Data Architect - SC Cleared
Whitehall Resources require a Data Architect with active SC clearance to work with a key client on a 6-month initial contract.
*Inside IR35.
*On site work in Shropshire expected 2 days per week.
*Active SC clearance required.
Data Architect - SC Cleared
Key Responsibilities
As a Data Architect, you will take ownership of the solution design and guide delivery teams through complex technical decisions ensuring solutions are robust, governable and deliverable into live service.
Key responsibilities include:
* Designing data architectures, including cataloguing, metadata, lineage, quality, ownership and classification, to ensure data is trusted, discoverable, secure and fit for purpose from source to consumption.
* Taking architectural ownership of how data is designed for consumption by both humans and autonomous agents, including analytics users, applications and AI driven services.
* Providing architectural direction on the safe and governed adoption of AI and agent based capabilities within data and analytics platforms
* Producing architectures and designs for complex end-to-end data solutions, including data storage and management, ETL/ELT, reporting and analytics
* Advising clients on architecture/infrastructure, platform and engineering best practices across data warehouse / data lake solutions and modelling concepts
* Taking ownership of client requirements, deliverables and accountabilities, ensuring adherence to architecture governance processes, industry best practices and alignment with the client’s architecture vision
* Driving solution development and documentation, ensuring good architectural practices are applied throughout the lifecycle
* Providing architectural oversight and direction on behalf of our clients, including governance at all stages
* Building trusted-advisor relationships with clients through boldness, honesty and credible technical leadership
* Managing relationships with vendors, third parties and key internal stakeholders
* Owning technical problem management and resolution relevant to the solution development
* Contributing to and actively participating in Architecture practice and community
Skills and Experience
Essential
You bring strong, hands-on data architecture experience and the ability to lead technical delivery in complex environments. You’ll be credible with both senior client stakeholders and internal delivery leadership and comfortable making decisions that balance technical quality, risk and delivery outcomes.
We’re looking for demonstrable experience in:
* Multiple data storage technologies used in data warehouse and data lake solutions, such as:
- Relational DBMS
- NoSQL
- Graph databases
- Cloud object storage
- DB as a service
* Architecture and design concepts for ETL/ELT solutions, using a range of tooling
* Designing and applying data virtualisation technologies, particularly at enterprise scale
* Architecture and design concepts for data exploitation solutions and technologies, including:
- Analytics (e.g., SAS, R)
- Reporting (e.g., Pentaho Business Analytics, Power BI)
- APIs (e.g., Java, Denodo)
* Expertise in data modelling within large, complex IT estates, implementing multiple data architectures and integrating data management / governance tooling
* Modern ways of working such as Agile, CI/CD, DevOps and test automation
* Delivery across on-premise, cloud and hybrid environments, including cloud migration programmes
* Setting direction and technical scope, building/leading technical teams and managing technical deliverables
* Strong communication, influencing and facilitation skills-especially for troubleshooting, problem-solving and decision-making
* Resilience, flexibility and ability to adapt to changing schedules and priorities. A drive to deliver results and exceed client expectations-bringing clear personal value to every engagement
* Integrating third-party products into complex estates, managing interdependencies and leading end-to-end delivery in multi-supplier engagements
Desirable
If you have any of the following, it will help you stand out:
* Experience with lakehouse deployments and modern cloud-native data platforms
* Practical understanding of the real-world impact and usage of AI services to enhance and improve data quality, consumption and processing
* Experience contributing to commercial proposals, bids, or shaping technical approaches for client engagements
* Demonstrated experience owning or operating architecture governance across a programme lifecycle, including design assurance and decision control
Personal Attributes
We’re looking for people who can lead, challenge and bring others with them; architects who combine deep technical credibility with a human, collaborative approach.
You are likely to be:
* A confident technical leader who can set direction, make decisions and take accountability
* Comfortable being a “critical friend”, able to challenge constructively and propose better options
* Client-centric: you listen carefully, translate needs into architecture and build trust through clarity and integrity
* Collaborative: you work effectively across delivery, engineering, governance and stakeholder communities
* Resilient and adaptable: you remain calm under pressure and respond well to changing priorities
* Curious and continuously improving: you keep pace with evolving technologies and modern ways of working