Enterprise Data Architect

Job Title: Enterprise Data Architect
Location: London
Salary/Rate: £450-£500 a day
Start Date: Mid Feb
Job Type: Contract

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Enterprise Data Architect with deep expertise in Microsoft Azure, strong capability in enterprise scale data architecture, and proven excellence in client stakeholder management. This role requires hands on architectural leadership, the ability to guide distributed (onshore/offshore) teams, and a strategic mindset to define and deliver robust, scalable, and secure data platforms.

Key Responsibilities Enterprise Data Architecture & Strategy

• Define and own the end-to-end enterprise data architecture across cloud and hybrid ecosystems on Microsoft Azure.

• Develop and maintain data models, data flows, reference architectures, and integration patterns for large, complex organizations.
• Lead the design of data lakes, data warehouses, real time processing solutions, and metadata driven data platforms leveraging Azure native services.
• Ensure architectural alignment with business goals, technology roadmaps, and compliance standards (GDPR, security, governance).

Azure Data Platform Leadership

• Architect highly scalable solutions using:
  • Azure Data Lake Storage (ADLS)
  • Azure Synapse Analytics
  • Azure Databricks
  • Azure Data Factory / Synapse Pipelines
  • Azure SQL / Cosmos DB
  • Azure Event Hub / IoT / Stream Analytics
• Oversee performance optimization, cost management, and operational best practices across Azure workloads.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary architectural adviser to senior client stakeholders, business sponsors, and technical leaders.
• Drive architecture workshops, roadmap sessions, and solution design reviews with C level or director level stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical concepts into clear, business oriented narratives.
• Influence decisions by presenting architectural trade offs, risks, and value propositions.

Offshore Team Leadership

• Provide strong leadership to offshore data engineering and architecture teams, ensuring clear guidance, quality, and alignment to design standards.
• Establish and enforce architecture governance, coding standards, design patterns, and review frameworks.
• Mentor offshore leads and architects to uplift capability and ensure full lifecycle alignment.

Solution Delivery & Assurance

• Oversee solution blueprints, HLD/LLD documentation, and design approvals.
• Support estimation, resource planning, and delivery planning for complex multi region programs.
• Conduct architecture assurance across sprints, releases, and production rollouts.
• Collaborate with DevOps, security, and infrastructure teams to ensure secure and compliant deployments.

Required Skills & Experience Technical Expertise

• High level of experience in data architecture, including working on Azure based data platforms.
• Deep experience across:
  • Enterprise data modeling and architecture
  • Batch and real time data integration
  • Data lakehouse design and ELT/ETL patterns
  • Master data management, metadata management, lineage, and governance
  • Cloud security, identity, and compliance for data workloads
• Strong command of data engineering best practices and distributed computing.

Stakeholder & Consulting Skills

• Exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills.
• Experience engaging with CIO/CTO/CDO organizations and driving strategic conversations.
• Ability to manage conflict, build consensus, and navigate complex client environments.

Leadership Skills

• Proven track record leading large global/offshore teams in architecting and delivering data solutions.
• Experience defining architecture governance frameworks and enforcing standards.
• Ability to mentor architects, engineers, and client teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Microsoft Azure certifications (e.g., Azure Solutions Architect Expert, DP-203, DP-900).
• Experience with industry standard architecture frameworks: TOGAF, Zachman, or equivalent.
• Background in consulting or global delivery models (onsite offshore).
• Experience in regulated industries (Finance, Healthcare, Public Sector) is a plus.