Job Title: Lead Data Architect
Location: Farnborough
Duration: 6 months with possible extension
Rate: Up to £700 per day via an approved umbrella company
Must be willing and eligible to go through the SC clearance process
Our client, a reputable organisation in the IT sector, is seeking a skilled Lead Data Architect to join their Data Science, Engineering, and Assurance team. This senior role offers the opportunity to take ownership of data architecture, develop and evolve data migration strategies, and lead the deployment into secure customer environments. You will set the technical direction, make pragmatic architectural decisions, and provide hands-on leadership to a team of Data Engineers and Data Analysts, ensuring the platform remains secure, scalable, resilient, and operational as it grows.
What you'll be doing:
* Own and refine the data architecture, establishing standards, governance, and roadmaps.
* Map and document data flows, identifying data locations, movement, and ensuring compliance with security and governance standards.
* Design and maintain data structures, storage, and access methods aligned with user needs and technical requirements.
* Lead the development of data migration plans and oversee their deployment.
* Collaborate with security and assurance teams to support accreditation in regulated environments.
* Provide technical guidance and mentorship to engineering teams, ensuring designs are buildable, testable, and supportable.
* Stay close to engineering activities to ensure architecture remains fit for purpose.
What you'll bring:
* Extensive experience in data architecture and platform engineering, with a proven track record of owning and evolving complex data environments.
* Strong expertise in data modelling, event-driven microservice architecture, and data platform patterns (batch, streaming, lakehouse/warehouse).
* Deep knowledge of data governance, metadata, lineage, data quality, and lifecycle management.
* Security-focused mindset, designing for least privilege, auditability, and compliance.
* Experience working in constrained or mission-critical environments, including edge deployments.
* Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, providing clear technical direction and mentorship.
* Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex concepts to senior stakeholders.
Qualifications:
* Relevant professional certifications and licences are desirable.
* A strong background in regulated environments is advantageous.
Join our client's team in Farnborough and play a pivotal role in shaping their data landscape. If you're passionate about data architecture and leading innovative projects, we'd love to hear from you