Project description
One of the biggest UK rail network companies operating with rail infrastructure and asset management has a need to develop and support enterprise-level information systems.
To act as the design authority for data-centric projects and programmes, responsible for shaping high-level data architecture aligned with strategic business and technology goals. This role focuses on designing solutions for Route Services Information Technology (RSIT) customers, with an emphasis on graph-based data modelling and network management, ensuring alignment with both current and target-state infrastructure.
Responsibilities
* Architect and design data solutions that support route services, asset management, and operations across the rail domain—ensuring scalability, quality, and performance.
* Develop data architectures and models (especially graph-based) that support seamless integration of infrastructure, operational data, and business intelligence.
* Define and enforce data solution standards, ensuring technical consistency and reuse across programmes.
* Collaborate with RSIT colleagues and enterprise architects to ensure proposed designs align with existing and future infrastructure strategies.
* Manage stakeholder engagement to translate complex data requirements into clear, actionable solutions—communicating both technical and business perspectives.
* Lead the technical governance of third-party development, ensuring external resources deliver fit-for-purpose data solutions that meet cost, timeline, and quality targets.
* Promote data reuse and best practices by maintaining documentation, promoting shared understanding of architecture, and enabling effective data lifecycle management.
* Drive innovation in network and infrastructure intelligence using modern data technologies including graph databases, APIs, and data pipelines.
Mandatory Skills
* Proven experience as a Solution Architect or Data Architect in large-scale, enterprise environments.
* Rail industry experience or deep understanding of transportation infrastructure and operational data.
* Strong knowledge of graph databases (e.g., Neo4j, Amazon Neptune) and graph-based modelling for network analysis and relationship mapping.
* Understanding of network management systems, topology modelling, and asset interconnectivity in physical or digital rail infrastructure.
* Solid experience with enterprise integration patterns, middleware, and data platforms.
* Familiarity with cloud data architecture, modern ETL/ELT approaches, and API-based data exchange.
* Collaborative mindset; ability to work with multidisciplinary teams and communicate effectively with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Nice-to-Have Skills
* Experience in data governance and data quality frameworks.
* Knowledge of spatial data, IoT, or real-time monitoring systems in an infrastructure context.
* Experience with data visualisation and analytics platforms (e.g., Power BI, Grafana).
* Proficiency with data modelling tools and notations (e.g., UML, ERD, ArchiMate).
* Understanding of rail-specific systems such as signalling, asset management, and control systems.