Data Architect: Strategic Data Platform & AI (Onsite)

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

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