Data Architect in London

Key Responsibilities:

• Design our scalable, secure and cost-effective cloud hybrid data solution aligned with Omnia enterprise architecture and Army training objectives.
• Design innovative data models and metadata systems to interpret and enhance business needs, promoting data as a strategic asset.
• Develop transitional data architectures and road maps in alignment with Omnia digital transformation objectives, enabling the evolution of integrated training solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and partners to ensure data architectural integrity and alignment.
• Translate complex technical concepts for a non-technical audience, fostering understanding and buy-in from stakeholders.
• Support horizon scanning to identify and assess emerging technologies and determine their potential impact on leveraging data analytics to improve training delivery.
• Membership and contribution to the Omnia Architecture Board(s) to review, define, refine and uphold data architectural principles, policies, and standards across Omnia Training.
• Work with engineering teams to support and guide the implementation of a variety of solutions across multiple domains, in an agile environment.
• Manage and lead prototyping and research activity as required to realise the best solutions.
• Provide oversight and advice to engineers undertaking the design of data models and support the management of data dictionaries.
• Ensure the security and compliance of data environments through the implementation of appropriate architecture principles, security controls and governance frameworks.
• Author, review and contribute to technical documentation.
• Produce High- and low-level design artifacts for data storage, processing, and retrieval systems.
• Stay current with data technologies, making recommendations for use based on business value. Drive the adoption of these technologies.
• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Omnia Data Lakehouse, providing strategic guidance, technical oversight, and deep expertise in its architecture, implementation, and optimisation.

Who we are looking for:

The Data Architect will provide strategic and practical leadership across the data architecture landscape of the Army Collective Training Service (ACTS). This role is pivotal in shaping and governing the enterprise data architecture to ensure it aligns with the ACTS vision and supports data as a mission-critical asset. Working closely with the Data Lead, Enterprise Architect and Chief Engineer, you will design, evolve, and maintain a secure, scalable, and interoperable data architecture, leveraging cloud services from AWS, Azure, and OCP where appropriate. This role requires a systems-thinking mindset, strong stakeholder engagement skills, and the ability to work across engineering teams in a complex and evolving environment.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience designing and implementing scalable, secure, and interoperable data architectures in complex environments with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI) and cloud-native data services including use of services like S3, Lambda, Glue, Data Factory, etc.
• Experience designing and supporting implementation of large-scale data pipelines, data warehousing and Lakehouse technologies.
• Strong skills in conceptual, logical, and physical data modelling using tools like ER/Studio, ERwin, or Sparx EA (preferred). Experience reverse engineering models from existing databases.
• Proficiency in distributed data processing frameworks (e.g., Spark, Flink, Hadoop).
• Experience with API management and gateway tools and services.
• Experience of RESTful APIs for ingesting and exposing data.
• Proven track record with data governance, quality, lineage, and security practices.
• Experience with real-time/streaming data technologies, data Ingestion / ETL (e.g., Apache Kafka, Apache NiFi, Kinesis, Pub/Sub).
• Experience in, or knowledge of, DevSecOps Tooling and Processes.
• Self-starter with the ability to appropriately prioritise and plan complex work in a rapidly changing environment.
• Strong critical thinker with problem solving aptitude.
• A working knowledge of MoD or Government IT Security environments and requirements at various classifications.

Desirable Skills and Experience:

• Hands-on experience with containerisation and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift).
• Exposure to infrastructure-as-code tools (Terraform, CloudFormation).
• Experience with BI/visualisation tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, Looker, Elastic Stack).
• Knowledge of compliance frameworks (GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA) and their impact on data systems.
• Relevant Data and Architecture certification such as TOGAF, MODAF, AWS/Azure Certified Data Architect or Solutions Architect, DAMA Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP).