Data Architect (Data Modelling)

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Think about the scale it takes to feed the nation. The level of data, transactions and variety involved. Then you’ll realise this is a modern software engineering environment, because it has to be. We’ve made significant investment in the standards and principles that shape how we work. We iterate, learn, experiment and champion ways of working such as Agile, Scrum and XP. So you can look forward to exciting opportunities across everything from AI to reusable tech.

Joining our team at Sainsbury’s means becoming part of a multi-channel, multi-brand business that serves millions of customers daily, providing a vast and diverse dataset that is truly exciting. With over 1.2 billion transactions each year, we have the opportunity to harness this data and build scalable, high-performance products using cutting-edge technology, such as our award-winning Smartshop app, to deliver an exceptional shopping experience for our customers.

As a Data Architect, you will play a crucial role in designing and building advanced data solutions and models, working closely with cross-functional teams to shape innovative products and services. In our inclusive and agile environment, you will have the freedom to explore, experiment, and tackle real-world challenges, witnessing the impact of your creations on millions of people across the UK. Additionally, you will benefit from a supportive culture that fosters innovation, collaboration, continuous learning, and personal ownership. Together, we strive to create a work-life balance that enables you to excel in your professional and personal aspirations.

What you’ll do:

• Play a pivotal role in designing and building leading-edge data solutions and models.
• Work closely with colleagues such as Product Owners and the Engineering community to ensure the delivery of optimal data solutions that align with business requirements.
• Triage new requirements, assess their impact, and provide estimates for modifying data models accordingly.
• Develop and enhance business physical data models to meet evolving needs while driving alignment as necessary.
• Act as the custodian of data models, defining and owning modelling within delivery teams, ensuring adherence to standards and principles.
• Create solutions that fulfil business needs and align with the end state architecture, while documenting, communicating, and centrally managing data models.
• Collaborate with the broader architecture community to promote alignment and innovation across Sainsbury’s Tech.

As an experienced Data Modeller or Architect, you will bring your passion for creating order within reporting structures, along with a comprehensive understanding of Data Warehousing/Analytic end-to-end architecture. Your proficiency with various modelling methodologies, such as 3NF, Dimensional, and Data Vault, will be essential, and your expertise in staying up to date with industry advancements, including machine learning and modern algorithmic techniques at scale, will be valuable in driving data design best practices. Strong communication and influencing skills will enable you to advocate for and implement these best practices at the Engineering and Product Manager levels. A curious and driven mindset will empower you to comprehend business processes and the data they generate, leveraging opportunities to structure and utilise this data for driving business value.

Who you are:

• A skilled and experienced professional who thrives in working with vast and complex data sets.
• Possess expertise in data warehousing, analytic end-to-end architecture, and various modelling methodologies such as 3NF, Dimensional, and Data Vault.
• Knowledge of the latest industry developments, including machine learning and modern algorithmic techniques at scale.
• Experience in canonical modelling, publication service/microservice based schematic design.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, combined with curiosity and drive to understand business processes and leverage data for driving business value.
• Experience working with semi-structured, high-volume data, ideally in Digital tagging or Analytics area.
• Strong skills in stakeholder management.
• Hands-on experience in DV 2.0 and Kimball dimensional data modelling.
• Clear understanding of the differences between Conceptual, Logical, and Physical data modelling.
• Experience in a Matrix reporting structure.
• Ability to serve as the Architecture custodian for the squad, ensuring standards and principles are followed.

We are committed to being a truly inclusive retailer, so you’ll be welcomed whoever you are and wherever you work. Around here, there’s always the chance to try something new - whether that’s as part of an evolving team or somewhere else across the business - and we take development seriously and promise to support you. We also recognise and celebrate colleagues when they go the extra mile and, where possible, offer flexible working. When you join our team, we’ll also offer you an amazing range of benefits.

Starting off with colleague discount, you'll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We’ve also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You'll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 10% of salary, depending on how we perform.

Your wellbeing is important to us too. You'll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an employee assistance programme.

Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.