Overview
The Data Architect will oversee the design and implementation of a greenfield Azure data platform for a newly formed organization aiming for national scale operations. This role involves collaborating closely with enterprise architects and data governance specialists, leading the tech stack recommendation and ensuring best practices are established for the data architecture. The engagement begins with a discovery phase, paving the way for a robust design and delivery process.
Responsibilities
- Own the target data architecture, from conceptual through logical to physical design.
- Lead the tech stack recommendation and provide supporting rationale.
- Produce data models and integration patterns suited for national scale volumes.
- Present and defend best practices to the client team.
- Collaborate with enterprise architects and data governance specialists.
- Remain hands-on when necessary to facilitate delivery.
Requirements
- Experience in enterprise-scale data platform architecture, particularly in greenfield or major replatform scenarios.
- Proficiency in conceptual, logical, and physical data modeling; familiarity with dimensional and data vault is a plus.
- Knowledge of lakehouse and medallion patterns, batch and streaming ingestion, and event-driven design.
- Experience with Databricks and/or Microsoft Fabric at the architecture level.
- Solid understanding of Azure Data Factory, Synapse, Azure SQL, and Data Lake Storage Gen2.
- Ability to write advanced SQL, Python or PySpark, and knowledge of Spark optimization and Delta Lake.
- Experience with Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions, and infrastructure as code tools like Terraform or Bicep.
- Familiarity with UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018.