve digital excellence. In everything we do, we prioritize people and genuine human connections, ensuring a supportive and inclusive work environment. And we give you maximum flexibility thanks to our hybrid workplace. Get to know our data crew - beyond the job description applydata represents Diconium's data crew: pioneers in the practical magic of data. On the applydata blog , our data and AI experts share real project insights, personal perspectives, videos, and stories from our data studios - plus highlights from our meetups and upcoming events. Explore applydata and meet the people behind our data work. *The primary location of this position is Hamburg.* As Head of Data Engineering & Architecture (all genders) , you take on the strategic and operational responsibility for building, further developing, and scaling our data and AI capabilities. You combine technological excellence with an entrepreneurial mindset and actively shape strong, growth-oriented client relationships as well as a high-performing portfolio in the data and AI domain. WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT Functional and disciplinary leadership of an international, multifunctional team (Data Architecture & Data Engineering) with 8 direct reports and 35+ project members across Germany, Portugal, Romania and India Strategic development of the unit: architecture, operating model, service portfolio Portfolio responsibility (pipeline, utilization, delivery quality) Account management and growth of existing clients, in particular within the VW Group Active contribution to pre-sales and opportunity shaping, jointly with sales and strategy Translating modern AI/data capabilities into scalable, client-relevant solutions Embedding KPIs, quality gates and regulatory requirements into the delivery process Building and scaling distributed teams and leadership structures Tech environment (current state) : Multi-cloud (Azure, AWS); modern data stacks; group-wide AI initiatives within the VW Group; platform services in transition from project-based to product-/service-oriented delivery WHAT YOU BRING ALONG Must-have skills 5+ years of leadership experience in a senior leadership role (Director / Head of) with disciplinary responsibility for distributed teams Several years of solid experience in data architecture & data engineering, including cloud platforms (Azure, AWS, GCP) Demonstrable portfolio responsibility Experience in pre-sales and in building service portfolios Confident handling of corporate stakeholders at C-/VP-level Experience with regulatory requirements (GDPR, EU AI Act) Servant leadership mindset Strong communication and stakeholder management skills German and English at full professional working proficiency level (C1+) Nice-to-have skills Experience in the automotive industry or production-related sectors Experience with modern AI capabilities: LLMs, RAG, agentic architectures, MLOps Experience in platform modernization and consolidation programs Familiarity with VW Group structures and processes Experience steering nearshore/offshore teams (PT, RO, IN) WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER Discover new skills and improve your strengths, adapt your working day to your personal lifestyle, celebrate community, sustainability and diversity. And sweeten your working life with awesome perks and benefits! Professional & Personal Growth: Develop yourself both professionally and personally through training programs, free language courses, competence centers and an active tech community. Flexible Work-Life Balance: Benefit from hybrid work, workation, flexible hours, parental support and sabbaticals. Embrace Diversity & Sustainability: Engage in our Sustainability Hub, diverse communities, Diversity Taskforce and after-work activities. Comprehensive Benefits: Enjoy public transport tickets, job bikes, access to exclusive Volkswagen employee conditions when leasing or purchasing a vehicle, health offers, supplementary insurances, a pension plan and various discounts. WHAT WE VALUE At Diconium, we value and recognize the unique perspectives and experiences of each individual. With this in mind, we welcome and cherish every single application equally. At the same time, we stand up against any type of discrimination and harassment based on gender, age, skin color, religion, sexual orientation, origin, disability, gender identity and other protected characteristics. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Your contact person is Maren, maren.hennig@diconium