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- Tasks: Design and build modern data platforms on Microsoft Azure, leading innovative data solutions.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking tech company focused on data architecture and engineering.
- Benefits: Attractive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of data engineering, shaping the future of data solutions.
- Qualifications: 12-16 years in IT with strong Azure and SQL expertise required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on mentorship and career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
We are looking for a strong Data Engineering Architect with 12–16 years of experience in building and architecting modern data platforms on Microsoft Azure. The ideal candidate will have deep hands-on expertise in Azure Data Factory (ADF) pipeline engineering, SQL performance tuning, and end-to-end data integration architecture, along with a strong analytical mindset to troubleshoot complex data issues. You will lead solution architecture, define best practices, and mentor teams to build scalable, secure, and reliable data solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Azure Data Engineering & Architecture
- Architect and design end-to-end Azure data engineering solutions (batch + near real-time) aligned to enterprise standards.
- Define target state architecture for data ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and serving layers.
- Lead architectural decisions around scalability, resiliency, performance, security, governance, and cost optimization.
- Azure Data Factory (ADF) – Pipeline Engineering (Core)
- Design, develop, test, and deploy Azure Data Factory pipelines following best practices (modular design, parameterization, reusability, CI/CD readiness).
- Build robust ingestion and orchestration workflows using: Linked Services, Datasets, Pipelines, Triggers, Mapping Data Flows / Wrangling Data Flows (where applicable), Integration Runtime strategies (Self-hosted / Azure IR).
- Implement operational excellence: logging, alerting, retry patterns, failure handling, and idempotent design.
- SQL Development & Optimization
- Develop and optimize SQL queries and stored procedures to support ADF pipeline operations and downstream transformations.
- Conduct query plan analysis and performance tuning (indexes, partitioning strategies, statistics, query rewrites).
- Establish SQL coding standards and reusable patterns for transformation logic.
- Troubleshooting & Analytical Problem Solving
- Apply a strong analytical mindset to diagnose and resolve complex data integration issues across ingestion, transformation, orchestration, and storage layers.
- Perform root cause analysis (RCA) for pipeline failures, performance degradation, data quality issues, and environment instability.
- Design proactive monitoring dashboards and alerts for pipeline SLAs and data freshness.
- Engineering Standards, DevOps & Governance
- Define and enforce best practices for: CI/CD for ADF (Azure DevOps / Git-based workflows), Infrastructure-as-Code (ARM/Bicep/Terraform—preferred), Version control, code review, release management.
- Implement data governance patterns: metadata management, lineage, auditing, encryption, RBAC, key management, PII controls.
- Collaborate with security/compliance teams to ensure enterprise adherence.
- Leadership & Stakeholder Management
- Act as a technical leader for data engineering squads; mentor and guide engineers on design patterns and implementation.
- Translate business requirements into technical architecture and delivery plans.
- Work closely with Product Owners, Data Analysts, Data Scientists, and Platform teams to ensure alignment.
Required Skills & Qualifications
- Must-Have (Strong)
- 12–16 years of overall IT experience with significant data engineering & architecture exposure.
- Strong Azure Cloud Data Engineering and associated services architecture knowledge.
- Deep hands-on experience with: Azure Data Factory (ADF) – pipeline design, orchestration, integration runtime strategy, SQL – advanced querying, stored procedures, performance tuning.
- Strong troubleshooting skills for complex multi-system data issues.
- Strong understanding of data architecture concepts: Data lakes/lakehouse/warehouse, dimensional modeling, ELT/ETL patterns, Batch orchestration, dependency management, SCD handling, incremental loads.
- Azure Ecosystem (Preferred / Good to Have)
- Azure data services experience in one or more: Azure Synapse Analytics / Dedicated SQL Pools, Azure Databricks / Spark, ADLS Gen2, Azure SQL DB, Managed Instance, Event Hub / Kafka, Stream Analytics (if real-time involved).
- Monitoring & observability: Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights.
- Security & identity: Azure AD, Managed Identity, Key Vault, RBAC.
- Engineering Practices
- CI/CD practices for data pipelines; Git branching strategies and release governance.
- Strong documentation skills: architecture diagrams, solution designs, operational runbooks.
Behavioral / Soft Skills
- Excellent analytical thinking and structured problem-solving.
- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ownership mindset, ability to drive standards and influence cross-team adoption.
- Proven mentoring/coaching ability.
Education
- Bachelor’s/Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field (or equivalent experience).
Nice-to-Have Certifications
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Engineer Associate.
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.
- DP-203 / AZ-305 (or equivalent).
What Success Looks Like (Outcome Focus)
- Highly reliable ADF pipelines with strong observability, error handling, and SLA adherence.
- Measurable improvements in SQL performance and pipeline execution time.
- Standardized architecture patterns adopted across teams.
- Reduced incident rates through proactive monitoring and strong RCA discipline.
Data Architect in Stratford-upon-Avon employer: TESTQ Technologies
Contact Detail:
TESTQ Technologies Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Data Architect in Stratford-upon-Avon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with folks in the data engineering space. Attend meetups, webinars, or even just grab a coffee with someone who’s already in the field. You never know when a casual chat could lead to your next big opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio showcasing your Azure Data Factory projects, SQL optimisations, and any cool data solutions you've built. This gives potential employers a tangible look at what you can do, making you stand out from the crowd.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Brush up on your technical knowledge, especially around Azure architecture and data integration. Practice common interview questions and scenarios related to troubleshooting complex data issues, so you can impress them with your analytical mindset.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for talented data architects like you. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Data Architect in Stratford-upon-Avon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Data Architect role. Highlight your experience with Azure Data Factory, SQL performance tuning, and any relevant projects that showcase your data engineering skills. We want to see how your background aligns with what we're looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about data architecture and how your experience makes you the perfect fit for our team. Don't forget to mention specific achievements that demonstrate your analytical mindset and troubleshooting skills.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: In your application, be sure to highlight your technical expertise in Azure services and data integration architecture. Mention any hands-on experience you've had with ADF pipelines, SQL development, and any other relevant tools or practices. We love seeing candidates who can back up their claims with real-world examples!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you'll be able to submit all your materials in one go. Plus, it helps us keep track of your application better!
How to prepare for a job interview at TESTQ Technologies
✨Know Your Azure Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your Azure Data Factory skills and understand the latest features. Be ready to discuss how you've designed and implemented ADF pipelines in the past, focusing on best practices like modular design and CI/CD readiness.
✨SQL Skills Are Key
Prepare to showcase your SQL prowess! Be ready to talk about your experience with performance tuning, query plan analysis, and how you've optimised stored procedures. Having specific examples of improvements you've made will really impress.
✨Troubleshooting Tales
Have a few stories up your sleeve about complex data issues you've resolved. Highlight your analytical mindset and how you approached root cause analysis for pipeline failures or performance degradation. This shows you're not just a doer but a thinker!
✨Leadership and Collaboration
Since this role involves mentoring and stakeholder management, be prepared to discuss your leadership style. Share examples of how you've guided teams or collaborated with product owners and data scientists to align technical architecture with business needs.