Senior Enterprise Architect – Databricks

Overview

Cognizant (NASDAQ: CTSH) is a leading provider of information technology, consulting, and business process outsourcing services. Cognizant is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey (U.S.) and has over 350,000 employees globally.

Data & AI Consulting

Cognizant’s Data & AI Consulting practice partners with global enterprises to modernize data platforms, accelerate cloud transformation, and unlock business value through analytics and AI-driven solutions. Our teams work across large-scale data modernization programs, helping organizations establish scalable, secure, and governed data foundations using modern cloud data platforms such as Databricks.

This role offers an opportunity to lead architecture governance and design assurance for a strategic Databricks transformation program, ensuring technical excellence, compliance, and alignment with enterprise architecture objectives.

About the Role

As a Senior Enterprise Architect – Databricks, you will lead the Technical Design Authority (TDA) function for a large-scale Databricks transformation program. You will govern enterprise architecture decisions, drive design assurance, and ensure all technical solutions align with business objectives, enterprise standards, security requirements, and long-term platform strategy. You will work closely with engineering teams, solution architects, cybersecurity stakeholders, platform teams, and executive leadership as the senior technical authority for architecture governance and strategic technology direction across the program.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Design Authority Leadership
  • Lead and chair the Technical Design Authority (TDA), reviewing and approving solution designs across Databricks workstreams.
  • Establish and govern architecture review processes, including submission standards, governance forums, decision logs, and approval workflows.
  • Ensure architectural alignment with enterprise standards, target-state roadmaps, and platform strategies.
  • Identify, manage, and mitigate architecture risks, exceptions, and technical dependencies raised through governance processes.
• Enterprise & Solution Architecture
  • Provide architecture assurance for Databricks Lakehouse implementations, including data ingestion, medallion architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and compute strategies.
  • Validate integration patterns across Databricks, cloud platforms, enterprise applications, and data ecosystems.
  • Define and maintain reference architectures, architecture principles, design patterns, and technical standards.
  • Drive standardization and reuse of architectural components to reduce technical debt and improve delivery efficiency.
• Security, Governance & Compliance
  • Ensure solutions comply with security-by-design principles, data privacy requirements, and enterprise governance frameworks.
  • Collaborate with Cyber Security, Risk, and Data Governance teams to ensure control effectiveness and regulatory compliance.
  • Oversee architecture assurance activities related to data protection, identity management, monitoring, and auditability.
  • Maintain documented architecture decisions and governance evidence for audit and assurance purposes.
• Stakeholder Management & Advisory
  • Act as the senior architecture authority across delivery teams, business stakeholders, and third-party partners.
  • Present architecture recommendations, governance outcomes, and technical risks to executive leadership and governance boards.
  • Facilitate architecture workshops, design reviews, and decision-making forums with cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Build strong relationships with technology, security, infrastructure, and program delivery teams to drive alignment.
• Delivery Oversight
  • Support solution teams in resolving complex technology challenges and architectural decisions.
  • Ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, maintainable, and aligned with enterprise objectives.
  • Monitor architectural compliance throughout design, development, testing, and deployment phases.
  • Provide guidance and oversight to ensure consistent delivery quality across multiple workstreams.

Skills & Experience

• Domain Expertise
  • Strong experience in enterprise architecture, solution architecture, and architecture governance functions.
  • Deep understanding of modern data platforms, cloud-native architectures, and large-scale data modernization programs.
  • Experience establishing and managing Technical Design Authority (TDA) or equivalent architecture governance frameworks.
  • Knowledge of enterprise data management, governance, security, and regulatory requirements.
• Functional Skills
  • Proven experience leading architecture reviews, design assurance processes, and governance forums.
  • Strong expertise in architecture documentation, standards development, and decision management.
  • Ability to balance strategic architecture objectives with practical delivery requirements.
  • Exceptional stakeholder engagement and influencing skills across technical and business audiences.
• Technical Skills
  • Strong hands-on knowledge of Databricks including Lakehouse Architecture, Delta Lake, Unity Catalog, and platform governance.
  • Experience with cloud platforms supporting Databricks environments, including AWS and/or Azure.
  • Solid understanding of enterprise integration patterns, data architecture, API ecosystems, and data governance controls.
  • Familiarity with infrastructure, security, networking, and platform architecture considerations for cloud environments.
  • Knowledge of architecture frameworks such as TOGAF or equivalent enterprise architecture methodologies.
• Delivery Experience
  • Experience leading architecture governance within large-scale enterprise transformation programs.
  • Strong collaboration across architecture, security, engineering, infrastructure, and delivery teams.
  • Experience supporting full solution lifecycle activities from design through implementation and operational readiness.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple architectural workstreams in complex delivery environments.

Personal Attributes

• Strong communicator with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders and executive audiences.
• Strategic thinker capable of driving long-term architectural vision while supporting immediate delivery needs.
• Analytical and solution-focused mindset with strong decision-making capabilities.
• Collaborative leader who can build alignment across diverse teams and organizations.
• Proactive and adaptable, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and evolving business priorities.

Contribution to Development of Practice

• Contribute to the development of enterprise architecture and governance capabilities within the Data & AI Consulting practice.
• Support the creation and maintenance of reusable architecture assets, reference architectures, standards, and accelerators.
• Drive knowledge sharing and mentoring across architecture communities and delivery teams.
• Contribute to thought leadership, white papers, client proposals, and governance best practices related to modern data platforms and architecture assurance.

Industry Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Enterprise Architecture, Solution Architecture, Data Platform Architecture, or Technology Strategy roles.
• Demonstrated experience leading Technical Design Authority (TDA) and architecture governance functions within large-scale transformation programs.
• Proven experience delivering Databricks-based modernization, analytics, and cloud data platform initiatives.
• Experience working within highly regulated industries is preferred.
• Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks, security governance, and cloud operating models.

Certifications (Preferred)

• TOGAF Certification or equivalent Enterprise Architecture certification.
• Databricks Certified Data Engineer Professional and/or Databricks Certified Architect.
• AWS or Microsoft Azure Architecture certifications.
• Relevant security, governance, or cloud platform certifications.

Location

London, United Kingdom (Hybrid – London / Remote)

Security Clearance: SC Clearance required or eligibility to obtain clearance.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.