Data Architect (Fabric)
On-siteLondon, England, United Kingdom
Job Summary
Define technical direction, priorities, and standards for the Data Transformation Programme, creating and maintaining the roadmap while guiding workstreams and resolving disputes. Chair architecture reviews, design authorities, and technical governance forums to establish patterns, policies, and vision statements. Design end-to-end data solutions, including APIs, real-time streams, and modern data services, leading complex migrations from legacy systems to cloud-native platforms. Mentor architects and engineers to uplift team capability and establish engineering practices. Advocate for data standards across projects and the organisation, ensuring risks are understood and documented. This permanent role is mainly remote with flexibility to travel to client sites or offices in London and Sheffield. UKSV security clearance is required.
Required Qualifications
- Deep knowledge of Fabric architecture, governance, OneLake, Real-Time Intelligence, Data Engineering, Warehousing and Power BI integration
- Capability to influence senior stakeholders, programme sponsors and project boards
- Ability to communicate technical decisions to non-technical executives and secure agreement on technical direction
- Deep knowledge of the Azure data stack (Azure SQL Server, CosmosDB, Azure Data Factory, Purview, Synapse, Event Hub, Azure Databricks/Fabric)
- Extensive data modelling experience: both normalised relational models and de-normalised Star Schema/dimensional models
- Excellent relational database design skills with expertise in diagnosing and optimising performance across SQL Server, PostgreSQL, and cloud databases
- Proven track record with complex data migration projects (terabyte+ datasets, multiple legacy source systems, structures and unstructured data)
- Proficiency with Parquet/Delta Lake or other modern data storage formats
- Experience with streaming architectures using Kafka, Event Hubs, or Kinesis for real-time data processing
- Knowledge of data architectures supporting AI/ML workloads, including vector databases, feature stores and MLOps pipelines
- Experience processing and managing unstructured data types (text, images, logs, sensor data)
- Understanding of Lambda and Kappa architectural patterns and when to apply each
- UKSV (United Kingdom Security Vetting) clearance is required for this role, with Security Check (SC) as the minimum standard, either already held or with a willingness to undergo the process
- As part of the onboarding process candidates will be asked to complete a Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)
Desired Qualifications
- Exposure to high-performing, low latency or large volume data systems
- Knowledge of and/or experience with Government Digital Service practices across Discovery/Alpha/Beta/Live phases
- Understanding of vector databases and similarity search for AI applications
- Experience with Infrastructure as Code and modern DevOps practices
- Knowledge of how to design and analyse operational logs for data processing, and triage incidents
- Awareness of advances in AI technologies, data services, and architectural practices
- Industry specialisation in specific sectors (Engineering, Manufacturing, Healthcare etc.)
- Public sector or defence experience
- Understanding of data mesh or data fabric architectural approaches
- Relevant industry certifications such as TOGAF 9, CDMP (Certified Data Management Professional), or Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert (AZ-305)
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