Data Architect

X4 Technology; Reading; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

X4 Technology in Reading seeks an experienced Data Architect to lead a data strategy and discovery engagement for a major telecommunications client. The role is 100% onsite in Reading, with an immediate start and a 3-month initial contract.

You will assess the enterprise data landscape, define the target-state architecture, and collaborate with senior stakeholders to sign off on the technology roadmap. You will bring hands-on data platform expertise across GCP, BigQuery and related tools, plus

Qualifications

• Strong background in Data Architecture / Data Strategy.
• Hands-on experience with GCP and BigQuery, ideally within a Data Lakehouse.
• Strong understanding of data modelling across conceptual, logical and physical levels.
• Experience with ETL/ELT, data integration, APIs and CDC.
• Strong understanding of data governance, metadata, lineage, MDM and data quality.
• Experience assessing complex enterprise data estates and defining target-state architectures.
• Strong Python skills, with experience using Python and LLMs/AI.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Previous client-facing consulting/advisory experience at Data Architect, Data Analyst, DBA or similar level.
• Experience within telecommunications or similarly complex enterprise environments.
• GCP technologies including Dataflow, Data Fusion, Dataplex, Vertex AI or Cloud Composer.
• AI/ML data enablement and data ontology design.
• Telecom OSS/BSS and network data experience.
• Hybrid cloud and legacy data platform migration experience.
• GDPR and data compliance knowledge.
• DAMA-DMBOK or DCAM exposure.
• Previous data strategy or discovery consulting engagements.
• 3-month initial contract.
• Immediate start.
• 100% onsite in Reading.
• Immediate starters only.
• 2-stage interview process: 1 internal + 1 client

Responsibilities

• Lead stakeholder interviews and workshops across business and technology teams.
• Assess the current data landscape, architecture, platforms, integrations and processing methodologies.
• Catalogue databases, technology stacks and data sources across complex enterprise environments.
• Map data movement across systems, including ETL/ELT, APIs, CDC and manual processes.
• Identify data silos, duplication, data quality issues and architectural gaps.
• Assess data governance, ownership, metadata, lineage, security and compliance maturity.
• Develop a high-level target-state data architecture and technology roadmap.
• Support the development of data governance frameworks and target operating models.
• Contribute to data ontology design for AI and analytics use cases.
• Produce architecture diagrams, inventories, assessments and roadmap documentation.
• Work directly with senior client stakeholders to drive alignment and sign-off.
• Use Python and LLMs to build tools and processes supporting data and architecture analysis.

Skills

Data Architecture

Data Strategy

Python

LLMs/AI

Data Governance

Stakeholder Engagement

Client-facing Consulting

Telecoms Domain

Tools

GCP

BigQuery

Dataflow

Data Fusion

Dataplex

Vertex AI

Cloud Composer

Job description

An established IT services company is seeking an experienced Data Architect to support a major telecommunications client on a data strategy and discovery engagement.

This role is 100% onsite in Reading, 5 days per week. Immediate starters only.

The successful candidate will assess a complex enterprise data landscape across Customer, Finance and Network domains, helping define the target-state data architecture, technology roadmap and governance framework.

This is a highly client-facing role, requiring someone who can operate confidently across architecture, data analysis and stakeholder engagement, alongside strong hands-on data platform and engineering knowledge.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead stakeholder interviews and workshops across business and technology teams
• Assess the current data landscape, architecture, platforms, integrations and processing methodologies
• Catalogue databases, technology stacks and data sources across complex enterprise environments
• Map data movement across systems, including ETL/ELT, APIs, CDC and manual processes
• Identify data silos, duplication, data quality issues and architectural gaps
• Assess data governance, ownership, metadata, lineage, security and compliance maturity
• Develop a high-level target-state data architecture and technology roadmap
• Support the development of data governance frameworks and target operating models
• Contribute to data ontology design for AI and analytics use cases
• Produce architecture diagrams, inventories, assessments and roadmap documentation
• Work directly with senior client stakeholders to drive alignment and sign-off
• Use Python and LLMs to build tools and processes supporting data and architecture analysis

Key experience required:

• Strong Data Architecture / Data Strategy background
• Hands-on experience with GCP and BigQuery, ideally within a Data Lakehouse environment
• Strong understanding of data modelling across conceptual, logical and physical levels
• Experience with ETL/ELT, data integration, APIs and CDC
• Strong understanding of data governance, metadata, lineage, MDM and data quality
• Experience assessing complex enterprise data estates and defining target-state architectures
• Strong Python skills, with experience using Python and LLMs/AI
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills
• Previous client-facing consulting/advisory experience at Data Architect, Data Analyst, DBA or similar level
• Experience within telecommunications or similarly complex enterprise environments
• GCP technologies including Dataflow, Data Fusion, Dataplex, Vertex AI or Cloud Composer
• AI/ML data enablement and data ontology design
• Telecom OSS/BSS and network data experience
• Hybrid cloud and legacy data platform migration experience
• GDPR and data compliance knowledge
• DAMA-DMBOK or DCAM exposure
• Previous data strategy or discovery consulting engagements
• 3-month initial contract
• Immediate start
• 100% onsite in Reading
• Immediate starters only
• 2-stage interview process: 1 internal + 1 client

Candidates with 10–15+ years of data architecture/engineering experience, strong GCP/BigQuery expertise and proven client-facing data strategy experience are particularly encouraged to apply.

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