Lead Data Architect

Clearance Required: Active SC Clearance (Mandatory)

The Opportunity

We’re looking for an experienced Lead Data Architect to play a pivotal role in shaping data strategy and delivering innovative solutions across a portfolio of complex, business-critical programmes.

This is an opportunity to work on high-profile projects within secure environments, helping organisations unlock the full value of their data through modern cloud-native architectures. You’ll lead the design of scalable, resilient, and secure data platforms, provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary teams, and act as a trusted advisor to both clients and internal stakeholders.

If you’re passionate about data architecture, cloud technologies, and driving meaningful outcomes in highly regulated environments, we’d love to hear from you.

Please note: Active SC Clearance is an essential requirement for this position. Due to the nature of the work, candidates must already hold current, active SC Clearance. Unfortunately, sponsorship or clearance applications cannot be supported for this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead engagement with internal and external stakeholders to understand business objectives and translate requirements into effective data strategies and architectural solutions.
• Design, develop, and implement secure, scalable, and high-performing data architectures that align with business, security, and operational requirements.
• Architect and deliver cloud-native data solutions across AWS and other leading cloud platforms, enabling both batch and real-time data processing capabilities.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to data engineers, architects, and delivery teams, promoting best practices across architecture, security, and cloud engineering.
• Define and implement robust data models, ETL pipelines, metadata frameworks, and modern data warehousing solutions.
• Design and optimise large-scale streaming data platforms using technologies such as Apache Flink and other real-time processing frameworks.
• Ensure all solutions comply with industry best practices, governance frameworks, and regulatory requirements, maintaining the highest standards of security and data integrity.
• Oversee architectural governance, ensuring technical delivery remains aligned with approved designs and proactively managing any design deviations.
• Support business development, pre-sales activities, and client proposals by providing architectural expertise and technical leadership.
• Identify and address breaches in data standards, providing recommendations and remediation strategies to improve compliance and quality.
• Stay at the forefront of emerging technologies, trends, and best practices within cloud, data, and security domains, bringing innovative thinking into client engagements.

Skills & Experience

Essential

• 6+ years’ experience in Data Architecture, delivering complex, large-scale, and secure data solutions.
• Strong expertise designing and implementing cloud-based data architectures, particularly within AWS environments.
• Deep technical knowledge of AWS services, including EC2, S3, RDS, Lambda, Redshift, and related data services.
• Proven experience designing secure architectures within sensitive or highly regulated environments.
• Hands-on experience with Apache Flink and real-time data processing architectures.
• Strong understanding of data modelling methodologies, architectural patterns, and industry standards.
• Expertise across ETL processes, data integration, data warehousing, distributed systems, and metadata management.
• Experience leading technical teams and mentoring architects, engineers, and other data professionals.
• Ability to engage, influence, and build credibility with senior business and technical stakeholders.
• Experience working closely with cyber security teams to ensure secure-by-design solutions.
• Strong understanding of cloud operating models and DevOps-led delivery approaches.

Desirable

• Experience across additional cloud platforms, including Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• Knowledge of Scala and Apache Spark.
• Experience supporting pre-sales, bids, and client-facing solution development.
• Exposure to government, defence, national security, or other highly regulated sectors.

What You’ll Bring

• Strategic thinking combined with hands-on technical expertise.
• A consultative approach with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Passion for delivering secure, high-quality data solutions that drive business value.
• Strong leadership skills with a commitment to developing and mentoring others.
• A collaborative mindset and the ability to thrive in fast-paced, project-driven environments.

Security Clearance

Mandatory Requirement

Candidates must hold current and active SC (Security Check) Clearance at the time of application.

Applications from candidates who are eligible for clearance, willing to undergo clearance, or whose clearance has expired cannot be considered for this position.