Data Architect

Open GI; Worcester; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Bonus opportunity

Life assurance

Cycle to work

Perkbox discounts

25 days holiday

Flexible hours

Social clubs

Wellbeing program

Job summary

Open GI in the United Kingdom is seeking a Data Architect to define and evolve the organisationwide data architecture, enabling the evolving product strategy, analytics and company-wide transformation.

You will design data models, govern data and mentor data/engineering teams while guiding migrations from heritage systems to modern cloud platforms, with Databricks Unity Catalog and Azure experience valued. The role is hybrid with Worcester office attendance.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of enterprise data architecture patterns and integration approaches (batch, streaming, event-driven, medallion, big data).
• Demonstrable experience in running long-term data migration projects between bespoke systems desirable.
• Experience with cloud data platforms - Azure (desirable) & Databricks (essential).
• Advanced data modelling expertise, using industry reference models where appropriate.
• Proven stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience operating in the insurance industry is desirable but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise data architecture principles, standards, and roadmaps.
• Design and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
• Guide use of data platforms (data lakes, data visualisation, integration buses).
• Enable high-quality data for client-facing products (reporting, AI/ML) and operations.
• Co-author data governance practices with the Data Governance Lead: metadata, data quality, lineage, privacy, compliance within Databricks Unity Catalog.
• Review solution designs for architectural alignment and risk reduction, eliminating duplication and maximising reusability at cost-efficient scale.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and reduce technical debt.
• Mentor and provide direction to data and engineering teams.
• Establish effective guardrails to ensure smooth migration of customer data between heritage and modern cloud platforms at scale.

Skills

Data architecture patterns

Data migration projects

Cloud platforms

Advanced data modelling

Stakeholder engagement

Insurance industry knowledge

Job description

About us

It is our vision to connect the insurance community through market-leading technology. Our people are placed at the heart of this, and diversity, equity and inclusion are central to everything we do.

We know the key to achieving success is to enable a positive, inclusive, and collaborative working culture, and, as part of our commitment, we have signed up for a number of pledges and programmes designed to support and nurture our people.

No matter where you sit or which team you are a part of, we want you to know that you contribute in helping us to shape where the company will be in the future. We would love for each employee to be able to talk with pride about our company and, most importantly, consider Open GI to be an inclusive, fun and fulfilling place to work.

An overview of the role

The Data Architect defines and evolves the organisation's enterprise-wide data architecture to enable the evolving product strategy, analytics, and company-wide transformation. The role ensures data is consistent, secure, scalable, and fit for purpose across the enterprise.

Your key responsibilities

• Define enterprise data architecture principles, standards, and roadmaps.
• Design and maintain conceptual, logical, and physical data models.
• Guide use of data platforms (data lakes, data visualisation, integration buses).
• Enable high-quality data for client-facing products (reporting, AI/ML) and operations.
• Co-author data governance practices with the Data Governance Lead: metadata, data quality, lineage, privacy, compliance within Databricks Unity Catalog.
• Review solution designs for architectural alignment and risk reduction, eliminating duplication and maximising reusability at cost-efficient scale.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and reduce technical debt.
• Mentor and provide direction to data and engineering teams.
• Establish effective guardrails to ensure smooth migration of customer data between heritage and modern cloud platforms at scale.

What you'll need to succeed

Skills and Experience

• Strong knowledge of enterprise data architecture patterns and integration approaches (batch, streaming, event-driven, medallion, big data).
• Demonstrable experience in running long-term data migration projects between bespoke systems desirable.
• Experience with cloud data platforms - Azure (desirable) & Databricks (essential).
• Advanced data modelling expertise, using industry reference models where appropriate.
• Proven stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• Experience operating in the insurance industry is desirable but not essential.

Other information

Mission and Values

It is our mission to be both the Technology Partner and Employer of Choice to the UK General Insurance market. Our people are placed at the heart of this and diversity, equality and inclusion are central to everything we do.

• Accountability: We own our actions and shape our success on the results we deliver
• Innovation: We tackle challenges with fresh thinking and bold ideas
• Teamwork: We work together, recognising we can't do this without each other
• Trust: We build trust on integrity, transparency and mutual respect

We are looking for an individual who embraces our values in their actions, decisions, communications and processes to inspire positivity and, ultimately, exceptional performance.

Benefits package

• Salary up to £79,900 dependant on skills and experience
• Company pension
• Bonus opportunity
• Life assurance and critical illness cover
• Cycle to work scheme
• Perkbox - an exclusive platform offering a wide range of discounts and benefits
• Holiday entitlement of 25 days per annum, increasing to 26 days per annum after three years of service & a holiday purchase scheme
• Opportunity for a more flexible approach to start, finish, and lunchtimes to allow you to better manage events outside of work
• Social clubs - whether you're into your cycling, crafts, or other hobbies, we have a number of groups at Open GI where individuals who enjoy the same pursuits can get together
• Wellbeing - wills at work scheme, employee assistance programme and mental health first aiders

Please note, this is a hybrid role requiring attendance at our Worcester offices for a minimum of 2x days per week.