Data Architect

The Data Architect is accountable to the Digital Capability Project Manager for providing industry knowledge, experience, and best practice in data modelling, systems, structures, and related technologies, ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory and legal requirements. Responsible for designing, creating, managing, and optimising data systems and structures to support the programme’s data needs, ensuring efficient data flow, storage, accessibility, and integration across multiple platforms while maintaining data quality and integrity.

Collaborate with IT, technical/engineering, and business teams, as well as relevant third parties and key contractors, to develop data models, define database structures, and ensure alignment with Programme goals, working closely with the Programme Systems Engineering team. Focus on data security, compliance, and performance, designing systems that support both current and future Programme data requirements, playing a crucial role in shaping the programme’s overall data strategy and architecture.

Establish an effective, integrated data architecture within the Programme to enable long-term success through robust strategy, tools, and processes, requiring strong domain expertise, tact, and pragmatism. Liaise closely with key programme stakeholders (business and technical) and stakeholders across the wider organisation to ensure cohesive and effective delivery. Work with the Programme commercial team to support preparation of tender documentation for the appointment of a Tier 1 contractor, ensuring data requirements and best practice are fully reflected within scope documents.

• Design and build data models that fulfil the organisation’s strategic data needs.
• Support the development of commercial strategies covering Tier 1 and Tier 2 contracts, ensuring required data architecture activities are incorporated into programme schedules.
• Design, support, and oversee the upgrade, management, decommissioning, and archiving of data, ensuring compliance with internal data policies and regulatory requirements.
• Provide expertise in the development and maintenance of data dictionaries, ensuring consistency and clarity in data terminology and definitions across the organisation.
• Define and maintain the data technology architecture, including metadata management, data integration, and business intelligence (BI) or data warehouse architecture.
• Ensure optimal data flow across multiple platforms, designing systems for scalability, efficiency, and seamless integration.
• Collaborate closely with business analysts, digital systems engineers, and data scientists to ensure alignment with business goals and data strategies.
• Manage data governance and best practices, contributing to the implementation of data quality standards, security protocols, and compliance frameworks such as GDPR and CCPA.
• Provide advice and guidance to other project teams as required.

• Degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in data architecture.
• Proven experience designing and implementing large-scale data architectures, including data modelling, storage, and retrieval systems.
• Strong knowledge of database technologies, both relational (e.g., SQL Server, Oracle) and NoSQL (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra).
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud for scalable and efficient data storage and processing solutions.
• Experience of delivery model assessment processes, including decision-making criteria for insourcing or outsourcing services and evaluating assessment outcomes.
• Expertise in data warehousing, data lakes, and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) processes.
• Knowledge of data integration techniques to ensure seamless data flow across multiple systems and platforms.
• Familiarity with big data technologies such as Hadoop, Spark, or Kafka for managing large datasets.
• Strong understanding of data governance, including security, compliance, and privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA.
• Experience with data pipeline automation and orchestration tools such as Apache Airflow or Talend.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, SQL, or Java for data manipulation and system integration.
• Understanding of data analytics and business intelligence tools such as Power BI, Tableau, or Looker.
• Experience optimising database performance for speed, scalability, and reliability.

• Knowledge of containerisation and virtualisation technologies such as Docker or Kubernetes for managing data workloads.
• Familiarity with data visualisation techniques and tools, including advanced analytics platforms or custom dashboard development.

Due to the nature of work to be undertaken applicants will be required to meet certain residency criteria in order to attain a minimum level of UK security clearance if not already security cleared to a minimum SC level.

We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter! Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.