Principal Data Architect in London

About us At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. But it’s so much more than that. National Grid supplies us with the environment to make it happen. As we generate momentum in the energy transition for all, we don’t plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. So, join us as a Principal Data Architect and find your superpower.

This role is designated as hybrid, with an expectation of one or two days per month in the Warwick, UK office. Requirements may vary based on business needs and company policy.

About the Role The Principal Data Architect is a senior technical leadership role responsible for defining, governing, and evolving the end-to-end data architecture of National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). The postholder provides the authoritative architectural vision for how data is structured, stored, integrated, and consumed across all NGET's operational, analytical and AI platforms – from OT historian and SCADA systems through to the Data Fabric, Data Marketplace, and AI workbenches. NGET is in the middle of a complex architectural transition: moving from siloed data warehouses to a Data Mesh operating model with a data fabric, whilst simultaneously managing the T3 Enabling Data investment commitment through RIIO‑T31.

Responsibilities:

• Act as the senior thought leader, communicator, mentor, and advocate for Data Architecture and the Data Architecture practice within NGET.
• Own and evolve NGET's data architecture blueprint, ensuring coherence across Fabric, Snowflake, Azure, OT/historian systems, and integration platforms (such as SnapLogic/iPaaS).
• Govern data architecture decisions across federated data domains, ensuring interoperability, reuse, and alignment with NGET's Data Mesh principles.
• Reduce technical debt and fragmentation through standardised reference architectures, data models, and architectural patterns.
• Ensure data architecture supports NGET's regulatory commitments under Ofgem Data Best Practice Guidance, Ofgem Digitalisation Strategy and Action Plan Guidance and National Energy System Operator (NESO) Data Sharing Infrastructure (DSI) readiness.
• Act as the data architecture authority for major NGET programmes, including Digital Twins, Enabling Data, Construction Optimisation, and AI/ML product delivery.

Qualifications:

• Interest in the built environment and infrastructure.
• Demonstrable experience as a data architect or enterprise data architect in a complex, multi-system environment.
• Proven experience in cloud‑native data architecture – particularly Azure Data Lake, Fabric, and modern Lakehouse/mesh patterns.
• Good understanding of Data Mesh principles: data as product, federated ownership, self‑serve infrastructure, and computational governance.
• Familiarity with TOGAF, Zachman, or equivalent enterprise architecture frameworks.
• Familiarity with information modelling, ontologies, and metadata standards (Dublin Core, FAIR data principles).
• Experience leading architectural governance in a large organisation.
• Effective stakeholder engagement skills – able to influence technical and non‑technical audiences up to Director/C‑suite level.

What You'll Get:

• Competitive Salary: circa £70,000 – £87,000 per annum (dependent on location, capability, and experience).
• Flexible benefits such as a cycle scheme, share incentive plan, technology schemes.
• Ongoing career development and support to help you cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, examination fees and time off for study leave – so long as it is relevant to your role.
• Access to apps such as digital GP service for round‑the‑clock access to GP video consultations and NHS repeat prescriptions, wellbeing app to support your health and fitness.
• Access to Work + Family Space, providing support and resources for work and family life, including paid emergency childcare and eldercare.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points‑based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points‑based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.