Data Architect

PA Consulting; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consulting firm is seeking a Data Architect to drive data and AI transformations for clients. The role involves defining data architecture for complex programs and requires a solid background in data architecture and client-facing skills. Join a diverse team in a hybrid working environment, managing challenging projects across various sectors. The ideal candidate has a hands-on technical background and thrives in fast-paced environments, enabling innovative solutions for clients.

Benefits

Health and lifestyle perks

25 days annual leave

Generous company pension scheme

Annual performance-based bonus

Tax-efficient benefits

Qualifications

• Hands-on data background with experience leading engineering teams.
• Clear understanding of data architecture methodologies.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development.

Responsibilities

• Define data blueprint and architecture for complex programs.
• Architect end-to-end data platforms with governance and security.
• Lead teams and handle complex client challenges.

Skills

Data architecture

Client-facing skills

Agile methodologies

Problem-solving

Analytical thinking

Education

Relevant degree in technology or data

Tools

AWS

Azure

Google Cloud Platform

Databricks

Snowflake

Job description

Company Description

We believe in the power of ingenuity to build a positive human future. We challenge where it matters and own the outcome. As strategies, technologies, and innovation collide, we create opportunity from complexity.

Our teams of interdisciplinary experts combine strategic thinking, customer‑centric service design, and agile engineering practices to accelerate innovation in a tech‑driven world. Our clients adapt and transform, and together we achieve enduring results.

We are over 4,000 strategists, innovators, designers, consultants, digital experts, scientists, engineers, and technologists. We have deep expertise in consumer and manufacturing, defence and security, energy and utilities, financial services, government and public services, health and life sciences, and transport.

Our teams operate globally from offices across the UK, Ireland, US, Nordics, and Netherlands.

PA. Bringing Ingenuity to Life.

Why consider joining our Digital & Data community?

• Join our Data Science team, part of Digital & Data, working alongside product, design and a wide range of other experts and cross‑disciplinary teams to bring ideas to life through innovative software solutions.
• Grow a flexible and unique consulting career within a trust‑based, inclusive environment that values excellence, innovation, and curiosity. You have the option to progress with us on a technical career track. No need to go onto the Partner career track if this doesn’t align with what you want to do.
• Hybrid working – our approach is to be in the office or on client site a minimum of 2 days per week.
• Work on a broad variety of projects and tech stacks for clients across seven sectors – no project is ever the same.
• Join other experts within our supportive and collaborative tech community through knowledge‑sharing and peer‑level support, coaching and mentoring.
• Deepen your expertise through our culture of learning and growth – you’ll have budget to take courses (technical and non‑technical training), plus gain certifications.

Job Description

As a Data Architect you will help drive data and AI transformations for our clients by helping our clients. You will be responsible for defining the data blueprint and architecture for our clients' most complex programmes. This role requires an understanding of both classic and latest generation platform capabilities. You will be architecting end‑to‑end data platforms which include ingestion, orchestration, governance, security, cost‑optimisation, and observability. You will have strong client‑facing skills to translate business needs into scalable, resilient, and secure data solutions.

Our tech stack

While we advocate for using the right tech for the right task, you will be expected to architect solutions for some of following technologies and capabilities to ensure scalable, high‑performance applications:

• Multi‑cloud, data warehousing and data lake platforms
• Data manipulation, integration and ingestion technologies
• Programming/scripting languages
• ML/AI frameworks
• Infrastructure & DevOps concepts and tooling
• Data visualization/BI & Analytics platforms
• Semantic models and metrics layers
• Data governance tooling

As a Principal Consultant, you will be expected to:

• Operate at a strategic and leadership‑focused level
• Handle complex client challenges, lead teams, and take ownership of end‑to‑end assignment delivery
• Play a role in business growth through bid leadership, identifying new opportunities, and leveraging a strong internal and external network
• Help connect and support newer team members, drive the development and sharing of thought leadership, champion best practice, and be seen as the go‑to expert in your technical area
• Set direction for teams, create an inclusive environment, and push both capability and client outcomes to a higher standard

What you can expect of our working environment

• Work to agile best practices and cross‑functionally with multiple teams and stakeholders. You’ll be using your technical skills to problem‑solve with our clients.
• Collaborate closely as a core member of engineering teams, often taking a lead SME role to define vision and establish the right practical architecture.
• Hybrid working with the team on client site or in our office a minimum of two days per week. However, the actual time you spend and where you spend it will vary by role or assignment, including up to 5 days per week on a client site.
• An environment that deeply cares about its values.
• As part of our Digital team, you’ll work alongside colleagues from across PA – delivering transformative digital solutions to today’s most complex business challenges. Our teams are trusted to deliver and given the space to be awesome. We’re an inclusive community for the curious, generous, pragmatic and committed digital practitioner.

Qualifications

Essential requirements

• Hands‑on data background with experience leading engineering teams to deliver applications and services
• Clear understanding and practical application of data architecture and delivery methodologies
• Operate confidently across the data domain with clear understanding of the impact of AI both in the solutions required and how those solutions are delivered
• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development
• You thrive in problem‑solving and analytical thinking
• You enjoy collaborating with multiple stakeholders in a fast‑paced environment
• Certifications in appropriate methodologies and cloud technologies are advantageous.

We’re technology agnostic, using the right tools for the job at hand, and you’ll have access to our strong partnerships with AWS, Azure and GCP. We’re interested to hear from Data Architects with experience across the majority of leading vendors including Azure, AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Databricks, Snowflake and more.

Additional Information

Assessment process:

• Quick call with one of our tech recruiters – to discuss your application, the role and PA
• Round 1: Either a competency or technical interview (60 mins)
• Round 2: Either a competency or technical interview, whichever you didn’t do at first round (60 mins)
• Final round: Meeting with a PA leader – a mini case study and discussion around your client‑centricity (60 mins)

Life At PA

Life At PA encompasses our peoples' experience at PA. It’s about how we enrich peoples’ working lives by giving them access to unique people and growth opportunities and purpose‑led meaningful work.

Our purpose guides how we work with our clients and our teams, and support our communities, to deliver insight and impact, solving the world’s most complex challenges. We’re focused on building a workplace that values human difference and diverse mindsets, and a culture of inclusion and equality that unlocks the potential in our people so everyone can be their best self.

• Health and lifestyle perks accompanying private healthcare for you and your family
• 25 days annual leave (plus a bonus half day on Christmas Eve) with the opportunity to buy 5 additional days
• Generous company pension scheme
• Opportunity to get involved with community and charity‑based initiatives
• Annual performance‑based bonus
• PA share ownership
• Tax‑efficient benefits (cycle to work, give as you earn)

We’re committed to advancing equality. We recruit, retain, reward and develop our people based solely on their abilities and contributions and without reference to their age, background, disability, genetic information, parental or family status, religion or belief, race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity (or expression), political belief veteran status, or other by any other range of human difference brought about by identity and experience. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups.

Adjustments or accommodations – Should you need any adjustments or accommodations to the recruitment process, at either application or interview, please contact us on [e-mail]

Equal Opportunities Statement

PA Consulting is an equal opportunities employer that embraces the richness of talent and experience in the workplace. All qualified applicants, regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnicity, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other characteristic protected under law, will be considered for employment and all employees are entitled to a position without discrimination.