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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and deliver secure data solutions that support UK Defence operations.
- Company: Respected technical consultancy at the heart of UK Defence and National Security.
- Benefits: Highly competitive salary, hybrid working, generous L&D budget, and career coaching.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on national security through innovative data architecture.
- Qualifications: Proven experience as a Data Architect in secure environments and knowledge of cloud architectures.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with regular team socials and excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
Our client is a highly respected specialist technical consultancy working at the heart of the UK Defence and National Security community. They design and deliver secure, mission‑critical data and digital solutions that directly support UK Government operations. Due to sustained programme growth, they are now seeking an experienced Data Architect to join their high‑performing Defence practice.
The Opportunity
This is a senior, hands‑on architecture role supporting classified, high‑impact programmes where your work directly contributes to national security outcomes. You will own data architecture strategy, standards and governance across complex environments, shaping future‑proof data platforms that enable AI, analytics, automation and advanced decision intelligence. Regular travel to London will be required.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Acting as the Data Architecture SME across multiple Defence programmes.
- Defining and owning enterprise data architecture strategies and standards.
- Assessing existing platforms and leading modernisation roadmaps.
- Designing scalable, secure data models and integration architectures.
- Partnering with engineering, analytics and stakeholders to deliver compliant, high‑performance data solutions.
- Driving data governance, ethics and interoperability standards.
- Guiding adoption of emerging technologies including AI / ML‑ready data platforms.
- Producing and maintaining architecture artefacts and documentation.
What We’re Looking For
You will be an experienced Data Architect with a background in secure or highly regulated environments.
Essential Experience
- Proven experience as a Data Architect in complex environments.
- Strong knowledge of relational, NoSQL and cloud data architectures.
- Experience modernising enterprise data platforms.
- Awareness and evidence of Data standards & interoperability.
- Data governance, ethics & compliance.
- Secure data sharing across security domains.
- Data analytics & visualisation.
- Experience with Azure, AWS or GCP, modern data tooling, modelling and integration patterns.
- Scripting and automation capability.
Security Clearance
To be eligible you must:
- Hold British citizenship.
- Have lived in the UK continuously for the past 5 years.
- Be able to obtain high‑level UK security clearance.
What’s On Offer
- Highly competitive salary (dependent on clearance & experience).
- Hybrid & flexible working.
- Generous L&D budget, career coaching & funded training.
- Matched pension & healthcare.
- Supportive, collaborative culture with regular team socials.
Why Apply?
This is a rare opportunity to work on classified, nationally significant programmes where your architectural decisions will directly influence UK Defence capability and future digital strategy.
Data Architect in Manchester employer: Npa Worldwide
Contact Detail:
Npa Worldwide Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Architect in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend meetups, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn. We can’t stress enough how important it is to build relationships; you never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their mission and how your skills as a Data Architect can contribute to their goals. We recommend practising common interview questions and even doing mock interviews with friends to boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Create a portfolio that highlights your previous work, especially any projects related to data architecture in secure environments. We love seeing real-world examples of your skills, so don’t hold back on sharing your successes.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for talented individuals like you to join our team, so don’t hesitate to put yourself out there!
We think you need these skills to ace Data Architect in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Data Architect role. Highlight your experience in secure environments and any relevant projects you've worked on that align with the job description. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Skills: In your application, don't just list your skills—show us how you've used them! Provide examples of how you've defined data architecture strategies or modernised platforms. This helps us understand your hands-on experience and how you can contribute to our team.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate a well-structured application that gets straight to the important bits!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to track your application and ensure it reaches the right people. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Npa Worldwide
✨Know Your Data Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of data architectures, especially relational, NoSQL, and cloud solutions. Be ready to discuss how you've modernised enterprise data platforms in the past, as this will show your hands-on experience and expertise.
✨Understand the Defence Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the UK Defence and National Security community. Knowing the specific challenges and requirements of this sector will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate that you're not just a tech expert, but also someone who understands the mission-critical nature of the work.
✨Showcase Your Governance Knowledge
Be prepared to talk about data governance, ethics, and compliance. Highlight any experience you have with data standards and interoperability, as these are crucial in regulated environments. This will show that you can drive the necessary standards in your role.
✨Prepare for Technical Questions
Expect technical questions related to data modelling, integration architectures, and emerging technologies like AI and ML. Practise explaining complex concepts in simple terms, as you'll need to partner with various stakeholders. This will demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively across teams.
