Azure Data Architect – FreelanceWe are seeking an Azure Data Architect to support a customer in Antwerp on a long-term freelance mission.The consultant will lead the architecture, coordination, and delivery of scalable data-driven solutions within a modern cloud-based data lake environment (Azure). They will play a strategic role in shaping the data architecture, guiding implementation teams, and aligning technical solutions with business needs.The environment involves the migration to a cloud-native Azure Data Lake, implementation of data governance frameworks like Azure Purview, and other overarching projects.The selected consultant will work closely with business stakeholders, data engineers, and governance teams to architect robust data flows and ensure alignment with enterprise standards and data strategy.ResponsibilitiesDesign and oversee end-to-end architecture of data pipelines and data lake integrationsDefine and enforce architectural standards and best practices across data projectsCoordinate multidisciplinary teams to deliver structured, secure, and governed data into the lakeGuide the implementation of use cases with focus on scalability, reusability, and standardizationCollaborate with stakeholders to understand data requirements and translate into technical solutionsEnsure data governance policies, metadata standards, and lineage tracking are respectedLead documentation efforts covering data models, lineage, and technical decisionsSupport the setup of monitoring, CI/CD, and automation for robust data operationsAdvise on improvements to architecture and delivery processes across data initiativesProfile5+ years of experience in data architecture or data engineering leadership rolesStrong expertise with Azure data services: Data Lake Gen2, Synapse, Data Factory, DatabricksSolid knowledge of data modeling (Star Schema, Data Vault, 3NF) and data integration designExcellent coordination and stakeholder engagement skillsDutch speaking (mandatory)Additional DetailsSENIORITY: SeniorSTART DATE: ASAPDURATION: 6 months (extension possible)CONTRACT: FreelanceLOCATION: Antwerp (hybrid possible)HOURS PER WEEK: 40LANGUAGES: Dutch