(SC cleared) Data Architect

Rate : £600 to £650 per day outside IR35

Duration: 6 months

Location: one day a week on site in London

Security Clearance: Active SC

The Data Architect will have the following responsibilities:

• Collaborate with business and technology stakeholders to translate business problems into scalable data architecture solutions.
• Design, document, and maintain enterprise and solution-level data architectures across multiple platforms and domains.
• Define and enforce data standards, principles, and governance frameworks to ensure consistency and quality.
• Develop conceptual, logical, and physical data models aligned with business needs and organisational strategy.
• Select appropriate data storage, integration, and processing technologies for each project’s context.
• Evaluate emerging tools, technologies, and design patterns to recommend optimal solutions.
• Guide the design and implementation of data platforms using cloud and hybrid environments (e.g. Azure, AWS).
• Oversee the design of data pipelines, APIs, and services to ensure efficient data flow and interoperability.
• Collaborate with Data Engineers and Developers to ensure alignment between architectural design and technical implementation.
• Ensure compliance with security, privacy, and data protection requirements.
• Provide technical input into proposals, bids, and solution designs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, communicating technical concepts clearly to non-technical audiences.
• Govern architectural decisions and promote adherence to enterprise data standards.
• Identify risks and dependencies in data delivery and develop mitigation strategies.
• Contribute to data strategies, roadmaps, and vision for data enablement.
• Contribute to the development of best practices, toolkits, and reusable components.
• Mentor junior team members and support a culture of learning and innovation.
• Stay current with emerging technologies and methodologies.
• Work within agile delivery frameworks, contributing to planning, retrospectives, and sprint goals.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Business Analysts, Data Governance and security experts.

Essential Skills & Qualifications:

• Proven experience designing and implementing modern data architectures in cloud environments.
• Strong understanding of data modelling (conceptual, logical, and physical), including relational, dimensional, and NoSQL approaches.
• Expertise in data integration, ETL/ELT, and data pipeline design.
• Hands-on experience with data lakehouse, warehouse, and streaming data architectures.
• Working knowledge of SQL, Python, and relevant data engineering frameworks (e.g. Databricks, Synapse, Snowflake, Redshift).
• Experience designing data platforms leveraging PaaS and SaaS solutions.
• Solid understanding of information governance, metadata management, and master data management principles.
• Experience leading data design across full project lifecycles (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, Live).
• Strong understanding of API design, event-driven architecture, and microservices principles.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of architectural frameworks (TOGAF, DAMA etc).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear, actionable items for both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams, preferably in a consultancy or multi-client environment.

Due to the nature of the work and the sensitive data involved, Security Clearance (SC) is required for this role. If you do not currently hold SC clearance, you must be willing to undergo the necessary background checks and clearance process. Applicants must meet the UK government's security clearance requirements and be able to work within a secure environment.

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• Experience working on high-volume or high-performance data systems
• Exposure to real-time data processing, IoT, or machine learning pipelines.
• Knowledge of modern data mesh or data fabric principles.
• Experience with containerisation and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with infrastructure as code (Terraform, ARM templates, CloudFormation).
• Knowledge of government or public sector digital standards and GDS practices.
• Experience in agile and DevOps delivery environments.
• Prior consultancy or client-facing experience, including pre-sales engagement.
• Certification in a major cloud platform (Azure Solutions Architect, AWS Certified Data Analytics, etc.).
• Knowledge of data engineering best practices and testing frameworks.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and consulting skills, including requirements elicitation and workshop facilitation.
• Contribution to open-source projects, research publications, or professional communities.