Lead Data Architect – Defence & National Security
Location: Malvern — Hybrid, with travel to UK customer sites and secure environments as required (some overnight stays possible)
Clearance: Must be eligible and willing to obtain UK Security Clearance
About the Organisation
You’ll be joining a specialist defence and security technology organisation that works at the forefront of protecting the UK’s national interests. The company provides advanced research, digital solutions, and mission‑critical expertise to government and defence customers. Their work spans everything from secure digital platforms and complex systems integration to scientific research and operational support.
They operate in regulated, high‑assurance environments and are known for delivering trusted, independent technical expertise on programmes of national importance.
The Opportunity
Following a series of major new programme wins, the organisation is expanding its data capability to support critical Defence and National Security missions. They are looking for a Lead Data Architect to shape, evolve, and own the data architecture for some of their most strategically important projects.
This senior role blends strategy and delivery. You will define the data vision and technical direction, lead Data Engineers and Analysts, and ensure platforms remain secure, scalable, and mission‑ready. You will stay hands‑on enough to ensure that what is designed can be built, tested, accredited, and operated in secure environments.
What you’ll be doing
* Owning and driving the overall data architecture and long‑term roadmap
* Creating and delivering the Data Migration Plan for secure customer environments
* Mapping and documenting structured and unstructured data flows across systems
* Designing how data is stored, accessed, integrated, and governed
* Setting technical standards, patterns, and best practices for data engineering
* Working closely with engineering teams to ensure designs are practical and buildable
* Supporting accreditation and deployment activities in regulated and mission‑critical environments
What we’re looking for
* Extensive experience in data architecture or data platform engineering
* Demonstrable experience evolving complex architectures with clear roadmaps and governance
* Strong understanding of data modelling, event‑driven architecture, and data platform patterns (batch, streaming, warehousing/lakehouse)
* Solid knowledge of data governance including lineage, metadata, quality, and lifecycle
* A security‑first mindset, with experience designing for compliance, auditability, and least privilege
* Experience working in constrained or secure environments, such as edge deployments or limited‑connectivity systems
* Confident technical leader able to guide, mentor, and inspire engineering teams
* Excellent communication skills, capable of explaining complex architecture to senior stakeholders
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