Data Architect

Amentum; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free medical cover

Digital GP services

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Employee assistance programmes

Matched funding for volunteering

Job summary

Amentum is seeking a Data Architect to lead enterprise data architecture across Defence programmes in the UK. You will define data principles, standards and reference models while delivering data models, data flows, and integration patterns to support CADMID lifecycle solutions.

You will design governance frameworks, drive data quality, metadata, lineage and cataloguing, and contribute to AI governance and horizon scanning.

Qualifications

• Degree in Data, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to define solutions to complex challenges.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills to influence at all levels.
• Ability to produce high-quality technical documentation for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to lead, mentor, and collaborate within high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain enterprise data architecture with principles, policies, standards, and reference models.
• Develop architecture artefacts including data models, data flows, and blueprints.
• Translate business needs into data architecture designs aligning strategy and implementation.
• Design data integration patterns (APIs, pipelines, event-driven) for interoperability across Defence systems.
• Establish and support data governance frameworks including data quality, metadata, lineage, and master data management.
• Contribute to AI/data governance principles, emerging technology assessments, and horizon scanning.
• Support reusable patterns, guidance, and Communities of Practice to uplift data architecture capability across Defence.

Skills

Data architecture

Enterprise architecture

Data modelling

Data governance

APIs

ETL/ELT

NoSQL

Cloud-native data platforms

Documentation

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Data/CS/Engineering

Tools

Relational DBs

NoSQL databases

Cloud data platforms

Job description

Amentum is a global leader in engineering, project and programme management, and solutions integration. Built on strong programme and engineering delivery experience, supported by deep specialist capabilities, Amentum is a recognised partner across major UK Government and commercial programmes.

People are at the centre of what we do. We offer a competitive package designed to attract and retain talent. In addition to standard benefits, UK employees receive free single medical cover, digital GP services, enhanced family‑friendly policies, employee assistance programmes, and reimbursement for professional development. Our community initiatives include matched‑funding schemes, paid volunteering, and charitable contributions.

About the Opportunity:

Amentum are offering an exciting opportunity to join our growing team of IT professionals to work on a range of projects for our diverse client portfolio that covers Critical National Infrastructure, National Security, Defence and Nuclear market sectors. Our team is growing and are we looking for proactive and collaborative professionals of all levels to work within us in providing a range of services to our clients. With our deep technical, commercial, and strategic expertise we develop solutions that address our client’s critical challenges supporting digitalisation and security.

We are looking for a Data Architect with strong experience across Enterprise Data Architecture and/or Solution Data Architecture to support a UK MOD programme delivering Defence‑wide data and integration capabilities. Operating across the CADMID lifecycle, you will help define and implement enterprise data principles, standards, and architectures, while also contributing to hands‑on data modelling, integration design, and governance.

Key Responsibilities:

• Define and maintain enterprise data architecture, including principles, policies, standards, and reference models aligned with JSP 453 and Defence‑wide integration frameworks.

• Develop architecture artefacts including conceptual, logical, and physical data models, data flows, and architecture blueprints.

• Translate business and operational needs into data architecture designs, ensuring alignment between enterprise strategy and system‑level implementation.

• Design data integration patterns and approaches (e.g. APIs, data pipelines, event‑driven architectures) to enable interoperability across Defence systems.

• Establish and support data governance frameworks, including data quality, metadata, lineage, and master data management practices.

• Contribute to AI/data governance principles, emerging technology assessments, and horizon scanning activities.

• Support the development of reusable patterns, guidance, and Communities of Practice to uplift data architecture capability across Defence.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Degree qualified in Data, Computer Science, Engineering, or related discipline (or equivalent experience).

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to define solutions to complex challenges.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.

• Ability to produce high‑quality technical documentation for both technical and non‑technical audiences.

• Ability to lead, mentor, and collaborate within high‑performing teams.

Experience:

• 5+ years proven experience as a Data Architect within UK Defence or Critical National Infrastructure environments.

• Experience working across enterprise architecture and/or solution data architecture layers, bridging strategic and technical domains.

• Experience delivering across full system lifecycles (e.g. CADMID), including concept, design, and in‑service improvement phases.

• Experience defining and implementing data strategies, governance frameworks, and standards, including understanding of data governance disciplines (data quality, metadata management, lineage, cataloguing).

• Strong expertise in data modelling (conceptual, logical, physical) and data architecture design, data integration approaches (ETL/ELT pipelines, APIs, streaming, event‑driven architectures), and database technologies (relational, NoSQL, cloud‑native data platforms) and data storage architectures.

Standards & Frameworks:

• Strong understanding of MOD data and integration standards, including JSP 453 - Defence Information Architecture.

• Familiarity with enterprise architecture frameworks (e.g. TOGAF, MODAF, UAF).

• Knowledge of data governance and security standards (e.g. NIST, ISO/IEC 27001).

Our Culture:

Our values stand on a foundation of safety, integrity, inclusion, and diversity. We put people at the heart of our business, and we genuinely believe that we all succeed by supporting one another through our culture of caring. We value positive mental health and a sense of belonging for all employees.

We aim to embed inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that if we are inclusive, we are more connected, and if we are diverse, we’re more creative. We accept people for who they are, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, mental health, race, faith or belief, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, and whether you’re pregnant or on family leave. This is reflected in our wide range of Global Employee Networks centred on inclusion and diversity.

We partner with VERCIDA to help us attract and retain diverse talent. For greater online accessibility, please visit Promoting Equality & Diversity in Jobs and Career - VERCIDA to view and access our roles. As a Disability Confident employer, we will interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a vacancy. We welcome applications from candidates who are seeking flexible working and from those who may not meet all the listed requirements for a role.

Your application experience is important to us and we’re keen to adapt to make every interaction even better. We welcome feedback on our recruitment process and if you need more from us before deciding to join us then please let us know.