Principal Data Architect nWorking Model: Hybrid — 3 days per week in offic UST is seeking a Principal Data Architect to define and drive the architectural direction of a large-scale, complex data transformation programme. This is a senior, influence-led role, not a hands-on engineering position, for a recognised technical authority who shapes strategy, builds consensus, and raises the architectural bar across a multi-disciplinary data organisatio You will own the end-to-end data architecture across the full data lifecycle: from real-time ingestion and high-quality data capture, through large-scale distributed processing, structured storage and Data LakeHouse design, to curated consumption by Data Scientists, Analysts, Engineers and AI/ML platforms. Spark and distributed data processing sit at the heart of this architecture; hipDefine and evolve the enterprise data architecture strategy, with a primary focus on Cloud-scale Distributed Data Processing using Apache Spark and PySpark at the core of the platf ormEstablish and maintain architectural artefacts, reference architectures, Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), technical standards, and architecture roadmaps, for the distributed data processing and storage dom ainLead architectural governance across the Data LakeHouse, streaming pipelines, and Data Products, ensuring scalability, performance, and engineering excellence are embedded by des ignDrive simplification and standardisation across the architecture, promoting reuse of proven patterns, appropriate SaaS solutions, and Enterprise platform capabilit tionInfluence and align senior stakeholders, internal customers, and Enterprise partners on key technology decisions and the architectural direction of the data ecosy stemPartner with Product Management, Engineering, Cyber, and the broader Architecture community to solve complex data challenges and unlock business v alueServe as a passionate advocate for the data platform, driving awareness, adoption, and usage aligned to Enterprise architecture standards and patt ernsEngage actively with UK and Enterprise Architecture groups, contributing to cross-domain standards and architectural thin Architecture Excellence & Cu ltureNurture architectural excellence within the Data team by leading technical design reviews, setting best practices, and coaching Engineers, Data Scientists, and Analysts on sound architecture princ iplesFoster a culture of innovation within the data platform, identifying opportunities to leverage emerging technologies, including Generative and Agentic AI, within the architecture and development life cycleChampion data-driven thinking across the wider organisation, supporting the evolution of a scalable, data-led cu ertiseDemonstrable track record as a Principal, Lead, or Senior Data Architect in a large, complex, data-led organisation, operating at an influence and strategy level rather than hands-on de liveryExpert-level understanding of Apache Spark and PySpark as the foundation of distributed data processing architectures, including tuning, optimisation, and enterprise-scale deployment pa tternsDeep expertise in designing and evolving Data LakeHouse architectures, covering ELT pipeline design, structured/semi-structured data processing, partitioning strategies, and Data Product de elinesProven expertise in Streaming Data and Event-Driven Architecture design, enabling real-time data flows at enterprise scaleHands-on architectural experience with AWS data services, including AWS Glue (Spark-based ETL), Serverless compute, DynamoDB, S3-based Lake architectures, and associated security and governance t oolingWorking knowledge of ML and Generative AI platform architecture, including the design of Agentic AI systems within the data and software development lif icationExceptional communication skills, able to articulate complex technical architecture to senior business stakeholders and translate business strategy into actionable data architecture de cisionsA natural collaborator and influencer, able to build consensus across technical, product, and executive communities without direct au thorityExperience embedding and scaling architectural thinking within large Enterprise settings, elevating the capability of multi-disciplinary dat a teamsProficiency in software engineering principles, CI/CD practices, and DevOps culture as they apply to data platform d
